Here’s a little background on the team I followed alongside. Gordon Ting, who runs a marketing company called Kontrabrands, built an ’09 Scion xD a few years ago for SEMA. It was a rally-themed build and garnered enough attention that he thought, Why not actually go rally racing with it? A year later his team had built a second Scion xD fully prepped to rip up the gravel at Rally America events. The Sparco Rally xD finished a very respectable Second Place in class (top 10 overall) at its first ever competitive rally event: the Rally America Oregon Trail event.

This season, the team is back with a fresh, new look for the xD, which is driven by multiple rally winner Andrew Comrie-Picard. The shortcomings of the boxy Scion have been remedied, and the xD is a legitimate candidate to win the 2WD class.

This is how their first event of the season went down.

modp 1207 02+2011 sparco rally xd+race notes

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Spec Sheet

'11 Sparco Rally xD

EngineToyota 2ZR-FE inline-four-cylinder

Engine ModificationsCustom GReddy turbo kit, intercooler, and exhaust system; Bosch fuel pump; GReddy oil cooler kit

Engine ManagementGReddy E-manage Ultimate, Profec-B Spec-2 boost controller

InteriorCustom Design Craft rollcage; Sparco Pro-ADV seats, 3-inch harnesses, and 345 steering wheel; DEFI Advance ZD and CR gauges

ExteriorFive Axis front spoiler; Design craft front fenders and rear bumper; Seibon carbon hood; Custom APR rear wing; Carbon-fiber light pods with PIAA foglights

SuspensionTEIN HG 2-way coilovers; TRD sway bars

DrivetrainExedy clutch and flywheel; KAAZ 1.5-way LSD and 4.6 final drive

Wheels, Tires & BrakesVolk CE28N/TE37 Gravel wheels (f/r); BFGoodrich 185/70R15 tires; Scion tC brake conversion; Performance friction brake pads and rotors