Quintero Fights Back to Power Stage Win at Ojibwe

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) demonstrated strong pace at its first Ojibwe Forests Rally (August 28–29), where Seth Quintero and co-driver Topi Luhtinen returned from an opening-day retirement to claim four stage wins, including the Power Stage, in the GR Corolla Rally RC2.

After setting the second-fastest time on Friday’s opening stage, Quintero again showed front-running pace on the following test before clipping a rock on the inside of a corner and damaging a control arm. With the car unable to be recovered from the stage in time to continue the day, the crew was forced to retire from Friday’s competition before returning under ARA’s restart rules on Saturday.

Following repairs by the TGR-WRT crew, Quintero and Luhtinen immediately returned to the pace they had shown before the retirement, with the GR Corolla Rally RC2 running without further issue. Across Saturday’s forest stages through the Power Stage, the crew finished either first or second on every test, taking four stage victories.

Their recovery culminated on the second running of Otterkill, where Quintero set the fastest time to win the Power Stage and collect five additional championship points. The crew then closed out the rally with the two super special stages in downtown Bemidji, putting on a show for the large crowds gathered at the Sanford Center. The performance provided a strong finish to the weekend after the opening-day setback and demonstrated the pace Quintero has developed during his first season of ARA competition.

Quintero and Luhtinen remain second in the ARA National Championship standings with two rounds of the season remaining.

Quotes:
Seth Quintero (Driver, car No. 103)
“Ojibwe was a tough one for us, but honestly still a great weekend of learning. We clipped a rock early on the second stage and broke a control arm, which ended our day pretty quick. The guys worked hard to get the car fixed so we could restart on day two, and I’m really glad we did, because we got the Power Stage win and some valuable championship points, and then the two stages in Bemidji were a blast.
The fans out there were awesome, so it was cool to put on a bit of a show for them. Every mile in this car is experience for me, and we’ll take all of it to Tennessee. I’m already looking forward to Overmountain.”

What’s next?
The ARA National Championship continues with Overmountain Rally Tennessee (September 18–19), where Quintero and Luhtinen will be joined by TGR-WRT’s Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja in a second GR Corolla Rally RC2 as the team’s North American rally program continues.

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