Cars running with BFGoodrich tires won gold and bronze medals last weekend during the X Games 14 Rally Super Special in Los Angeles. Travis Pastrana’s Subaru took home the gold medal while his Subaru Rally USA/Vermont SportCar teammates, Ken Block and BMX legend Dave Mirra, also in a Subaru, each earned bronze medals after Block’s car failed to start for the second semi-final heat race to determine third place.
X Games veteran Pastrana was forced to make a last minute co-driver change, switching-in Carolyn Bosley after his original co-driver Jim DeChamp, was injured in a Moto X Best Trick crash. Bosley is well known in the rally community and previously served as co-driver for the late rally racing legend Colin McRae. The duo proved to be unstoppable as they defeated Kyle Sarasin in the quarter-final round and easily advanced to the final round after Block’s Subaru Imprezza WRX STI failed to start in the semi-final match up due to damage sustained in the quarter-finals.
“I know Colin would be happy for us,” said Pastrana. “I’m really glad how everything worked out, Carolyn was great, our new Subaru ran perfect and the BFG tires kept us going. This type of rally racing is tough because it’s single round elimination. You have to really push because it’s all about going for it. I’m bummed for Ken but I’m also happy for Dave because to win a medal in your first X Games rally event is amazing.”
Mirra’s journey to the semi-finals included an intense qualifying effort where his car caught fire but Mirra charged into the lead and finished the course successfully. Mirra continued to amaze the crowd during and electrifying quarter-final battle with Andrew Comrie-Picard. After sliding into the wall, which caused damage to Mirra’s left front suspension, all appeared lost for the most decorated X Games competitor. Then in a wild turn of events, Picard came up short on the immense 50-foot dirt jump and completely flipped his Mitsubishi. Unknowingly, Mirra continued to push his Subaru Impreza WRX STI through the course and won the round without being able to turn left. After Mirra’s Vermont SportsCar crew repaired the damage, he faced off against Foust in the semi-finals but unfortunately crashed upon landing the dirt jump and was forced out of contention.
The semi-final battle between Block and Pastrana turned out to be more of an exhibition than a race after Block’s Subaru failed to start, thus handing the win to Pastrana who merely had to finish. Block and Mirra would subsequently share the bronze medal as both drivers qualified for the semi-final round but failed to finish. Mirra’s X Games rally accomplishment was his 23rd X Games medal, a seemingly untouchable record for most medals ever won at the X Games. The gold and bronze medals awarded at this year’s X Games rally event also raised the bar for Goodrich as the company now has seven X Games rally medals to its credit, the most of any tire manufacturer in X Games rally competition.
“We are excited to be involved with the X Games because the connection between extreme action sports and motorsports is becoming more popular every year,” said Tom Jupena, Goodrich’s marketing communications manager. “The tremendous effort shown by all our drivers during the X Games is very rewarding and seven medals in three consecutive years of Rally participation is an impressive reflection to what our products can deliver. We congratulate all our drivers and are looking forward to next year’s competition.”
For more information, visit www.bfgoodrichtires.com.
