“There were no winners this weekend.” – David Higgins

Mitsubishi Motors North America and Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America are deeply saddened at the loss of two rally legends at this weekend's SCCA Oregon Trail ProRally. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and Subaru Rally Team USA teammates of Mark Lovell and Roger Freeman. Mark and Roger were one of rallying's most respected teams, their skill and competitive spirit will be sorely missed by the entire rallying community.

Oregon Trail ProRally News and Notes:
In what has proved to be one of the saddest weekends in U.S. rally history, Subaru Rally Team USA’s lead team of Mark Lovell and Roger Freeman lost their lives in a high speed accident on the first stage of Day 1 at the Oregon Trail ProRally. Lovell and Freeman’s nearly 20 year long partnership in rallying saw them win the 1986 British Open Championship and the 1987 Irish Tarmac Championship. Lovell made the jump to the USA with Subaru in 2001 and won the SCCA ProRally Driver’s Championship that year. He recently linked up with Freeman again in 2003 and they tasted victory again together at 2003 Pikes Peak Int. HillClimb.

The decision was made by the rally organizers to continue with the event and Team Mitsubishi drivers David Higgins and Lauchlin O’Sullivan adopted a strategy of just completing the event safely. Higgins and co-drirver Daniel Barrit went on to win the event with teammates Lauchlin O’Sullivan and Christian Edstrom close behind in a solid third overall.

“There were no winners this weekend,” said Higgins, reflecting on the loss of competitors Mark Lovell and Roger Freeman of Subaru Rally Team USA on Saturday. “Those guys were true ambassadors for the Rally sport over here in America.”

“Those gentlemen were great champions and competitors,” said Richard Kelley, Motor Sports Manager for Mitsubishi Motors North America. “Our team feels for their families, teammates and for all of those who were a part of their extended families.”

“We just wanted to get in as safely and as steadily as we could,” said Christian Edstrom, co-driver for O’Sullivan. “We set out that way and that’s what we did, we’re happy with the finish,” added O’Sullivan.