Chris Duplessis and co-driver Alex Kihurani are trying to become the first all-American team in four decades to take on the gravel, forest, and yumps of the World Rally Championship's Rally Finland, but they're still $11,686 (as of this writing) short of their fundraising goal. You can help by visiting their IndieGogo page and donating.
If you do, you'll get one of a fantastic (and at times fanciful) gifts in return for your money--in addition to the satisfaction of having helped revive the American rallying spirit.
Who is Chris Duplessis? He's a long-time American rally driver, having worked his way up from a 1990 VW Golf to the WRC Academy, which takes 10 of the top rally drivers under 25 years of age (and their co-drivers) as a ladder to, hopefully, higher levels of pro rally. Duplessis is the only North American among the 10 competing in the Academy this year. The problem is, if Duplessis and Kihurani miss this round, they'll be ineligible for the rest of the Academy season.
Donation amounts start as low as $35, and you'll get either a pair of sunglasses or a T-shirt in return. If you've got more cash to spare, you can get a personal tutorial on Finnish pace notes from co-driver Kihurani, a ride with Duplessis in the DirtFish Fiesta after the Olympus rally this September, or even a chance to hang out, in person, with the DirtFish World Rally Team in Finland.
Thanks to Sam Smith for bringing this to our attention!
