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Subaru Rally Team USA drivers Mark Lovell, 43, and Roger Freeman, 52 were both fatally injured Saturday, July 12th during the first special stage of the Oregon Trail ProRally event.

As the first car away from the starting line, Lovell (driver) and Freeman (Co-Driver) were the front runners in the event. The Subaru rally car that the two were driving stuck a tree at approx 80-130mph 0.9 miles into the stage. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.

The 2001 Overall Drivers Champion, Lovell is survived by his wife, Julia, and his children Oliver and Thomas. Roger Freeman is survived by his wife, Alison, and children Becky and John.

May they both rest in peace.

RIP

Mark was a idol to me.

Is there any information yet on what went wrong?

Rip fellas.

It is part of the game we play. They died doing what they loved.

Andy

What a tragic loss...

RIP, Mark and Roger!

:(

Very sad to hear. We just saw them up here when they ran the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb last month. Came within 3-4 seconds of winning it all, took their class. Very fast driver, and a super person. Everyone who met Lovell was impressed by his easy going nature. Very plesent to talk to none of the primadona attitude so common today in top levels of sports.

The information on what happened is coming out slowly. Some is to do with respect for the families and wanting to ensure all notifications were made. Some due to the fact folks tend to keep those details under their hat until the event is over. Many of the participants did not learn what had happened until the Oregan Trail rally was finished.

The news that has trickled out so far is that they left the road and impacted a very large tree directly on the drivers side door. The car then slid across the road and ended up in the opposite ditch. Both men apparently died instantly from massive head, neck and chest injuries. Some reports say they were declared dead at the scene, but some early reports stated that the co-driver was airlifted.

Note that that sort of impact is very difficult to protect the driver/co-driver against. There is very little space to absorb all the energy and the seats shoulder harnesses and roll cage structure are best suited to protect them in front end impacts and roll over situations.

The NASCAR drivers have repeatedly commented on how hard a hit they take when the car slaps the wall directly on the side. There is just no give in the structure and the G forces are very high.

Keep in mind this is third hand bits and pieces I've picked up so all is subject to change as more info is available.

The Law enforcement authorities have to finish their investigation before a lot will be available, and I'm sure the SCCA and Subaru are both doing internal investigations to see what they can learn.

Early indications are there was no mechanical failure. One rally driver who said he was familiar with the course speculated that that stretch of the road right out of the starting area has a high crown and lots of gravel on the edges of the road. If the driver sets up his turn too far on the off camber side of the roads crown he thought the first turn would be big trouble.


Again only a digest of bits and pieces so don't consider this solid info at this point.
Larry

very sad... a great loss to the rally community.

I just can't even believe it.

The community response is overwhelmingly positive it seems. This, in my eyes is a good thing.

As someone stated in their post at least these men died doing what they love, they were pursuing a goal and attempting to push the limits.

Maybe this will be an eye opener to many of today's youth that attempt to recreate the rally commercials on the streets and highways of highly populated areas. If two seasoned professionals of this calibre can die in a closed course, with all the variables in their favor, then that proves we're all just a little closer to mortality than we thought before.

Our hearts go out to the families.

sad days in the usa.. you guys are gunna be missed. my condolences to the families. long live swrt USA!

oh man, i just cant believe it. Just when SWRT was coming up with a really good team and driver, something horrible like this happens. My prayers go out towards there family and friends.

god speed and prayers to the families

It's funny how you can really connect with people sometimes without ever even meeting them, for me Mark was one of those people, he was one of my heros, I really enjoyed watching the way he made his car dance and and I'm gonna miss him. God's speed Mark and Roger and my heart goes out to their families and friends.

a tragic loss for both the swrt and the rally sport event, heart goes out to friends and families. God's speed Roger and Mark




TRIBUTE TO THEM

damn that sucks...

my heart goes out to their families.

My deepest sympathy to the families of Mark Lovell and Roger Freeman.

