August 25, 2025
, Detroit Lakes, MN
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Semenuk/Williams Win Overall, Sealing Fourth Straight Title; Pastrana Adds Class Victory and Second Overall
SUBARU MOTORSPORTS USA CLINCHES SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP AT OJIBWE FORESTS RALLY
Semenuk/Williams Win Overall, Sealing Fourth Straight Title; Pastrana Adds Class Victory and Second Overall
Subaru Motorsports USA delivered a landmark result at the 2025 Ojibwe Forests Rally, with Brandon Semenuk and co-driver Keaton Williams taking the overall win and clinching their fourth consecutive American Rally Association National Championship. At the same time, Travis Pastrana and co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino added a gritty first-place class victory and second overall despite late-race adversity. The result secured Subaru its 19th national championship in the last 25 years, underscoring a quarter-century of dominance across U.S. rally competition.
The Ojibwe Forests Rally spans three days of competition: a Thursday evening spectator stage at Soo Pass Ranch followed by two full days of racing across the sandy forest roads of Detroit Lakes, Itasca, and Park Rapids. Day one’s short opener gave fans an early taste of the speed to come, setting up a hotly contested Friday and Saturday.
“Ojibwe is a really fun rally – a fast and tricky one – lots of jumps, and corners over jumps. [It was a] big job for me and probably a bigger job for Keaton, with how fast the notes are. We tried to minimize risk on this one with the goal being to get the points and wrap the championship,” Semenuk said in a post-race interview.
Friday morning saw Semenuk fire out of the gates with a stage win, but the challenge came quickly as Conner Martell and his Skoda Fabia RS struck back on the next two stages, even building a slight lead by the end of the first loop. The afternoon loop belonged to the Subaru camp – Semenuk responded with three stage wins out of four, clawing back the deficit. When the Skoda suffered a puncture on SS9, the balance shifted, handing Semenuk the overall lead to close the day. Pastrana, meanwhile, was embroiled in his own battle. A puncture on SS8 cost valuable time, and a power steering failure through the final three stages of the day added to the workload. Despite the setbacks, the veteran pressed on to net a strong finish of second overall.
Saturday dawned cooler with scattered rain showers that packed the top layer of the sandy surfaces. Early stages saw pressure mounting on Semenuk’s lead, as his margin started to chip away. The turning point came on SS12 when Martell had a big off, reshaping the fight at the front. Semenuk’s run wasn’t without its own challenge—power steering failure struck on SS13, forcing him to transit through SS14—but the time advantage held, and with a steady drive to the finish, the defending champion secured both the rally win and the 2025 ARA National Championship crown.
The rally wrapped in downtown Bemidji, where fans crowded the streets for a dramatic finish under the lights on the shore of Lake Bemidji. Subaru’s 1-2 sweep across two classes underscored both the pace and resilience of the team, while the championship result added another historic chapter to Subaru’s unmatched rally legacy.
“This was the longest rally day in the championship at 75 miles – really excited for a Subaru 1-2 and stoked for Brandon! Got the podium and we’re off to Tennessee,” said an exhausted but still adrenalized Pastrana.
“It was an eventful one but we got there in the end for another win and another championship. Onwards and upwards!” echoed Semenuk.
With Ojibwe in the books, the American Rally Association championship calendar moves on as Subaru Motorsports USA turns its focus to Tennessee’s Overmountain Rally in September, determined to carry momentum deeper into the season. Don’t miss out on the latest news and updates by following Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa.
About Subaru Motorsports USA
Subaru Motorsports USA is directed by Subaru of America, Inc., managed by Vermont SportsCar and proudly supported by MOTUL, Yokohama Tires, R53 Suspension, Triple-R Lights, DirtFish Rally School, and Sparco USA. Follow the team online at www.subaru.com/motorsports.
Follow Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and on TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa.
The Ojibwe Forests Rally spans three days of competition: a Thursday evening spectator stage at Soo Pass Ranch followed by two full days of racing across the sandy forest roads of Detroit Lakes, Itasca, and Park Rapids. Day one’s short opener gave fans an early taste of the speed to come, setting up a hotly contested Friday and Saturday.
“Ojibwe is a really fun rally – a fast and tricky one – lots of jumps, and corners over jumps. [It was a] big job for me and probably a bigger job for Keaton, with how fast the notes are. We tried to minimize risk on this one with the goal being to get the points and wrap the championship,” Semenuk said in a post-race interview.
Friday morning saw Semenuk fire out of the gates with a stage win, but the challenge came quickly as Conner Martell and his Skoda Fabia RS struck back on the next two stages, even building a slight lead by the end of the first loop. The afternoon loop belonged to the Subaru camp – Semenuk responded with three stage wins out of four, clawing back the deficit. When the Skoda suffered a puncture on SS9, the balance shifted, handing Semenuk the overall lead to close the day. Pastrana, meanwhile, was embroiled in his own battle. A puncture on SS8 cost valuable time, and a power steering failure through the final three stages of the day added to the workload. Despite the setbacks, the veteran pressed on to net a strong finish of second overall.
Saturday dawned cooler with scattered rain showers that packed the top layer of the sandy surfaces. Early stages saw pressure mounting on Semenuk’s lead, as his margin started to chip away. The turning point came on SS12 when Martell had a big off, reshaping the fight at the front. Semenuk’s run wasn’t without its own challenge—power steering failure struck on SS13, forcing him to transit through SS14—but the time advantage held, and with a steady drive to the finish, the defending champion secured both the rally win and the 2025 ARA National Championship crown.
The rally wrapped in downtown Bemidji, where fans crowded the streets for a dramatic finish under the lights on the shore of Lake Bemidji. Subaru’s 1-2 sweep across two classes underscored both the pace and resilience of the team, while the championship result added another historic chapter to Subaru’s unmatched rally legacy.
“This was the longest rally day in the championship at 75 miles – really excited for a Subaru 1-2 and stoked for Brandon! Got the podium and we’re off to Tennessee,” said an exhausted but still adrenalized Pastrana.
“It was an eventful one but we got there in the end for another win and another championship. Onwards and upwards!” echoed Semenuk.
With Ojibwe in the books, the American Rally Association championship calendar moves on as Subaru Motorsports USA turns its focus to Tennessee’s Overmountain Rally in September, determined to carry momentum deeper into the season. Don’t miss out on the latest news and updates by following Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa.
About Subaru Motorsports USA
Subaru Motorsports USA is directed by Subaru of America, Inc., managed by Vermont SportsCar and proudly supported by MOTUL, Yokohama Tires, R53 Suspension, Triple-R Lights, DirtFish Rally School, and Sparco USA. Follow the team online at www.subaru.com/motorsports.
Follow Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and on TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa.
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube