The Olympus Rally has ended, marking the end of the third round of the 2023 Green APU American Rally Association season. Brandon Semenuk would take a dominant win once again. 

Semenuk Wins His Third Straight

Brandon Semenuk would take home his third straight win of the 2023 Green APU American Rally Association season at Olympus. Semenuk now leads the championship by a 35-point lead. Now this may seem like a large points lead, and you’d be correct, but this is rally and anything is possible. Brandon Semenuk knows that better than anybody else, as he has had it happen to him in the past. If Semenuk continues to drive at this pace he should have the championship clinched by the end of the New England Forest Rally.

Lia Wins Her First

Lia Block would take her first O2WD class win at Olympus. This will likely be the first of many wins for the 16-year-old Block. This is only Lia’s second year of rallying and only her second event in the Subaru BRZ she’s running this season. She’s gonna have a fight on her hands the rest of the season if she wants to take the O2WD Championship home. As Lia will have to fend off more experienced drivers such as David Clark and Micah Nickelson to achieve this. 

Two Blocks In The Top 10

Both Lia and Lucy Block would finish in the top 10 at Olympus. With Lia finishing seventh overall and Lucy finishing ninth. This is the first time this has happened this season and it likely won’t be the last. As both drivers have what it takes to consistently finish in the top 10 at every event in which they attend. 

Bailey Came To Play

Jason Bailey would put on a show at the Olympus Rally. With the Canadian finishing fourth overall and first in the L4WD class. Bailey will be one to keep an eye on for the LN4 Drivers Championship, as he currently sits second, 10 points back from Matthew Dickinson who leads the championship. Although Bailey isn’t actively chasing the title as the ARA isn’t his primary focus. 

Bad Luck Continues For Williams

Tom Williams would, unfortunately, be forced to retire from his second straight event. As Williams would be forced to retire from The Rally In The 100 Acre Wood due to a turbo issue. This would ultimately cost him what would’ve probably been a RC2 class win. At Olympus, Williams would be forced to retire on the final stage of the event. This would come as a result of Williams rolling his car after a 11G impact. Williams car would end up blocking the road causing both Patrick Gruszka and Jeff Seehorn to transit the rest of the stage, causing both drivers to get the same time as Brandon Semenuk. Therefore causing a three-way tie for first on the stage, meaning all three drivers would get the 5 extra championship points. 

Living Up To Its Reputation 

The Olympus Rally has gained a reputation for being one of the harder events on the American Rally Association calendar. As the event takes place through mostly forest and logging roads and are very technical in nature. It’s an event that can reward those willing to take a risk, but some risks may end your rally early. Olympus is an unforgiving event, as one wrong move could spell the end of your event. We saw this a few times this weekend, as 34 drivers would retire at the event at some point. With retirement reasons varying from a little mechanical failure to their car burning to the ground. Stage DNFs would cause 30 out of the total 38 retirements. The remaining 9 would be caused by 7 mechanical retirements and 1 MPL retirement. It’s worth noting a DNF retirement can mean basically anything, as it just means the driver didn’t finish the stage. In some cases, this could mean the DNF is due to an off while in other cases it could be caused by a mechanical issue, or in rare cases the car burning to the ground. 

Photography Credits

© Trevor Lyden, Subaru.com/motorsports, 2023

Hunter Courtin, Coachworksphoto: Instagram

Travis Gallatin, Gallatin Images: Instagram

The Olympus Rally has ended, marking the end of the third round of the 2023 Green APU American Rally Association season. Brandon Semenuk would take a dominant win once again. 

National Championship Standings

Brandon Semenuk would take his third event at win of the season at Olympus. This would allow Semenuk to extend his points lead over Patrick Gruszka from 27 to a comfortable 35-point lead. If Semenuk continues this pace he should have his second ARA championship in the bag by the end of the New England Forest Rally. Matthew Dickinson would remain third in the championship, although he would retire from Olympus meaning he took 0 points home from the event. Jeff Seehorn would move into a tie for fourth with Barry McKenna. With both drivers having 22 points under their belts. Tom Williams would get pushed out of the top five after once again retiring from the rally, therefore not taking home any points. 

National Championship Points After Olympus

1. B. Semenuk, 80
2. P. Gruszka, 45
3. M. Dickinson, 23
4. J. Seehorn, 22
5. B. McKenna, 22

RC2 Championship 

The RC2 class would see Patrick Gruszka take his second class win of the season. Gruszka now sits 39 points above Tom Williams in the championship standings. It won’t be easy for Williams to regain those championship points, but it is possible, as anything is possible in rally. For Williams to regain those points he would need a shift in luck from bad to good. 

