BMX Legend Dave Mirra to make rally car debut

BMX legend Dave Mirra will make his competitive rally racing debut this weekend at The Rally of the Tall Pines, the last round of the 2007 Canadian Rally Championship, in Ontario, Canada.

Mirra drive a Monster Energy Subaru Impreza rally car as part of the Vermont SportsCar team. His team-mate for the weekend, in a second car, will be Ken Block, who narrowly missed out on winning the 2007 Rally America National Championship at the final round last month.

Mirra, who turned pro in 1992, holds the record for most X Games medals, (and most Gold medals), and has medaled in every X Games since they started in 1995. His current X Games medal count is 21.

"Going to my first rally and being able to do it with Ken Block is a priceless opportunity. Since this is my first rally I just need to finish and get the experience," explains Mirra. "If everything goes as planned, my goal is to race most of the 2008 Rally America National Championship and get my full Rally America license so I can drive a more powerful car later in the year."

Mirra isn't just jumping into his first event with no training. He's coming off a four-day Team O'Neil Rally School session and a private two-day training session with rally legend John Buffum, where he honed his newly learned skills even further. Mirra will drive an entry level specification Subaru Impreza with a non-turbo motor and limited modifications. Experienced Canadian Alan Ockwell will serve as his co-driver.

Mirra is enjoying the support of Block. "The reason for going to the Tall Pines Rally is to hang out with Dave Mirra for his first ever rally race. He is good friend of mine, ... so I want to try and help him get through his first event the best that I can," said Block.

Mirra is not the only cyclist to race rally cars. Team Giant's Carl Decker and Adam Craig, both mountain bikers, make regular rally car race appearances.