Last month’s surprising news about Subaru Rally Team USA’s Dave Mirra contracting Bacterial Meningitis prompted an outpouring of well wishes from fans and competitors on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Mirra faced the more severe form of Meningitis that causes inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. If left untreated the infection could ultimately result in damage to the brain. But with early detection and diagnoses Bacterial Meningitis is treatable towards a full recovery.

Fortunately a month and a half break on the Rally America National calendar is giving Mirra the time he needs, but the infection still placed Mirra’s Olympus Rally participation in doubt and the Subaru Rally Team USA took a wait and see approach to his recovery.

Not making the Olympus Rally could be a serious blow to a Championship title when every point counts in the new 6-event season format. Mirra is currently tied with Travis Hanson for 5th place overall and within striking distance of points leader Antoine L’Estage leading up to the Olympus Rally.

Already the Olympus Rally is seeing a plethora of Championship caliber teams vying for top honors and an X Games 16 invitation. Mirra’s ability to be a top 5 finisher directly impacts other teams’ ability to net the points they need if he is there or not.

Can Dave Mirra recover in time and be well enough to compete? In an exclusive Rally America Q&A Dave Mirra speaks out about his ordeal and gives us the word about his Olympus Rally participation!

Photo Credits: Lars Gange/Subaru Rally Team USA/Rally America

RA: Can you explain your ordeal with the Bacterial Meningitis and your time in the hospital?

DM: It was is the gnarliest thing I’ve ever had.  It started out one morning after breakfast with flu like symptoms. As it progressed, I could barely walk.  I had no choice but to go to the emergency room. After a ton of tests, they checked me into the hospital where I stayed for the next 6 days. Following the hospital I was on some pretty heavy medicine for the next 11 days. The tough part was after going home from the hospital i had a pick line for the anti-biotics. So I had to sit for 1 hour 3 times a day and take my medicine through an I.V. Crazy.

RA: How is your recovery going, how do you feel now and will you be 100% for the Olympus Rally at the end of this month?

DM: My recovery has been great.  I’m back on the road bike and hitting the gym daily and getting my strength back.  It was a tough ordeal that took a lot out of me. But I will be 100% in Olympus and I’m very grateful for that.

RA: Have you ever had anything this serious happen to you before, or have you ever had anything like this before?

DM: This was the most serious sickness I’ve ever had. Luckily I came out with a 100% recovery and no serious side effects which is extremely lucky.

RA: What are your expectations for the Olympus Rally?

DM: I can’t wait to get to Olympus and get back in my Subaru. My goal is to step up my pace and enjoy some of the most amazing roads in the country.

RA: With a snow event and a gravel event under your belt now in the new more powerful Open Class Car (after having competed in the lower spec Super Production Class in 2009) what are your key goals for Olympus with regard to your driving and getting up to speed with the car?

DM: Olympus will be a great rally, with the roads being so technical, to get to know my open class Subaru much better and step up my pace to stay competitive in the overall championship points. This season means alot to me so finishing is very important since you can’t drop any events in the points tally.  We are doing some pre-event testing with Travis and so I should be really comfortable in the car for Olympus. I’m really looking forward to it.

Photo Credits: Lars Gange/Subaru Rally Team USA/Rally America

Event schedules, team entries, and a (soon to be available) spectator guide complete with driving directions can be located at: http://rally-america.com/events/2010/Olympus/

Top teams in the Series are also invited to compete in the Summer X Games 16 Rally Car Racing event, the leading action sports event broadcast live on ABC and ESPN.

About Rally America, Inc.:
Based in Golden Valley, Minn., Rally America sanctions the premier rally racing series in the United States, the Rally America National Championship Series. In 2010, Rally America will conduct six National Championship events at venues across the country, from Olympia, Wash., to Bethel, Maine. Rally America competitors reach speeds well over 100 mph in modified street cars on natural-terrain courses of gravel, dirt or snow. In the Fall of 2010, Rally America will also introduce European-style wheel-to-wheel rally cross to North America.  For more information regarding Rally America, Inc., the 2010 Rally America National Rally Championship or the new European-style rally cross events taking place at the New Jersey Motor Sports Park in the fall of 2010, please call (763) 553-2742 for details or visit http://www.rally-america.com.

Rally America, Inc. is proudly supported by Subaru of America, Inc., BFGoodrich Tires, Able Planet, RECARO, Exedy Racing Clutches, Hawk Performance Brakes, Rally-Tire.com, Mazda and the Team O’Neil Rally School, the official rally school of Rally America.  For more information regarding Rally America, visit http://www.rally-america.com.