The 2012 Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally is off to a tumultuous beginning for Subaru Rally Team USA as well as the rest of the field. Starting off with a stroke of bad luck, David Higgins and Craig Drew experienced a problem with their gearbox on the first stage. The duo proceeded on stages one through three at a cautious rate and preserved the car until the first service where they checked-in 3 minutes and 14 seconds down in thirteenth place. SRT USA's ace technicians were quick on the job and had WRX STI #75 back in top shape in under 30 minutes, ready to start the Subaru Super Special Stage at the Tioga County Fairgrounds. Halfway through the reverse running of that stage, which had already seen two rolled cars, the racing was cancelled for the day as a violent rainstorm swept in from the West. Spectators scrambled to vacate the grandstands and crews packed up as the heavens opened up on Pennsylvania.

Tomorrow's 92.97 miles of racing will cover more than four times the stage mileage seen today, and Subaru Rally Team USA #75 will undoubtedly be pushing hard to climb back up the ranks. The weather forecast for Saturday doesn't mention much in the way of epic deluges, but today's downpour may have had a significant effect on the stage roads. Expect the rally cars to be coming back to service covered in mud. Stage 6, Asaph, is scheduled to start at 10:40 AM following the Parc Expose on the green in Wellsboro.