RC2 Championship Points

1. P. Gruszka, 64
2. T. Williams, 25
3. K. Tilley, 17
4. M. Georgakopoulos, 17
5. R. Cordero, 12

O2WD Championship 

Lia Block would take a hard-fought O2WD class win at Olympus. This would allow Lia to both move into second place in the O2WD championship. As well as close the 30-point gap between her and leader Micah Nickelson down to just 5 points. With Nickelson not attending the Oregon Trail Rally next month it shouldn’t be hard for Lia to move into first overall in the championship. Lia will have to fight off more experienced drivers first, however. As Nick Allen who sits third in the championship, just 10 points back from Block will also be in Oregon next month. Other notable names attending the Oregon Trail Rally next month include Dave Clark, Michael Hooper and Tim O’Neil 

O2WD Championship Points 

1. M. Nickelson, 47
2. L. Block, 42
3. N. Allen, 32
4. D. Clark, 17
5. M. Hooper, 14
6. T. O’Neil, 14

LN4 Drivers Championship 

Matthew Dickinson will remain first in the LN4 Drivers Championship although the wouldn’t take home any points from Olympus. This would allow Jason Bailey to take the class win and move into second overall in the championship. Bailey now sits just 10 points back from Dickinson. With both the top two drivers attending Oregon Trail next month, it should be a fun battle to keep an eye on. Javier Olivares would technically fall to third overall, as the driver would sit tied for second in the championship heading into Olympus. Olivares would take second in the class at the event. Ele Bardha would move himself and his 2000 Subaru Prodrive GC8 into fourth place in the championship at Olympus.

LN4 Drivers Championship Points

1. M. Dickinson, 47
2. J. Bailey, 37
3. J. Olivares, 34
4. E. Bardha, 26
5. V. Trudel, 17

Photography Credit

© Trevor Lyden, Subaru.com/motorsports, 2023

Hunter Courtin, Coachworksphoto: Instagram

The Olympus Rally has ended, marking the end of the third round of the 2023 Green APU American Rally Association season. Brandon Semenuk would take home all 12 stage wins. 

SS1, Nahwatzel 1

Stage one would see Brandon Semenuk take the stage win, beating Tom Williams by 24.1 seconds. Patrick Gruszka would finish third on the stage, 44.2 seconds back from Williams. Alejandro Perusina would finish fourth on the stage, 2.1 seconds back from Gruszka. Jeff Seehorn would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 13.6 seconds back from Perusina. 

SS1 Top 10 Times

31. Semenuk, 15:31.1 
32. Williams, 15:33.2 (+24.1)
33. Gruszka, 16:39.4 (+1:08.3)
34. Perusina, 16:41.5 (+1:10.4)
35. Seehorn, 16:55.1 (+1:24.0)
36. Bailey, 17:25.0, (+1:53.9)
37. Plsek, 17:28.9 (+1:57.8)
38. Olivares, 17:43.5 (+2:12.4)
39. Miller, 17:47.2 (+2:16.1)
    
40. Bardha, 17:48.4 (+2:17.3)

SS2, Cougar Meadow 1

Stage two saw Brandon Semenuk win the stage once again, beating Tom Williams by 10.6 seconds. Jeff Seehorn would finish third on the stage, 7.5 seconds back from Williams. Patrick Gruszka would finish fourth on the stage, 1.8 seconds back from Seehorn. Alejandro Perusina would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 5.8 seconds back from Gruszka. 

SS2 Top 10 Times

21. Semenuk, 4:21.5 
22. Williams, 4:32.1 (+10.6)
23. Seehorn, 4:39.6 (+18.1)
24. Gruszka, 4:41.4 (+19.9)
25. Perusina, 4:47.2 (+25.7)
26. Olivares, 4:57.6 (+36.1)
    
27. Dickinson, 5:01.0 (+39.5)
    
28. Bailey, 5:01.9 (+40.4)
    
29. Block, 5:05.6 (+44.1)
    
30. Bardha,  5:05.9 (+44.4)

SS3, Nahwatzel 2

Stage three would see Brandon Semenuk once again take the stage win, beating Tom Williams by 22.7 seconds. Patrick Gruszka would finish third on the stage, 30.3 seconds behind Williams. Jeff Seehorn would finish fourth on the stage, 26.5 seconds behind Gruszka. Alejandro Perusina would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 19.8 seconds behind Seehorn. 

