Detota and Warren Climb to the Clouds

Team RallyErika head to Subaru Mt.Washington Hill Climb June 26th-29th in Pinkham, Notch, NH a round of the Rally America Championship

Chelsmford, MA: 2013 Atlantic Rally Cup winner and all-women team of Erika Detota and Mary Warren will attack the famous road to the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire as part of a fifth round of Rally America National Championship series seen on NBC Sports Network.

The historic event, also known as the “Climb to the Clouds” is organized by the Sports Car Club of New Hampshire and will be a 3-day motorsports festival including a 75-car competition field filled with some of the best drivers from around the world. The race is one of America’s oldest motorsports events, first run in July, 1904, twelve years before the inaugural Famous Pikes Peak Hillclimb. The Climb to the Clouds was held sporadically through the years. Following a ten-year hiatus, the Hillclimb returned in 2011 as part of the 150th anniversary celebration of the Mt. Washington Auto Road, first opened on August 8, 1861. The team will drive the same 7.6 mile course, but this year it is nearly 87% asphalt and only 13% still gravel. The challenging road is lined with trees on the lower half with dramatic drop-offs as it winds up to the 6,288 foot summit of the Northeast’s tallest peak – Mt. Washington.

“We are very excited to be invited to such a prestigious event,” said Detota. “Mary and I are honored to be given the chance to test our skills alongside the current record holder. I’m hoping our tarmac experience will help us.”

At the 2011 running of the event David Higgins set a new overall course record of 6:11.54 in a Subaru WRX STi. Detota’s Subaru Impreza 2.5 is not equipped with the same power and traction as Higgin’s, but the team is hoping to record one of the fastest times up for an all-woman team.

“I am interested to see how we do on such a steep incline at the highest altitude we have ever raced” says Detota’s navigator Mary Warren. “We will be writing our own notes for the climb which will be key to carry speed up the mountain.”

Team RallyErika will bring a new sponsor with them to Mount Washington – DriveSafer. DriveSafer, provides the premier teen car control and defensive driving courses in the US, preparing students to control their vehicles in the face of real-world distractions and dangers that take thousands of lives annually. “Last year I started working with the awesome group of people at DriveSafer. It has been amazing to have the opportunity to instruct and help people become better drivers. It’s great to have DriveSafer with me at the Climb to the Clouds.”, says Erika.

Detota’s car is also the only 2WD Subaru in the rally car class. “It is not a perfect set up against the 2WD field racing up the mountain, as our car is build specifically for rally stages, but we are hoping for a good result.”

Rally America portion of the event will consist of almost 27 competitive stage miles. While the other hillclimb teams practice on Friday and Saturday, rally team’s times will count for the final result at the event. The hillclimb will feature an open public paddock where the fans can get an up close look at the cars, meet teams and get autographs.

Team RallyErika is supported by Ruge’s Subaru of Rhinebeck, NY, Keep a Breast Foundation, DriveSafer LLC, Spy Optics, Exedy Racing Clutch, HMS Motorsport, Flat Out Automotive, DBA USA and Whiteline.