The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Team MRF’s Katsuhiko Taguchi has the edge

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Team MRF’s Katsuhiko Taguchi has the edge

S.V. Sriram

Makassar: Team MRF’s Katsuhiko Taguchi, with 43 points after four rounds, will be keen to extend his lead in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) points tally when the next leg of the event is held over the weekend at Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi island, Indonesia.

Following Taguchi on the points table is the 2006 and 2007 title-holder Cody Crocker in his Subaru Impreza. Crocker may be a worried man especially after finishing fifth in the recent APRC round in Hokkaido, Japan. That round was won by Taguchi in his Mitsubishi EVO 8.

Similar stages

The stages are fairly similar compared to last year’s dirt stages through sugarcane fields.

The dry heat could become worse though the drivers are quite familiar with the conditions.

Taguchi confirmed as much after two days of recce and testing. He said the stages were similar, but wider, with fast corners. Another member of Team MRF, Gaurav Gill, back from a knee surgery, echoed Taguchi’s views saying, “the stages are wider than last year but unlike last year the fields are covered with sugarcane growth, so following pace notes correctly will be important.

“I am happy with the car preparation and settings. The heat will affect the performance of drivers, especially in the stages where the atmosphere seems to be very humid,” he said.

There will be 14 stages covering 228.46 competitive kilometres. The longest stage is Macini Baji at 22.95km.

Hot rivalry

Cody, who won in Australia and New Zealand this year, has the advantage of having won the APRC title in the previous two editions.

Taguchi is also in top form this season having won two rounds in New Caledonia and Japan.

Considering their hot rivalry, Makassar should be witness to some scintillating rallying from the two.

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