Saw them @ the Susquehannock Pro-Rally in Wellsboro, PA in early June. I remember how they took the turn we were camped out at--> FREAKIN' AWESOME......they knocked down the stop sign too :D

Legends leave our world doing what they love :(

Legends also live on forever in the hearts and minds of all Rally Enthusiats :)

:( :(
well sheeeeeeeeeit
my deepest sympathies to close one to lovell and freeman
they werent just another rally car driver and nav., they were icons to the american rally tradition
i hope they have moved on to a better place and godspeed to
MARK LOVELL and ROGER FREEMAN

I am still in shock...and I was at the rally. They will be missed...
Tina

Any updates on things, i never got alot of info. Pics? of the Car or something?

my deepest sympathy to thier families. they were an inspiration for us all...
-X:(

It is something we all aspire to do...be the best in our racing formum. It's sad that these gentlemen were taken out so visously. There was no main stream news of the ordeal, no break for silence...not even on speedtv. They are heros. What happened to them was not right. most don't even know. It's insult to death of two of the best in racing ever. I'll miss them greatly.

I find myself not wanting to race.

Well, anybody knows that the world of racing is a dangerous and sometime life-threatening sport, but they do it anyways because it is what they aspire to do. RIP gentlemen. :(

But on the bright side, they have all the time in the world now to do their drifting with their hair on fire in the great big rally course in the heavens.

Tim

I take my helmet off to those men, they were the best in what they loved and they loved what they did. My sympathy goes out to the families and all of those that they touched. Their lives expired doing the things that they loved. Long Live Mark and Roger may their memory live on forever . . .

i feel the same way you guys do....RIP

Actually, wasn't it mentioned on SpeedNews on Speed Channel? I thought that was where I first heard the news. It was also on Autoweek.com. But that's how racing usually is, if it isn't NASCAR the American public never hears about it. It's really a shame that guys like Lovell, Freeman and Possum Bourne never get the recognition of a Dale Earnhardt.

Originally posted by KMount
It is something we all aspire to do...be the best in our racing formum. It's sad that these gentlemen were taken out so visously. There was no main stream news of the ordeal, no break for silence...not even on speedtv. They are heros. What happened to them was not right. most don't even know. It's insult to death of two of the best in racing ever. I'll miss them greatly.

I find myself not wanting to race.
There was a short and respectful tribute at the end of the SCCA mid-season report on Speed channel.

Words can't convey the lose of these two Subaru Family members. I am happy in the sense that they perished doing what they loved doing, but I mourn the loss of these two men we so enjoyed watching do what we only wished we could. God bless your souls

This is truly a sad day. although everyone who enters the rally arena knows that danger may lurk aropund each and every turn, no one expects the sort of tragic end that befell these two spirited drivers may their families be strong........

I met the rally team less than a month ago at the Pikes Peak Rally Subaru Meet and Greet but Lovell was the only one I talked to. I consider myself lucky to have met this man and i aspire to be like him someday. My respect goes out to their friends and families.

RIP guys.

Hey guys... this is on the back cover of the current autoweek:

http://image.internetimagingnetwork.com/getImage?pid=ph71464780373&size=IMAGE_RES_4&mod=2003-7-24-21:46:8


I thought that was pretty cool... no advertising, no nothing. Very tasteful.

R.I.P guys....you will be missed...i have over 20 video clips of these guys terring it up..... u guys will be missed........

Originally posted by mule2k
Actually, wasn't it mentioned on SpeedNews on Speed Channel? I thought that was where I first heard the news. It was also on Autoweek.com. But that's how racing usually is, if it isn't NASCAR the American public never hears about it. It's really a shame that guys like Lovell, Freeman and Possum Bourne never get the recognition of a Dale Earnhardt.

I agree. I watched a local sports program that night and they didnt even get a mention. They will always be respected and missed. I really like that autoweek back cover. Its the least anyone could do for such phenomanal athletes.

We met Mark and Roger at a Subaru car show, Hueberger Subaru, in Colorado Springs the day before the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Fine gentlemen, both, easy going, fun to talk to, not prima-donnas. So sad. Hard to believe. Report here is that they were the second fastest up the hill of all classes which of course includes the open wheelers built just for this climb. GREAT drive for TWO drivers, not one, and a 4 door sedan not built especially for the Hill. Incredible! Greatly missed.