SS3 Top 10 Times

27. Semenuk, 15:27.8
28. Williams, 15:50.5 (+22.7)
29. Gruszka, 16:20.8 (+53.0)
30. Seehorn, 16:47.3 (+1:19.5)
31. Perusina, 17:07.1 (+1:39.3)
    
32. Bailey, 17:10.9 (+1:43.1)
    
33. Olivares, 17:16.6 (+1:48.8)
34. Miller, 17:36.3 (+2:08.5)
    
35. Bardha, 17:40.6 (+2:12.8)
    
36. Trudel, 17:52.0 (+2:24.2)

SS4, Cougar Meadow 2

Stage four saw Brandon Semenuk once again take the stage win, beating Tom Williams by 9.1 seconds. Jeff Seehorn would finish third on the stage, eight seconds back from Williams. Patrick Gruszka would finish fourth on the stage, 5.8 seconds back from Seehorn. Javier Olivares would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 10.6 seconds back from Gruszka. 

SS4 Top 10 Times

21. Semenuk, 4:21.3
22. Williams, 4:30.4 (+9.1)
23. Seehorn, 4:38.4 (+17.1)
24. Gruszka, 4:44.2 (+22.9)
25. Olivares, 4:54.8 (+33.5)
26. Perusina, 4:54.9 (+33.6)
    
27. Bailey, 4:57.5 (+36.2)
    
28. Block, 4:59.4 (+38.1)
    
29. Hooper, 5:00.5 (+39.2)
    
30. Block, 5:01.8 (+40.5)

SS5, Stillwater 1

Stage five would see Brandon Semenuk take the stage win, beating Tom Williams by 28.4 seconds. Patrick Gruszka and Jeff Seehorn would tie for third on the stage, with both finishing 44.8 seconds back from Williams. Jason Bailey would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 48.1 seconds back from Gruszka and Seehorn. 

SS5 Top 10 Times

12. Semenuk, 13:12.9
13. Williams, 13:41.3 (+28.4)
14. Gruszka, 14:26.1 (+1:13.2)
15. Seehorn, 14:26.1 (+1:13.2)
    
16. Bailey, 15:14.2 (+2:01.3)
    
17. Olivares, 15:17.4 (+2:04.5)
    
18. Block, 15:40.3 (+2:27.4)
19. Bardha, 15:42.0 (+2:29.1)
    
20. Honn, 15:44.3 (+2:31.4)
21. Miller, 15:48.1 (+2:35.2)

SS6, Stillwater 2

Stage six saw Brandon Semenuk once again take the stage win, beating Tom Williams by 25.9 seconds. Jeff Seehorn would finish third on the stage, one minute and 55.1 seconds back from Williams. Patrick Gruszka would finish fourth on the stage, finishing 7.5 seconds back from Seehorn. Jason Bailey would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 19.1 seconds back from Gruszka. 

SS6 Top 10 Times

34. Semenuk, 13:34.4
35. Williams, 14:00.3 (+25.9)
36. Seehorn, 15:55.4 (+2:21.0)
37. Gruszka, 16:02.9 (+2:28.5)
38. Bailey, 16:22.0 (+2:47.6)
39. Clark, 16:49.3 (+3:14.9)
40. Olivares, 17:08.1 (+3:33.7)
41. Hooper, 17:17.6 (+3:43.2)
42. Sperry, 17:20.3 (+3:46.0)
43. Allen, 17:21.0 (+3:46.6)

SS7, Wildcat

Stage seven would see Brandon Semenuk take another stage win, beating Tom Williams by 32.6 seconds. Jeff Seehorn would finish third on the stage, 1 minute and 15.5 seconds back from Williams. Javier Olivares would finish fourth on the stage, 33.3 seconds back from Seehorn. Patrick Gruszka would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 21.6 seconds back from Olivares. 

SS7 Top 10 Times

40. Semenuk, 20:40.5
41. Williams, 21:13.1 (+32.6)
42. Seehorn, 22:28.6 (+1:48.1)
43. Olivares, 23:01.9 (+2:21.4)
44. Gruszka, 23:23.5 (+2:43.0)
45. Bailey, 23:37.9 (+2:57.4)
46. Trudel, 23:55.5 (+3:15.0)
47. Miller, 24:00.0 (+3:19.5)
48. Bardha, 24:11.8 (+3:31.3)
49. Brassfeild, 24:18.1 (+3:37.6)

SS8, Dayton

Stage eight saw Brandon Semenuk take the stage win, beating Tom Williams by 13.7 seconds. Patrick Gruszka and Jeff Seehorn would tie for third on the stage, with both drivers finishing 19 seconds back from Williams. Jason Bailey would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 13.7 seconds back from Gruszka and Seehorn. 

