FIA Production Car World Rally Championship runner Travis Pastrana will team up with Derek Ringer this weekend to contest the 100 Acre Wood Rally.
Ringer, who won the FIA World Rally Championship with the late
Colin McRae in 1995, has said that while it is a one-off at this stage he hasn't ruled out doing additional events with Travis in the 2008 Rally America National Championship and the PWRC.
"I am looking forward expectantly to coming to the USA for this event with Travis and
Subaru Rally Team USA. I met the team at the 2007 Wales Rally GB and was very impressed with the spirit within the team," said Ringer, who in addition to taking the WRC crown in 1995, also took the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship honours in 1993 and the BRC title in 1991, 1992 and 1998.
"Travis is obviously an extremely talented competitor, and if after this initial event we decide to do more together, then I hope I can help him to reach his full potential.
"The impression I have is that the Rally America National Championship is moving forward in a very progressive manner and thus I am interested to experience this. It looks like it could be a lot of serious fun!"
Ringer's chance to work with Pastrana follows Christian Edstrom's decision to take a sabbatical from rallying in order to focus on his career and family life. Edstrom has been sat alongside Travis since the 24-year-old switched to competing on four-wheels.
"Partnering Travis has been fantastic. To go from our first rally together in a PGT [Production GT] car to placing 5th in the PWRC [Production World Rally Championship] round in Mexico [in 07] has been a dream come true for me. I will always be grateful to Travis, Subaru of America and Vermont SportsCar for the opportunity," said Edstrom.
"Though I'm sad to be leaving the co-driving seat, I've gotten to a point where I really need to focus on my career, and I felt that splitting my time between co-driving at this level and a professional career would have compromised my performance in both.
