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SUBARU rally driver, Cody Crocker, has taken an unassailable lead in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship after finishing second in Rally Indonesia, but first among his title rivals. Japan's Toshi Arai, a non-championship entrant, won Rally Indonesia from Crocker. Another Japanese driver, Hiroshi Yanagisawa finished in 4th overall and 3rd among APRC. He rose to 3rd in championship.
Toshi Arai was supported by Motor Image Ltd. that is an official distributor of the Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and has keen to run at this Indonesian event by Toshi.
He commented this event as "It was tough rally as temperature rose up to 39 Celsius as expectation. But I had experience to drive in Malaysia last year so I had plenty of water and amino acid. Also it was not humid that I expected, so I could feel bit easier. The stages of Leg 1 were running through sugarcane plantation with lots of junction, and Leg 2 was very twisty which feels like lasting ever.
I just had drove WR car at Rally Japan, so first half of Leg1 was 3rd because I needed to take for a while to get feel back to drive group N machine. But at the afternoon, I adjusted my driving style and get feeling back. I could manage to gain lead, but I was a little bit confused because feeling of brake and acceleration were difference. End of Leg 2, I finished with 50 seconds gap against to Cody, but I was very exhausted. However it was very good training to head to Cyprus. Condition in Indonesia was very suitable for IMPREZA. My machine was completely trouble free."
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Crocker dominated the Australian domestic championship from 2002 to 2005 and moved to the international scene this year in search of higher goals.
His success has been instant and dramatic. He sits on top of the championship points table on 168 points from a maximum score of 170.
Crocker now heads to Rally China in November where he will be presented with his Championship crown.
Driver Quotes: Cody Crocker
"This is a huge thrill to win the Asia-Pacific title, really special. It is only as you travel around the region and see how big each of these events are in each of the host countries that you start to truly understand the significance of the challenge you have set yourself. It's huge wherever you go and this win definitely compares to my first Australian title back in 2003. The conditions in every event are so different as well, and so each event is a whole new experience and that has made me a better driver than ever before.
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| Copyright © STI |
The final round of APRC, China Rally Zhejiang Longyou will be taken place on 25-27 November.
