Lovell and Freeman killed in SCCA Oregon Trail Rally

I heard about this yesterday, but I didn\'t know if I should post it because I wasn\'t sure if anyone would care.  To me it\'s very sad.  These guys were giants in SCCA ProRally.

Lovell and Freeman killed in Oregon  
 Germany · Subaru · 14/07/2003 08:46:28

Former British Rally Champions Mark Lovell and his navigator Roger Freeman have both been killed in a first-stage accident on the latest round of the SCCA ProRally Championship in the United States.

The pair\'s Subaru USA-backed Impreza left the road just after the start of the first test of the Oregon Trail Rally. Reports suggest that their car struck a tree before landing in a ditch at the other side of the road. On-side medical staff were quickly on the scene, but Lovell (pictured on the right)  and Freeman (left) had both died instantly.

Prodrive, which runs the team on behalf of Subaru USA, is working with the event organisers and the authorities to establish what led to the accident. Next of kin for both families have been informed.
 
David Richards, chairman of Prodrive, said: "Everyone at Prodrive is shocked at the news. Mark and Roger have been a part of the team at Prodrive for many years and they will both be sorely missed. Our thoughts and sympathies are with both families and friends."

Team Sporting Manager, David Campion, said, "Today is the saddest day\'s rallying I can ever remember. I have been competing with both Mark and Roger for twenty years now and for their careers to be cut short like this is a tragic, tragic blow. Both were complete professionals in their preparation and approach to what they regarded as a life-long passion. Words cannot describe the feelings of everyone within the team from Subaru, STI and Prodrive.

"What more can I add to say, except that both have left a huge gap in the team. Our thoughts are with Julia and Alison and their children at this time."

The crew\'s partnership stretched back 20 years. They won the British Open crown in a works Ford RS200 in 1986 and followed that up with the Irish Tarmac title in 1987. After various spells together, they had only recently rejoined their partnership, as part of Subaru\'s well-supported campaign in the top American championship.

sigh...this brings tears to my eyes...

They are the people who give Subaru its meanings.

Hope they are better where they are now.

First Possum Bourne and now these two.

Its sad, rallying is an excellent, exciting sport, too bad things like this happen.