The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : APRC: Seventh leg from today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 21, 2005

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Sport - Racing : Motor

APRC: Seventh leg from today

RAYONG (Thailand): The rivalry between newly-crowned Asia Pacific Rally champion Jussi Valimaki (Team MRF Tyres) and Toshihiro Arai (Subaru) is set to continue as the seventh and penultimate leg of the 2005 Asia Pacific Rally Championship gets rolling at the Star Plaza here on Friday.

After having driven his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 cautiously to secure the title, Valimaki's hopes to go flat out over the faster terrain here have been dampened by the recent rains that have damaged the rally route. The Finn got an early warning of the slippery surface when he skidded off the road during practice on Wednesday.

Katsuhiko Taguchi, the other Team MRF Tyres driver, will not only aim for a three-in-a-row (after wins in Japan and Indonesia) but also try to keep the tussle with Geoff Argyle (Team Silverstone) and Arai for the second place going.

Arai may use the rally here more as a training ground to keep him in good shape for his main quest — the World Rally Championship (Production Cars) crown.

With only the WRC Rally of Australia left, Arai is leading the race and a decent performance at Perth will help the Japanese finish the season on a happy note.

Drivers' standings (after six rounds): 1. Jussi Valimaki (Fin) 71 points, 2. Geoff Argyle (NZ) 42, 3. Katshuhiko Taguchi (Jpn) 37 and 4. Toshihiro Arai (Jpn) 35.

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