The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Team MRF's Katsuhiko-Stacey lead after first leg

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 24, 2004

Sport

Sport - Racing : Motor

Team MRF's Katsuhiko-Stacey lead after first leg

By Nandakumar Marar

HUIZHOU, OCT. 23. Team MRF's Taguchi Katsuhiko (Japan) and Mark Stacey (Australia) led after the 10-stage first leg of the TCL China Rally 2004 at Huizhou on Saturday, powering a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo-8 over dusty tracks of the pretty countryside, watched by awestruck speed freaks among the locals. The leaders clocked 1:28:10.3 to dominate day one of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship's fifth race.

Team Proton Pert Malaysia, spearheaded by Karamjit Singh (co-driver Allen Oh) came in second but continue to occupy pole position. The Malaysians completed the 10 stages spread over tricky terrain in 1:28:34.9 in their Proton Pert, a mere 24.6 seconds behind the lead car. According to information available, 24 cars out of 59 flagged off have pulled out.

MRF Tyres' second entry, German Armin Kremer (co-driver Timo Gottschalk), competing with his left ankle in plaster from a skiing injury four weeks ago, was third in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo-8. Kremer in the forefront till the third stage before swirling dust clouds added to his misery.

Classification (first leg): 1. Taniguchi Matsuhiko/Mark Stacey (MRF Tyres) 1:28:10.3; 2. Karamjit Singh/Allen Oh (Team Proton Pert Malaysia) 1:28:34.9; 3. Armin Kremer/Timo Gottschalk (MRF Tyres) 1:29:22.1; 4. Yanagisawa Hiroshi/Ideue Tatsuya (Cusco Racing) 1:31:01.5; 5. Nico Caldarola/Paolo Cecchini (Nico Caldarola) 1:32:00.5; 6. Geoff Argyle/Steve Smith (Team Total Lubricants) 1:32:38.6; 7. Liu Caodong/Mei Jianbang (Grandtour Tyres) 1:35:04; 8. Chan Chi Wah/Chan Tang Po Lin (Hongkong Speed King Club) 1:35:57.8; 9. Oscar Svedlund/Bjorn Nilsson (Hongshe Rally Team) 1:37:08.8; 10. Liu Bin/Hugang Yu (KST Jiyuan Ralliart Team) 1:39:09.6.