CACHE CREEK, BC – The village of Cache Creek will soon play host to an intense motorsports competition as rally teams from around BC, Alberta and the Northwest all converge there for the Pacific Forest Rally on September 15 ^th.  This rally event for production-based cars is the fifth round of the 2001 Western Canadian Rally Championship and is shaping up to be the premiere race event of the season!

Currently the western series is lead by young Calgary sensation, Janusz Komorowski, but there are three other drivers nipping at his heels.  Komorowski won the opening round in Cochrane, Alberta, while subsequent rallies have been won by three other drivers, among them Port Alberni, BC's Dave Koszegi.

Back on May 20^th, Koszegi made his 2001 racing debut in a new vehicle at the Big Horn Rally in Edson, Alberta.  He lead the charge of local racing talent, finishing first among western-based drivers in his Subaru Legacy.  Strong finishes at the two following events has left Koszegi second in the standings, right behind Komorowski. "I am quite happy with my progress this year, especially having made the jump to the front of the pack in a more competitive car," said Koszegi. "Things are looking really good right now and we have a real chance of staying out front." Other BC teams fighting for the championship, include Vancouver-based RRun Racing's Mark Ward. Going into the Pacific Forest Rally, Ward and co-driver Ken Kwong have a string of consistent top finishes behind them.  After stunning many by coming second in the first rally of the season, Ward and Kwong have finished high in every other event and now find themselves fourth in the standings, a mere two points behind Koszegi. "We've had a great season so far and just seem to be getting quicker with each event," commented Kwong. "The competition has been heating up and at the Pacific Forest Rally we'll be right in there going for it!" Meanwhile, the organizers of the rally are working feverishly to deliver a national-caliber event in and around the spectacular Arrowstone Hills near Cache Creek.  This year marks the final "dress rehearsal" for the event as it seeks to join the national series as a part of the Subaru Canadian Rally Championship, which is broadcast regularly on TSN.  Observers will be on hand to evaluate the rally and the village of Cache Creek promises to deliver a venue well-suited to events on the national stage. There will be plenty of opportunities to catch the teams in action, both on the mountain roads and right in Cache Creek.  The rally starts early on September 15^th at Kal Tire, near the junction of highway 97 and highway 1.  Later, teams will return there for a service stop, before heading back into the hills and finally winding up at the Desert Motel back in Cache Creek at the end of the day. For more information about this event check out the BC rally website: www.rallybc.com or contact organizer Paul Westwick at (604) 682-3296, or via e-mail: paul@rallybc.com For more information: Contact the organizer, Paul Westwick at (604) 682-3296, or the Rally Master, Dennis Wende at (604) 931-8681.

Rally Head Quarters will be at the Wander Inn Restaurant, 1034S Trans Canada Hwy, Cache Creek.

For Media Accreditation contact: Bill Westhead, Media Liaison (604) 707-3305 e-mail: bill@rallybc.com