NEWRY — The New England Forest Rally will team up with Sunday River Ski Resort for the 26th annual New England Forest Rally on Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16.
The race, headquartered at Sunday River and sanctioned by Rally America, is a two-day stage rally on the back roads and logging tracks of western Maine and northern New Hampshire.
The race begins at 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 15, with a chance for fans to see the rally cars up close, meet the drivers, co-drivers and crews, and get autographs. It will run from 7 to 8:30 a.m.
Friday’s race begins at 11 a.m. with drivers covering approximately 32 miles. Saturday’s race will cover 70 miles, according to the rally’s website.
While the events of the rally will remain similar to previous years, New England Forest Rally Chairman Tim O’Neil said the rally lost the use of more than 20 miles of road.
“A few raucous rally fans got out of control last year, and their poor behavior caused us to lose over 20 miles of road,” he said. “Landowners take on a lot of risk by allowing us to use their roads, so this year, many have stipulated that we keep fans out of certain stages.”
Those stages will remain open to the drivers, though spectators will have to find a different place to watch.
“There will still be plenty for rally fans to see, but we will have to limit access to some locations that have been open to the public in the past,” O’Neil said.
Among the drivers participating this year are defending champion David Higgins and Bucky Lasek, an acclaimed skateboarder who has won six gold medals at the X Games, will also participate.
“The first rally I watched in person was last year at the New England Forest Rally, so it will be a special experience to return there as a driver,” Lasek said in a news release.
Also competing this year are Ryan Millen and co-driver Christina Fate in a 2016 Toyota RAV4; Troy Miller and co-driver Jeremy Miller in a 2011 Subaru WRX STi; and Bangor residents John Cassidy and co-driver Dave Getchell in a 2003 Suburu STi.
Sunday River will provide shuttle bus transportation to and from the stages along the race track.
Passes are $10 per person for Friday, and $15 per person for Saturday.
For more information on the rally, visit www.newenglandforestrally.com.
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