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For Immediate Release February 20, 2007
Quantum Rally Sport Dominates Season Opener
On February 17 2007, 68 teams descended on Cheraw, South Carolina for the Sandblast Rally. Sandblast www.sandblastrally.com is the season opener and also the first event with points up for grabs in both the 2007 Eastern States Rally Championship (ESRC) and the 2007 United States Rally Championship (USRC). The event covered nine stages and more than 75 miles of competitive racing. With the addition of motorcycles to the entry list, record crowds of excited spectators were lined up along the stages to catch a glimpse of the thrilling action.
Photo coutesy of SandBlast Rally and Bill Benak
With 20 two-wheel drive vehicles arriving to challenge the deep and rutted sand roads of Cheraw, the competition was fierce but proved no match for the twin brothers Josh and Jeremy Wimpey of Quantum Rally Sport in their VW GTi, who finished 1st in two-wheel drive and 7th overall in the event.
The racing started off well enough for the pair, who began 14th on the road and immediately took a 27-second lead over the rest of the 2wd competition on the first 14.5-mile stage. Unfortunately, they lost their power-steering belt halfway through Stage 1, making life a little more difficult for driver Josh Wimpey. The duo continued to set the 2wd bar all day long with a string of top 10 overall stage times. They bested many of the four-wheel drive competitors’ times, gaining both respect and road position.
Photo coutesy of SandBlast Rally and John Baldwin
Eric Burmiester, MazdaSpeed Factory Rally Driver, commented that he was, “Very impressed with team Wimpey/Wimpey. Don’t know how you got a VW through there that quick, but I sure appreciate a good drive when I see one!”
By early afternoon, the Wimpeys were 8th on the road and determined to maintain a quick pace to solidify their already comfortable lead in 2wd. The long day of racing came to an end with two stages run in the dark. Despite not bringing auxiliary lights, the team managed to pack another handful of seconds between themselves and their rivals on the night stages. Needless to say, they are happy with their start to the season.
SandBlast Media mentioned that, “Josh Wimpey and Jeremy Wimpey proved that it is not always about your drive train, as their small displacement two wheel drive car muscled its way up to an astonishing seventh overall in the deep sand. Rafal Listopad and Gregorz Dorman were unable to match the pace, and took second behind the Wimpey team.”
Photo coutesy of SandBlast Rally and Bill Benak
Ready for action and servicing for the Wimpey team was Delta-V Motorsports www.DeltaVmotorsports.com owner Jeff Smith who complained that he didn’t have enough work to do as the car needed nothing more than fuel and window washing throughout the day. Undoubtedly, the car’s winter hibernation at his shop in Richmond, VA paid off. Quantum Rally Sport is proud to continue a partnership with Delta-V and is excited to have also joined forces with NGP Racing of Aberdeen, MD www.NGPracing.com , Victory By Design Graphics href=”http://www.VBDgraphics.com” mce_href=”http://www.VBDgraphics.com”>www.VBDgraphics.com , and L and E Fabrication href=”http://www.LandEFab.com” mce_href=”http://www.LandEFab.com”>www.LandEFab.com , and continues to chase contingencies from RaceTech Seats, and Hankook Tires.