Long waited "Rally Hokkaido 2002" had started on September 6th, as the inaugural International Rally Championship event in Japan; as the round 4 of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship. The night before, with the Ceremonial Start by the Obihiro Station, the rally had started its competition from 8:00 am at the Kita Aikoku Square on the south of Obihiro city.
Leg 1 take route to the south from Aikoku, to six SS (66.59 km) located around Sarabetsu, Churui, and Toyokoro which totals up to 296.57 km. Last year, Leg 2 was held in the same region, but not just the route the same, but the weather was miserable in rain as well. By the time SS1 started, the road was completely wet in condition. The course set through the woods is already slippery by itself, but the rain, which became very heavy every once in a while, made the situation much worse. To add more, because the road is rarely used, very deep rut was made after 5 to 10 rally cars drove though. The rut was so deep that Hiroshi Yanagisawa (Subaru Impreza) who calls himself the specialist in such deep ruts said that he has not experienced such deep ruts in years.
Being slippery, it was as bad as the SS in the plantation in Indonesia, but here Possum Bourne (Subaru Impreza) was the one who fought gamely supported by his experience of rallying in various tracks in APRC. On SS1, he scored the fastest time with 7.4 seconds ahead of Yanagisawa in second place. He also scored fastest in SS3 and SS5, and on SS2 and SS4, he was the second best, and on Leg 1 with five SS, he finished successfully for the first day with the margin of 17.5 seconds ahead of Katsuhiko Taguchi (Mitsubishi Lancer).
Among other Impreza, Norihiko Katsuta, and Yanagisawa had followed to dominate the top three. Katsuta started the rally being second place, but unfortunately, he went off track on SS3 and had retired. Experienced Mitsuo Ayabe had started successfully, merely reaching the car in front, but could not lap them, and had to back off to 8th place.
It turned out that Bourne, from New Zealand was the one who suppressed the Japanese typed road condition, but the course around the town of Rikubetsu (north of Obihiro) which stages Leg 2 is much graveled, and is much expected of the high speed. What performance could we expect from Bourne in such course?
Leg 2 starts Obihiro from 6:00 am on 7th. According to the APRC regulation, Katsuta, who retired is given a permission to start as well.
Possum Bourne quoted, "Today the road was slippery, the window was fogged and the rally was very difficult. As it was the first day, I didnft push too hard but I am happy to finish at the top. Tomorrow is the longest distance of the stages of all three days, so I want to do well. I will do my best to be the first winner in the APRC in Japan".
Bourne, who has experienced rallies with Subaru over 20 years, is well-experienced 46 year-old. His brilliant techniques surpass other drivers on unknown tracks.
