LONDON — Students, staff and community members gathered last week at Somerset Community College’s Laurel North Campus to get an inside look at the fast-paced world of rally racing, as London native Samuel Curry led a presentation alongside Argentine rally champion Javier Castro.

The event offered attendees a firsthand introduction to the mechanics, logistics and growing presence of stage rally racing in Kentucky. Curry, who has been working to promote American Rally Association (ARA) events across the region, opened the presentation by breaking down the sport for the audience in attendance.

“Imagine dirt track racing on steroids,” Curry said, explaining the high-speed nature of rally competition, where drivers navigate rough terrain at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.

Unlike traditional circuit racing, rally racing spans large geographic areas and requires a driver and co-driver team. The co-driver reads detailed notes — a system of directions outlining every turn, hazard and terrain change — in real time as the driver navigates winding backroads.

“Things happen so fast, and the margins are so thin, that you have to have somebody giving you directions — not just where to go, but when to turn and what’s ahead,” Curry said.

Curry also emphasized the demanding nature of the sport, describing it as “a game of attrition,” where teams must carefully manage both their vehicles and time across multiple stages that can stretch across dozens of miles. He noted that rally events can cover upwards of 75 square miles, with competitors traveling between stages on public roads under strict time controls.

A key focus of the presentation was the Boone Forest Rally, an American Rally Association event scheduled to take place in Eastern Kentucky this summer, with portions anticipated to run through Jackson County and surrounding areas. Curry encouraged those in attendance to consider volunteering, noting the growing need for local involvement as the sport expands in the United States.

“We need more and more volunteers every year,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity for people here to get involved.”

Attendees also heard from Javier Castro, an Argentina-based rally champion, mechanic and tuner who has recently brought his team to the region. In a video shot by Curry and shown at the event, Castro shared insight into the technical side of rally racing while also showcasing his very own competition vehicle in person.

In a Facebook post, Castro described the presentation event as an exciting day.

“An exciting day for the team — to feel real interest in this new sport for Kentucky as the rally,” he said. “The first of many events that we will be doing to get more people interested in our nationwide rally project!”

The presentation included a video demonstration of international rally competition, highlighting the sport’s global popularity — particularly in Europe — and its potential for growth in the U.S. Curry noted that similar high-level racing could soon become more common in Kentucky as events like the Boone Forest Rally gain traction.

In addition to discussing racing strategy and logistics, Curry pointed to career pathways tied to the sport, particularly for students studying electrical systems and engineering.

“These cars require a huge team,” he said. “There’s always something breaking, always something to fix. It takes a lot of people to make it work.”

The event, open to the public, gave attendees the chance to meet a professional driver, view a rally car up close and gain a deeper understanding of a sport that organizers hope will continue to grow locally.

With increased exposure and community engagement, Curry said he believes rally racing could become a significant draw for the region — both as a spectator sport and an economic driver.

“This is something that’s only getting bigger,” he said. “And Kentucky has a real chance to be part of that growth.”