Matt Iorio, OC ’03, a former psychology major, is currently ranked as the number one rally racer in North America and number two in the American Rally Championship. Just last summer, he competed in ESPN’s X Games with racing legend Colin McRae.

Even though rally racing is not a mainstream sport such as soccer or football, Iorio chose to surrender his post-college business suit in favor of a six-point seat belt and helmet, speaking over an intercom with his co-driver as they navigate very rough roads at very uncanny speeds.

Iorio grew up in Massachusetts, where the wilds offered a great place for riding ATVs, but after a while he needed something more exhilarating. In 2001, he bought his Subaru WRX “Sunshine”– 4wd, lots of turbo-charged horsepower and renowned for its rallying ability. His racing career grew from this point forward. In 2004, he was named the circuit’s top rookie. The following year, he took home the North American and Rally America Open Class title.

We have all completed, whether by necessity or as an alternative to plane flights, a long car ride. Unless one happens to be on a particularly beautiful highway, the ride is usually uneventful and can be rather drab. One must adhere to speed limits, be careful of the highway patrol, watch a million white road stripes fly past and otherwise stay alert by listening to music, smoking cigarettes or, when luck strikes, having a meaningful conversation with a beautiful passenger. In the end, the ride is secondary to the destination.

Rally racing is as different from such an experience as flying coach is to piloting an F-18 jet.  As old as the car itself, rally racing first sought to change the traditionally practical event of a “long car ride” into something that truly tested the driver’s endurance and the vehicle’s ability to put up with excessive abuse.

Long distance races like the Peking-Paris in 1907 or the Mille Miglia (Thousand Mile) founded in Italy in 1927 were taken up by a few adventurous motor enthusiasts of the time. The sport’s popularity was focused primarily in Europe until the 1950’s when other continents began to host races of their own. In 1961, the “special stage” was introduced, and this format has remained since.

Unlike America’s popular motor sport NASCAR, where the driver races hundreds of times around a circular track, rally racing involves individual time trials on a set of road – or stages – of dirt, gravel, tarmac or snow. In between these stages, each car has to advance to the next stage on its own steam, along with the rest of the team. As in all sports, a strong team is essential to winning.

Iorio sits behind the wheel with his co-driver Ole Holter in the passenger’s seat, jostling and jerking in the car, reading the course notes. These notes consist of detailed jargon that describe to Iorio in real time what lies ahead around the next bend or over the approaching hill.  Rally rules specify that the actual course must remain a mystery until the day of the race. With even the slightest mistake by either member, they could easily end up wrapped around a tree or tumbling down an embankment.

Manufacturing a professional rally car is a magnificent display of engineering and mechanical prowess. Iorio races in the Open class, which means the car must be a stock model but can be greatly altered within specified regulations. The inside is totally stripped of all unnecessary material in order to reduce weight. The shocks, lights, brakes, seats, transmission and engine performance are all upgraded to competition level. The number of modifications and man-hours involved are staggering.

During his Oberlin years, Iorio spent free nights at the ’Sco and even taught a Dungeons & Dragons ExCo.

Iorio currently races for Paladin Rally, a company based out of Westmoreland, New Hampshire, and is often busy with team management and the like when he is not on the road or racing.

When asked to address environmental concerns relevant to rally racing, Iorio replied without embellishment.

“You’re out there racing mostly on logging roads, and it is a good way to see first hand what’s going on. You might see a few hundred acres of forested tree stumps, but otherwise you’re driving through thousands of acres of pristine forest. And we’re always working to make the car more efficient and aerodynamic.”

As for future dreams, Iorio said he had no burning desire to step into the international level and race in the World Rally Championship (WRC).  The North American circuit is challenging enough.

Since rally racing moves in the shadow of NASCAR, it is not as well-known. Iorio champions the promotion of the sport in America.  He is currently on his way to Colorado for the Cog Rally held Sept. 22-24.