Two-time Rally America PGT champion Matthew Johnson will step up to Open class competition with Team RalliSpec for the 2008 season, campaigning all rounds of the Rally America National Championship and vying for entry into the X Games with the Hankook RalliSpec Rally Team.
Subaru rally specialist RalliSpec Ltd. (http://www.rallispec.com), based out of New Jersey, will build and support a new 2007 Subaru WRX STI to debut at the second round of the championship in Missouri.
RalliSpec team manager Dave Anton, who claimed the 2006 Rally America Group N driver’s title, is excited about the team’s new direction.
Photo: Rally America
“I think this partnership with Matthew is what we all need to step up to the next level,” said Anton. “He’s shown himself to be a rising star within the sport, and he drives with a level of maturity and consistency that is required to win championships. RalliSpec is thrilled to have the opportunity to put together a top level program for Matthew and Hankook.”
RalliSpec brings a wealth of knowledge accumulated over nine years of involvement with Subarus in rallying. RalliSpec is no stranger to Open class victory, having provided the engine and driveline support which helped Matt Iorio achieve back-to-back wins in 2006 on his way to claiming the North American Rally Cup.
Johnson, who will again partner with co-driver Jeremy Wimpey, is enthusiastic about their prospects for 2008.
“To say that I’m all fired up about working with RalliSpec and moving to Open class for 2008 would be an understatement,” said Johnson. “I can’t sit still, I’m so excited. Hankook and I were both ready for Open class competition after another successful season in 2007. Then, before you know it, Dave from RalliSpec stepped in and started filling in the blanks. He’s good like that, always looking ahead.”
The opening round of the 2008 Rally America National Championship Series season will see Johnson swapping cars with Todd Moberly, allowing Johnson to maximize his championship opportunities while Moberly investigates a potential move to PGT. However, the remainder of the season will be in a car purpose-built by RalliSpec to take maximum advantage of the Open class regulations.
Sponsor Hankook will provide the latest rally tire technology, and RalliSpec is also working closely with suspension specialists RS&SP, who have provided a custom-designed suspension for the team.
