After blowing through 100 miles of unforgiving stages at the New England Forest Rally, Ryan Millen and his 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE were able to snag a second-place win in the 2WD Class. The victory keeps Millen and co-driver, Christina Fate, in the running for the championship, with just two races left.
By the close of Stage 1, Millen trailed behind two other top competitors by only a few seconds. However, after the first day of the rally concluded, the RAV4 was able to strategically slide into second place. “The stages were fast and flowy,” said Millen. “Day one had us trailing slightly, but we knew most of the rally took place the next day, so that’s where the real time could be made.”
On the final day of the two-day competition, Millen really put the pedal to the metal. The dynamic team forged far ahead of other competitors to end the rally with a second-place victory. It was a heart-pounding performance that kept Millen just a few points away from a first-place win.
Other than a bent wheel, the RAV4 ran perfectly throughout the entire rally. And like previous races, Millen and Fate took every turn and twist with grace. “It was a nearly perfect drive,” said Millen. “I gave it all I had. We didn’t leave much on the table. I’d love to have had a five point lead going into the next race, but second keeps us in the hunt, and we’re feeling good going into the last couple races of the season."
Millen and his team now move onto the Ojibwe Forests Rally in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota on Friday, August 26, 2016.
