Rally America interviews Travis Pastrana on his return to rallying and to Subaru Rally Team USA
RA: How much have you missed stage rally since you last stepped away in 2011? What do you want to achieve this season?
TP: Stage rally is where I always wanted to go when I was a kid. Watching WRC and seeing the drivers deal with all the different elements was something that reminded me a lot of motocross. In stage rally, it's not about being perfect, it's about making the best of the worst situations, and for me, that's a lot of fun!
(Rally in the 100 Acre Wood) will be a learning season for me. New co-driver. Faster cars. Stiffer competition. I missed Sno*Drift due to conflicts with the Nitro Circus Live tour this year, which probably takes me out of any chance at the championship. This is probably good for Vermont SportsCar and SRT USA, because I will truly be able to focus on learning and not drive over my head to chase down the leaders!
RA: You are paired back up with Subaru Rally Team USA, do you expect to be immediately competitive or do you think you will have some rust to knock off?
TP: Winning the Rally America Championship in my last full rally season (2009), there will be a lot of expectations. I’ll be driving an equally prepared Subaru as the defending champion and current Rally America points leader, and that means my car is the best of the best.
Having said that, it will take some time adjusting to my new co-driver, Chrissie Beavis, and for her to adjust to me. The new speeds of these Subarus will mean that I will have to do more then knock the rust off. I will have to improve if I want to keep up. The team is hoping that I can keep the car on the road, log the miles and be competitive by the end of the year. It won't be easy.
RA: You will have a new teammate and competitor at Subaru Rally Team USA. Do you consider David Higgins and Craig Drew your #1 competition? What about the return of Ken Block at the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood?
TP: I've never won the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood and that's been mostly due to the dominance on those fast stages by Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino. Knowing that David and Craig beat Block there last year is impressive and I expect nothing less from them this year. I'm pretty sure I would put the car deep in the woods if Chrissie and I were to go for the win… Our main goal is to learn the car, the speed, and each other… but no one lines up without wanting to win.
RA: You had a severe leg injury this last month. Are you healing well and will be in full attack mode at the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood?
TP: I broke the two bones in my lower leg but after getting a little extra hardware, they are solid. The biggest problem is my ankle, which got dislocated. I'm not sure that I will be walking by the race but I have been given the green light to compete with a fairly stout brace. It's not ideal, but I've raced and won with worse!
RA: I'm sure many asked you how your rally skills would help your NASCAR career. Now that you've raced stock cars, did that motorsport better prepare you for rally racing?
TP: Racing is racing. It all helps but I belong on the dirt. Rally is my sport and Subaru is my car.
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