The Southern Ohio Forest Rally has passed marking the end of the fifth event on the 2022 ARA season schedule. A new Championship Leader has risen after an unfortunate ending for the former leader.
Championship Rundown
After unfortunately having to retire at the end of SS16 Brandon Semenuk no longer leads the ARA Championship Standings as teammate Travis Pastrana has taken the number one spot. The championship race is tight with only eight points separating first and third place. Semenuk did not gain any points from the rally although he did place fourth on the power stage, which would have granted him two extra points if he was able to finish the rally.
Championship Points After Southern Ohio Forest Rally
Pastrana 78
Semenuk 72
Block 69
Williams 43*
Piatkowski 42*
*Both Williams and Piatkowski are marked as ineligible for the ARA title
Day One
The first day of the Southern Ohio Forest Rally saw just one short super special stage. Ken Block won this stage with a time of 49.6 which was 1.3 seconds faster than Travis Pastrana.
Times After Day One
Block/Gelsomino 49.6
Pastrana/Gelsomino 50.9
Semenuk/Williams 51.6
Moro/Holter 54.6
Murcott/Sims 55.1
Day Two
The second day was stages most of the drivers have raced on in previous years. Much like the Oregon Trail Rally Ken Block dominated day two winning seven of the eight stages. Which gave Block a 33-second lead over Travis Pastrana. Brandon Semenuk had a rough start to the rally failing one minute and 14 seconds behind Ken Block. Semenuk was the first to go on all stages for day two which was a factor in his lost time, along with the wrong tire choice and spinning on one of the stages.
Times After Day Two
Block/Gelsomino 1:01:18.4
Pastrana/Gelsomino 1:01:51.4
Semenuk/Williams 1:02:33.1
Hudson/Scott 1:06:10.8
Carpetyan/Hall 1:07:19.7
Day Three
Day Three saw a battle between rivals Ken Block and Travis Pastrana. Pastrana won four of the nine stages on day three and was able to close the gap between him and Ken Block. Block won the other five stages and held his pace to maintain the first position. Although Pastrana fought and narrowed the gap it just wasn’t enough as he finished the rally 38 seconds behind Block. Day Three also saw William Hudson slot into a podium spot after Brandon Semenuk was forced to retire on SS16.
Times After Day Three
Block/Gelsomino 1:46:29.1
Pastrana/Gelsomino 1:47:07:5
Hudson/Scott 1:55:53.6
Gruszka/Barral 2:00:56.3
Hooper/Barbera 2:04:28.3
O4WD Class Rundown
The O4WD Class was dominated by two of the three usual suspects. Those being Ken Block and Travis Pastrana who both had near-perfect rallies. Only four of the nine drivers finished in the O4WD class. Those drivers being Ken Block, Travis Pastrana, Patrick Gruszka, and Robert Dupree. Lucy Block retired on SS17 due to a DNF. Patrick Moro retired on SS3 due to a DNF but would rejoin on day three but would suffer the same fate on SS13. Brandon Semenuk retired on SS16 due to a DNF caused by too much damage to the car.
RC2 Class Rundown
William Hudson took the RC2 class by storm after being a last-minute entree. This was Hudson’s first time driving an RC2 car, having previously driven a 2011 Ford Fiesta in the O2WD class. Hudson drove a 2021 Ford Fiesta R5, which was loaned to him by McKenna Motorsport and is the same car Tom Williams drives. Dave Wallingford finished nearly 10 minutes behind Hudson with a time of 2:05:34.8 while Hudson had a time of 1:55:53.6. Enda McCormack retired on SS11 due to a mechanical issue.
L4WD Rundown
Tim Rooney won the L4WD class in his 2015 Subaru WRX STI with a time of 2:08:01.0. Phil Wearn placed second with a time of 2:10:18.7 which was 2:17.7 slower than Rooney. Dave Carapetyan was in fifth place after day two but unfortunately was forced to retire on SS11 due to a DNF. Dylan Murcott was in fifth after day one but was forced to retire after SS1 due to a mechanical issue.
O2WD Rundown
Michael Hooper won the O2WD class with a time of 2:04:28.3. Seamus Burke finished with a time 30 seconds slower than Hooper with a time of 2:04:58.7. The O2WD class featured probably the biggest surprise from the Southern Ohio Forest Rally, with Lia Block finishing third in class and 10th overall in only her fifth rally.
He Did It Again
Ken Block has won two straight rallies after retiring at the Olympus Rally. Block had a rough start to the 2022 ARA season but has been able to salvage his season and put himself back into contention for the ARA National Championship. Only nine points separate Block and Pastrana in the championship standings, which can be closed even more at the New England Forest Rally in July.
The First Of Many
Lia Block was probably the biggest shock of the Southern Ohio Forest Rally. After she placed 10th overall and third in the O2WD class. She did this in only her fifth rally ever and she’s only 15. Soon there may be a different Block in contention for the ARA national title.
What Was Up With Semenuk?
Brandon Semenuk didn’t have the greatest time at the Southern Ohio Forest Rally. After falling over a minute on day two and eventually being forced to retire on SS16. Semenuk lost time on day two due to sweeping, the wrong tire choice, and spinning on one of the stages. Day three didn’t get much better for Semenuk losing even more time and being forced to retire on SS16 due to damage. Due to him retiring he did not gain any points at the Southern Ohio Forest Rally which allowed teammate Travis Pastrana to pass him in the ARA national standings.
There may be something to look forward to for Semenuk as the last time he retired from a rally he won two straight, and when Ken Block retired from a rally he won two straight. Could this be a good sign for Semenuk, or has his luck run out? We will know the answer to that question after the New England Forest Rally.
He’s Finding His Footing, But Is It Too Late?
Travis Pastrana was able to find his footing and maintain second place during the whole rally. While also having flashes of what made him the 2021 ARA Champion. Pastrana changed the setup of his 2021 Subaru WRX STI for the first time in 10 years. Pastrana said before the Southern Ohio Forest Rally that he was the fourth fastest driver. He may now see a light after Southern Ohio that wasn’t there after the Oregon Trail Rally. Although he hasn’t won any rallies this year, which is an odd thing for Pastrana, he has still managed to lead the 2022 ARA Championship.
Winning seemed to be second nature for Pastrana before this year, having beaten former Subaru Motorsports USA driver and American Rally Legend David Higgins on two occasions. Pastrana become the number one driver for Subaru Motorsports USA after they parted ways with David Higgins in 2020. Travis feels like he needs more seat time, which he will get at both the Goodwood Festival Of Speed and Nitro Rallycross. It’s not too late for Pastrana to bounce back, but he’s going to have to soon if he wants to maintain first place in the ARA National Championship.
My name is Joe Moore, I am a writer for Belly Up Hockey, Belly Up Racing, and Belly Up Sports. You can find me on Twitter.
