February 11 , 2000
For more information, contact: Paul Giblin (802) 655-3533
E-mail: paulgiblin@usa.net

Jon Pizzagalli Returns To Compete In Subaru Canadian Rally Championship


Colchester, VT - Officials at Vermont SportsCar announced today that former South Burlington, Vermont resident Jon Pizzagalli, now based in Charlotte, North Carolina, will be returning to the Northeast this weekend to compete in the second round of the 2000 Subaru Canadian Rally Championship - the Perce Neige Rallye.

Pizzagalli, who has been competing in the sport of "Performance Rally" competition since 1991, will be driving a Vermont SportsCar-prepared "Group N" Mitsubishi Lance Evolution V in this weekends professional event which will take place in Maniwaki, Quebec. After relocating to North Carolina in late 1998, Pizzagalli reduced his involvement in the sport to several professional rally events in the United States and Canada per year, with his last event being the Black River Stages in northern New York state this past October which he won overall.

Having posted victories in a variety of professional rally classes throughout the years, Pizzagalli stands a very good chance of capturing a good result in this weekends rally in Canada. Vermont SportsCar owner, Lance Smith, will serve as Pizzagalli's Co-Driver or Navigator for the event, which will cover a total of 450 kilometers, 250 of which will be special "high-speed" stages on ice and snow-covered roads.

"We're looking forward to having Jon drive our Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V in Canada this weekend," stated Vermont SportsCar owner Lance Smith, "he's a proven winner with great ability and has already driven the Mitsubishi to an overall win once before in New York late last year. Although he competed in this Canadian event once before, it wasn't in this car. We're hoping to come away from this weekend's rally with a top-5 finish, so anything better would be fantastic!"

For more information regarding Jon Pizzagalli's return to Performance Rally competition, Vermont SportsCar or the Perce Neige Rallye, please contact Paul Giblin, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Vermont SportsCar by telephone at (802) 655-3533 or by E-mail at: paulgiblin@usa.net