The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Fight is on for the second spot

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Friday, Sep 07, 2007
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Sport - Racing : Motor

Fight is on for the second spot

Abdus Salam

MAKASSAR (INDONESIA): Cody Crocker of Australia, leading by a mammoth margin of 28 points, goes into the sixth round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) beginning here on Friday, almost certain of winning for the second year in a row.

Crocker’s dominance in the championship has so far been complete; his total of 64 points includes the 24 bonus points that have been on offer. Crocker’s only contenders are MRF Team drivers Katsuhiko Taguchi and Jussi Valimaki, but with only 36 and 33 points apiece, they are more likely to fight for the second spot.

Both Taguchi and Valimaki will be hoping to get back on track after withdrawing from the earlier round in Johor Bahru in Malaysia.

Slippery surface

The rally here is being held across sugar plantations and with driving surfaces having a hard clay base, the terrain could be slippery and difficult to handle.

Gaurav Singh Gill of Team MRF, who has so far had an ordinary outing in the championship, will have Glen Macneall of New Zealand as his co-driver. Glen has previously driven for the Hyundai Australian Rally Team and has also partnered Chris Atkinson in the Subaru World Rally Team.

After having crashed out in New Caledonia and being unable to participate in the subsequent rounds in Australia and Japan with his car under repairs, Gaurav will hope Glen’s experience and his new Mitsubishi EVO 7 will bring him the much needed luck.

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