This year’s Southern Ohio Forest Rally (SOFR) delivered exactly what fans have come to expect—wild weather, tough terrain, and relentless action. With everything from scorching heat to slick, rain-soaked roads, the rally tested every team’s grit and gear to the limit.

Pastrana & “Stitch” Charge to the Podium

For Subaru Motorsports USA, the weekend brought a rollercoaster of emotions. The spotlight shined brightly on Travis Pastrana and co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino as they debuted their all-new WRX ARA25L—nicknamed “Stitch”—in the Limited 4-Wheel Drive (L4WD) class.

The new machine came out swinging. “Started off the day really well… super excited by how the car is handling,” Pastrana said early in the rally. But the hot and humid Ohio weather brought trouble—a minor mechanical hiccup typical of a new build. Still, the seasoned duo pressed on.

Through a gauntlet of unpredictable stages—from bone-dry gravel to rain-slicked backwoods—they muscled their way to first in class and an impressive third overall.

“A lot of stuff happened to a lot of people,” Pastrana said at the finish. “But at the end of the day, we’re super excited. Learned a lot, had a lot of fun.”

Tough Luck and a Comeback for Semenuk

It was a tougher rally for Brandon Semenuk and co-driver Keaton Williams, the reigning champions. An off-course mishap during Friday’s stages knocked them out of contention for the win early.

Thanks to a herculean effort from the service crew, their WRX ARA25 was repaired and back on the course by Saturday. And they made it count—taking the win in the final Powerstage and collecting critical points to stay in the hunt for the championship.

“The Powerstage, it rained, but we managed to win that and get the points,” Semenuk said. “We’ll look forward to Ojibwe.”

A Veteran Returns: Lasek Joins the Fight

Adding another twist to the L4WD story, Bucky Lasek, former Subaru Rally Team USA driver, returned to the stages and claimed a strong second-place finish in class, right behind Pastrana.

What’s Next: Colorado & Ojibwe in the Crosshairs

With the first half of the American Rally Association (ARA) season in the books, things are heating up. Pastrana and “Stitch” will next hit the dirt at the ARA Super Regional Rally Colorado in July. Meanwhile, Semenuk has his eyes set on redemption at the Ojibwe Forests Rally in August.

As the summer rally season ramps up, one thing’s clear—the championship fight is just getting started.