MAXXIS HONDA AMERICA RACING TEAM
TAKES ON THE RALLY IN THE 100 ACRE WOOD
Now part of the American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship, the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood is one of the most challenging events in the sport, requiring drivers to negotiate 13 stages over 102 miles filled with fast straights. The course also includes the infamous Southern Loop stage, known for its extremely rough terrain and large water crossing.
Racing in the large L4WD class and up against tough competition, Chris Sladek and Brian Penza were 30th out of a total of 90 vehicles overall, driving a Honda Passport equipped with Maxxis Razr MT tires. According to Sladek, the Razr MTs provided great grip in very muddy conditions, and they had no trouble with the tires throughout the entire weekend. The Razr MT was developed for mud terrain, with Maxxis engineers drawing on the company’s years of involvement in off-road racing to optimize the tire’s performance.
Competing in the L2WD class, Paul Hubers and Gabriel Nieves drove a 2017 Honda Civic outfitted with Maxxis Victra R19 tires. Like their teammates, Hubers and Nieves had no tire-related problems throughout the race. “The R19’s did quite well,” said Hubers. “Lateral grip was very good, and any lateral grip drop-off was smooth and manageable through a slide. This was a great event for the R19s with relatively consistent surface in both high and low-speed corners. Additionally, there were no de-beads or punctures during the event, despite the bountiful supply of sharp, loose stones.” The Victra R19 was designed for gravel rally conditions, with reinforcements in the tread and sidewall maximizing durability.
The Maxxis-HART Rally Team has been competing in stage rally for years under the HPD Maxxis Rally name and is made up of Honda associates who work in the company’s facilities in Ohio. The next Maxxis-HART Rally Team event will be the Southern Ohio Forest Rally (SOFR) scheduled for June 9-12 in Chillicothe and Portsmouth, Ohio.
