Oakley’s Andrew Comrie-Picard Rallies Onto X Games 16 Podium
The new X Games Rally Racing setup in the L.A. Coliseum may have been a perplexing circus. But Oakley’s Andrew Comrie-Picard – affectionately known as ACP – played the role of co-ringleader.
The North American Rally Champion raged his way into a Bronze medal finish despite a whole host of challenges placed in his crew’s way. The new venue (the past few X Games Rally races have been held in the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.), dramatic rule changes, new regulations on co-drivers and a lot less horsepower than rivals were major obstacles for ACP.
“We’ve competed at every X Games, but this year was probably the most challenging,” said ACP, who has enjoyed a killer year as a driver, TV host and team owner. “The venue change, the rules changes and running a car for a guest driver – all these things made concentrating on my own driving difficult, and yet we were lucky enough to come through with a medal.”
This year also marked the first year at X where European-format 600-horsepower cars were allowed. The problem was, ACP’s high-spec large turbo that was set for competition blew out, leaving him to compete with a stock Mitsubishi turbo and 40mm intake restrictor. That’s at least 200 hp less than most of the medal contenders. Not to mention, the unpopular course setup this year. But nothing stopped ACP and crew from blazing onto the podium behind Tanner Foust and the Metal Mulisha’s Brian Deegan.
“You work with what you have,” ACP said of his challenging day, alluding to his team’s mechanical disadvantages during the race. “We’ll be back next year with all the game we can muster, and we’ll be in it for the gold.”
Congratulations to ACP for kicking the tires and lighting the fires for the Big O.
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