Lisa Klassen, Team Rallye Star: 1983 Toyota Corolla & 1999 Mitsubishi Evolution 6

Cars Name: Anakin Make/model/year: 1983 Toyota Corolla Spec: NASA/Rally America spec rally car competing in the Open 2WD and Group 5 classes Engine: 2.0 L. DOHC 4-AGE built by Amazon Automotive, 220 HP Suspension: Bilstein shocks, custom made springs   Name: Vegas Make/model/year: 1999 Mitsubishi Evolution 6 Spec: NASA/Rally America spec rally car competing in the Open 4WD and class Engine:4G63 DOHC, turbocharged with HKS bits, about 230 HP with a restrictor Suspension: Bilstein shocks   Bio 26 year-old Lisa Klassen was just like any other girl growing up in Southern California, interested in music, clothes and the mall. That is until her brother introduced her to the world of rally racing. Together they watched the World Rally Championship on TV and participated in time/speed/distance rallies designed to be run in street cars on public roads. When the WRC came of Mexico in 2004, Lisa grabbed her brother and went to watch. When she heard the banging and popping of the WRC and felt the excitement of the service area, she knew rallying was for her.   To get a better idea of the sport, Lisa began as a volunteer at the Rim of the World Rally and again at the Treeline Rally, where she met Leon Styles, the former SCCA Pro Rally Champion. Leon became her mentor, helping her learn how to rally drive and manage her team and in August of 2004, Lisa competed in her first rally in a 1976 Toyota Corolla. After several more rallies with her Corolla, Lisa moved on to a bigger motor and a better car, a 1983 Corolla. During her first season, she climbed her way through the rallying ranks, competing in races in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Tennessee and her home state hoping only to gain experience and grow as a driver.   During the end of her first year in competition, Lisa was driving faster and taking her car to the limits of his performance. She needed a boost. In August of 2005, Bilstein joined the Rallye Star team and it was with the addition of their high quality suspension components that Lisa was able to master the handling of her car and take her first class win over faster and more advanced cars at the Gorman Rally. Her results only got better and by the end of the season she became the first female and the youngest person to become the Western States Rally Champion in Group 5 (open 2WD). She also earned third place honors in the California Rally Series’ championship for both rallies and rally crosses for Open 2WD cars.   In her second year of rallying, Lisa continues to push her limits with times in the top ten at Rim of the World Rally, one of the largest events in the country, and another class win at the Desert Storm Rally. In June of 2006 at the Treeline Rally, Lisa stepped up into the open 4WD class in a Bilstein-equipped 1999 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6. She won two of the five stages she completed and was quickly given the same speed ranking as other drivers with more experience and faster cars. Lisa will complete the 2006 season in the Evo and in her Corolla in hopes of winning a championship in the California Rally Series. Next year, she hopes to compete in a major championship in the Evo.   Please visit www.rallyestar.com to learn more about Lisa and her team.