Subaru Rally Team Canada's Tom McGeer fought back from a 17-minute deficit to take fifth place in the Rally of the Tall Pines in Bancroft, Ontario, the final event of the 2003 Canadian Rally Championship. The finish by McGeer and co-driver Howard Davies means that McGeer retains his title as the North American Rally Cup driving champion. Before the event began, it was announced that McGeer had already amassed enough points to reclaim the 2003 Canadian driver's championship as well. It is McGeer's sixth Canadian championship.

Subaru's Patrick Richard, who won the 2002 Canadian driving title, was forced to retire from the Rally of the Tall Pines, but his performance throughout the season, combined with McGeer's success, gave Subaru the 2003 Canadian Manufacturers' Championship with 137 points, beating Mitsubishi by 8 points after a hard-fought season.

Julien Pilon, driving an Impreza sponsored by Lachute Subaru in Québec, claimed the North American Group N Driver's Championship.

A break-neck pace and unusually dry road conditions turned this year's Rally of the Tall Pines a war of attrition as only 16 out of 50 cars finished the race. The event was ultimately won by Mitsubishi's Frank Sprongl. Sprongl's strong tactical performance meant he finished just over six minutes ahead of the field even though he only won two stages outright.

The 2004 Subaru Canadian Rally Championship presented by Yokohama begins on February 7, with the Rallye Pierce-Neige in Maniwaki, Québec.

For more on the Subaru Canada Rally Team visit www.subarurallyteam.com. More information on the Canadian Association of Rallysport is available at their web site, www.carsrally.ca.