 LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Students at the University of Northwestern Ohio are getting a firsthand look at careers in rally racing through a partnership with the American Rally Association.
UNOH hosted "Rally Day" on campus ahead of this week's Southern Ohio Forest Rally, giving students an opportunity to connect with industry professionals and learn about volunteer and crew positions available at rally events.
Unlike traditional circuit racing, rally competitions take place on public roads and varying terrain, with drivers navigating long-distance courses that include dirt roads, hills and other challenging conditions.
Caleb Simon, a 2025 UNOH graduate who founded the university's Rally Club and now serves as academic relations coordinator for the American Rally Association, said rally racing provides valuable real-world experience for students pursuing careers in motorsports.
"We will be taking their dirt roads and hills at very high rates of speed, and we'll be doing it for about 150 to 160 miles," Simon said. "It's a nonstop three-day rally, and there's a lot of service time. If you want to be a really good crew member, this is the way to do it."
Approximately 100 UNOH students are expected to volunteer and serve on race crews during this weekend's Southern Ohio Forest Rally, which runs June 11-13 and begins in Chillicothe, Ohio.
