Imagine battling for tenths of a second on treacherous gravel roads, only to have Mother Nature unleash tornadoes and wildfires nearby. That was the chaotic reality facing Subaru Motorsports USA at this year’s Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, but even then, the team’s dominant run couldn’t be stopped.

The second round of the 2025 American Rally Association (ARA) season in Missouri turned into a battle against the elements as much as against the clock. Severe weather swept through the region, forcing officials to cancel the final two stages on Friday due to high winds that fueled wildfires and spawned tornadoes, including one that tragically hit the nearby city of Rolla.

Subaru Motorsports USA extended its sympathies to those affected, highlighting the severity of the conditions. Overnight, crews worked tirelessly to clear debris so that Saturday’s stages could safely proceed.

As if the extreme weather wasn’t challenging enough, driver Brandon Semenuk and co-driver Keaton Williams were fighting their own battle inside the cockpit early on. An electrical gremlin caused intermittent throttle problems in their WRX ARA25.

Semenuk described the nerve-wracking issue: “The throttle would just completely go away.” This forced the pair to take matters into their own hands. “We had to manage the issue, plus be a bit more reserved in the drive,” said Semenuk, while waiting for their service crew to fix it.

Despite the truncated Friday and the early car trouble, the reigning champions showed their mettle. Once the storm passed and the car behaved, Semenuk and Williams attacked Saturday’s challenging and technical stages, navigating “lots of rocks and real technical bumps,” according to Williams.

They clawed back time, collected valuable power stage points, and ultimately secured an incredible fourth consecutive victory at the notoriously demanding 100-Acre Wood Rally. “It was a good recovery for us,” Williams stated simply.

“Happy with the pace,” added Semenuk. “Great start to the year.” This hard-fought win keeps their quest for a fourth straight ARA championship title firmly on track as the series now heads west for the Olympus Rally in Washington on April 12-13.

It was a weekend that proved rally isn’t just about speed; it’s about resilience, teamwork, and sometimes, just surviving the storm.