The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Valimaki optimistic

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 21, 2005

Sport

Sport - Racing : Motor

Valimaki optimistic

D. Ravi Shankar

Noumea (New Caledonia): It's motor sports time in Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia, often referred to as the `Paris of the Pacific.' The Rally de Nouvelle Caledonie was the second biggest sporting spectacle in two months, after last month's FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifying matches, which was won by Australia. New Caledonia finished third.

The Rally was off to a ceremonial start from the Noumea Hippodrome on Friday evening. The bad news is that Karamjit Singh pulled out at the last minute though his car had been shipped and his entry confirmed. Unconfirmed reports said that Karamjit had been injured in the World Rally Championship at Cyprus recently.

Team MRF, buoyed by its success at Canberra where it was elevated to the winner's podium after Toshihiro Arai was disqualified after a technical infringement, is hard at work to maintain its winning form. Its new recruit Jussi Valimaki, who won on his APRC debut, was confident after the `recce.'

He said that his main threat would be from the slippery roads and tough conditions. Geoff Argyle, who was a surprise winner last year, could well be a threat but Valimaki was confident he could overcome any challenge from the Kiwi driver.

Team-mate Katsuhiko Taguchi, who now starts first followed by New Caledonian Jean Louis Leylraud in car number two, would clear the path for him making it slightly easier. Taguchi looks none the worse after going airborne prior to the mineshaft stage and landing with a thud. Taguchi and co-driver Mark Stacey were taken to the hospital for a precautionary check-up and both drivers were ready for the second leg of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

Valimaki also said that the MRF wet tyres, tested out on the recce, had come out well and that he was looking forward to the exciting drive on `Paradise Island.'

The rally will be run over nine special stages on Saturday and eight on Sunday and will cover a distance of 224.06km. The rains predicted could have a big effect on the race as the roads in the mining area are red, loose and slippery with bauxite residue.

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