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Tim O’Neil likes to say his Team O’Neil Rally School teaches people how to drive slow cars very fast. Maybe that’s why another school instructor is ready to grab a second straight Rally American 2WD National Championship.

Wyatt Knox has a strong 2WD points lead going into the New England Forest Rally, the final event of the 2011 season. He would follow the championship won last year by fellow school instructor Chris Duplessis.

Knox sits atop the standings 20 points up on 2009 2WD champion Dillon Van Way. Chris Greenhouse, winner at the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally a month ago, is third in the standings but far behind in season points. He’s out of the championship picture. In short, It’s Wyatt’s championship to lose. But, as we’ve seen before, championships can be lost on a misplaced rock or an ill-timed entry into a control at a performance rally.

“It’s a strange situation being out in front,” Knox said in Oregon. 2011 was his first trip West as he dedicated himself to this championship effort. “I’m used to being on the attack coming through the field.” Should Wyatt get the championship it would be his first on a national level.

Maybe it’s no coincidence this success if coming after Knox hooked up with co-driver Ole Holter early in the season. Holter’s drivers have a curious ability to do well when he’s sitting in the co-driver’s seat.

“I think it’s because they start to listen to me and it does well for them usually,” Holter said confidently. Does Knox listen? “Absolutely! He doesn’t make mistakes.”

If Knox gets his title you’ll wonder who to point to when the celebration stops. There’s a very fast Mazdaspeed 3 that could shoulder some of the credit. There’s a co-driver who’s used to success that could shoulder some of the credit. And there’s a classroom in the New Hampshire woods that could shoulder some of the credit.

Don’t you love it when a plan comes together?

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Written By: Bill Wood - http://ByBillWood.com

Photo: WorldRallySport.com | Mat Janiak