SS8 Top 10 Times

47. Semenuk, 5:47.3
48. Williams, 6:01.0 (+[13.7)
49. Gruszka, 6:20.0 (+32.7)
50. Seehorn, 6:20.0 (+32.7)
51. Bailey, 6:33.7 (+46.4)
52. Olivares, 6:34.6 (+47.3)
53. Hartmann, 6:41.8 (+54.5)
54. Miller, 6:43.0 (+55.7
    
55. Block, 6:45.2 (+57.9)
    
56. Trudel, 6:46.5 (+59.2)

SS9, Wildcat

Stage nine would see Brandon Semenuk once again take the stage win, beating Tom Williams by 21.7 seconds. Patrick Gruszka would finish third on the stage 1 minute and 22.9 seconds back from Williams. Jeff Seehorn would finish fourth on the stage, 8 seconds back from Gruszka. Javier Olivares would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 27.4 seconds back from Seehorn. 

SS9 Top 10 Times

40. Semenuk, 20:40.7
41. Williams, 21:02.4 (+21.7)
42. Gruszka, 22:25.3 (+1:44.6)
43. Seehorn, 22:33.3 (+1:52.6)
44. Olivares, 23:00.7 (+2:20.0)
45. Bailey, 23:10.7 (+2:30.0)
46. Block, 23:43.9 (+3:03.2)
47. Miller, 24:03.9 (+3:23.2)
    
48. Trudel, 14:16.3 (+3:35.6)
49. Reavis, 24:16.4 (+3:35.7)

SS10, Dayton

Stage 10 saw Brandon Semenuk once again take the stage win, beating Tom Williams by 8.1 seconds. Jeff Seehorn would finish third on the stage, 11.7 seconds back from Williams. Patrick Gruszka would finish fourth on the stage, 2.1 seconds back from Seehorn. Jason Bailey would round out the top five on the stage, 17 seconds back from Gruszka.

SS10 Top 10 Times

47. Semenuk, 5:47.4 
48. Williams, 5:55.5 (+8.1)
49. Seehorn, 6:07.2 (+19.8)
50. Gruszka, 6:09.3 (+21.9)
51. Bailey, 6:28.3 (+38.9)
52. Olivares, 6:33.5 (+46.1)
53. Block, 6:35.0 (+47.6)
54. A Miller, 6:43.0 (+55.6)
55. Hartmann, 6:45.2 (+57.8)
    
56. Redd, 6:45.7 (+58.3)

SS11, SIP SuperSpecial 

Stage 11 would see Brandon Semenuk take the stage win, beating Tom Williams by 3.7 seconds. Patrick Gruszka would finish third on the stage, 7.4 seconds back from Williams. Jeff Seehorn would finish fourth on the stage, 10.1 seconds back from Gruszka. Jason Bailey would out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.4 seconds back from Seehorn. 

SS11 Top 10 Times

42. Semenuk, 4:42.6
43. Williams, 4:46.3 (+3.7)
44. Gruszka, 4:53.7 (+11.1)
45. Seehorn, 5:03.8 (+21.2)
46. Bailey, 5:06.2 (+23.6)
47. Block, 5:16.9 (+34.3)
48. Olivares, 5:19.4 (+36.8)
49. Block, 5:20.2 (+37.6)
50. Bardha, 5:21.3 (+38.7)
51. Redd, 5:27.1 (+44.5)

SS12, SIP SuperSpecial

Stage twelve would see somebody finally match Brandon Semenuk, technically. As a stoppage would force both Patrick Gruszka and Jeff Seehorn to transit the entirety of the stage. This came in accordance with ARA RCR 5.31. All three drivers would finish the stage with a time of 4:43.8. Jason Bailey would finish fourth on the stage, 27.2 seconds back from Semenuk, Gruszka and Seehorn. Lucy Block would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 7.3 seconds behind Bailey. 

SS12 Top 10 Times

43. Semenuk, 4:43.8
44. Gruszka, 4:43.8
45. Seehorn, 4:43.8
46. Bailey, 5:11.0 (+27.2)
47. Block, 5:18.3 (+34.5)
48. Olivares, 5:27.2 (+43.4)
49. Block, 5:29.3 (+45.5)
50. Brassfeild, 5:31.9 (+48.1)
51. Bardha, 5:35.9 (+52.1)
52. Clark, 5:41.3 (+57.5)

Stage One Cancelled

SS1 would be cancelled due to a car catching fire. That car would be car 282 driven by Mark Tabor. The cause of the fire is said to be because of a mechanical issue. Mark will not restart the rally, as well, he doesn’t have a car.

Stage Two Cancelled

SS2 would also be cancelled much like SS1. This time it was due to a time issue. As the stage was delayed due to a crash involving car number 307 driven by Spencer Crabb. This delay would ultimately take too long and too many drivers were backed up for the stage to run in enough time to be ready for SS4. 

Photography Credit

© Trevor Lyden, Subaru.com/motorsports, 2023