Video: ON THE LOOSE, ep. 2 - Toyota RAV4 and RACER get set to go rallying

Ryan Millen, son of rally legend Rod and a 2014 SCORE Tecate Baja 1000 class winner, is gearing up to go stage rallying this year in a production-based 2015 Toyota RAV4 LE.

Not an obvious choice? You could say that, but the 30-year-old Millen wouldn't have it any other way.

The family-friendly, compact crossover SUV is set to make its debut June 13-14 on the fast gravel stages of the Idaho Rally, competing against rally-honed machinery such as Ford's Fiesta and the Subaru WRX.

Sure, it's a challenge, but taking a different approach is what makes it such a compelling project. And Millen is confident that the road car RAV4 is a capable platform from which to develop a competitive rally racer.

RACER.com likes to do things differently, too, so we're following Ryan as he builds, tests and races his RAV4 with our On The Loose video series, plus blogs and feature stories through the year.

On The Loose, Episode 2, "It's a huge trust issue..." introduces Ryan's navigator – and girlfriend – Christina Fate, and explores the unique relationship between a rally driver and co-driver. Fact is, either one makes a mistake and they're both in trouble...

"The navigator is pretty much almost more important than the driver," says Millen. "I think if Christina makes a mistake, we're both getting hurt... And if I make a mistake, we're both getting hurt..."

Plus, the Toyota RAV4 rally car makes its public debut in front of a packed crowd at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross finale in Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas. So, there's no going back now...

• To watch episode 1,

  CLICK HERE

The rally RAV4, built to 2WD Open Class rules, sports a stock transmission and a stock 2.5-liter, four-cylinder, double-overhead cam engine that pushes out 176hp and 172lb.ft of torque. Millen and his crew removed more than 500lbs of stock weight, while adding a roll cage, BFGoodrich all-terrain DOT 215/75R15 tires, and upgrading to front and rear TEIN suspension.