Subaru Rally Team USA’s David Higgins and Craig Drew have accrued a phenomenal lead during day 2 of the 2012 Oregon Trail Rally. Winning five of the day’s seven stages, SRT USA #75 is two minutes and fifty-four seconds ahead of the competition.

While they’ve done well overall, the day got off to a rough start with a dramatic surface change that resulted in a nearly race-ending off. With teeth clenched, Higgins kept the throttle pinned while his 2012 Subaru WRX STI clawed itself back onto the road. The damage incurred in their excursion affected the handling of the vehicle but resulted in only forty seconds of lost time. After a quick service in The Dalles, SRT USA #75 was back in top shape and went out to win some more stages.

Variable road surfaces were the greatest challenge of day 2. Unexpected mud this morning caused the team’s only major incident, but loose gravel in the dry sections later-on was also cause for concern. Grip was, as described by Higgins, “changing all the time–one bit is really good, the next bit would be bad–but you just don’t know where it is going to be.” Tomorrow’s five stages may become more predictable as the roads dry out and are swept clear by competitors.

The event resumes with a Parc Expose on Main Street in Dufur, Oregon at 10:00 AM.