Perfect Day 1 Results for Motor Image Racing Team in Johor Malaysia
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Singapore-based Motor Image Racing Team (MIRT) emerged triumphant today, with three-time Asia
Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) champion Cody Crocker finishing first, and teammate Emma Gilmour
in second place in Day 1 of the challenging Malaysian Rally in Kota Tinggi, Johor. |
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Coming in at a time of 2hrs 3min 15sec (provisional result), Crocker skillfully maneuvered through
the 141.98 kilometers of red clay and loose gravel that lined the narrow paths of the oil-palm plantations.
Competitor Katsuhiko Taguchi followed closely behind him from the outset, with Crocker's teammate, Emma
Gilmour chasing from behind. |
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Taguchi seemed like he was heading for second place finish until early in Special Stage 7 (SS7) where he
slid his car into a ditch, tumbling him out of the race. With Taguchi out, MIRT's Emma Gilmour finished
comfortably in second place, 8min 12sec behind her team mate Crocker. |
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Said Crocker, "The rallies were planned close to each other this year, and it was a challenge quickly
coming up with strategies to deal with the tight and narrow courses and the incredibly hot temperatures
of Malaysia. Rain earlier in the day made the red clay roads incredibly slippery, making it even harder
to manage the already challenging course." |
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The tricky course and the slick conditions made it no surprise that casualties were sent packing,
with two cars being forced to retire after failing to complete SS2. The rain however failed to
dampen MIRT's spirits, with the two drivers leaving Day 1 tired, but jubilant with gaining top
points for the team. |
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Emma Gilmour said, "This is my first time racing in such a hot and humid climate, and we knew
we were in for a real challenge racing the damp and narrow courses today. But Claire and I are
very happy with today's race. To finish second was an encouraging result for us and I look forward
to maintaining my performance tomorrow," said Emma Gilmour. |
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"We're very pleased with today's fantastic results considering the team went through a very
tough day today. We're not expecting an easier time tomorrow but I'm confident that the team
can keep up their good performance tomorrow. We should be in for another good showing," said
Tan Keng Hock, Team Director, Motor Image Racing Team. |
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Both MIRT drivers will return tomorrow to contest for the Malaysian Rally title of the APRC
as Day 2 continues with another 85.72 kilometers of competitive driving over eight special
stages amongst the oil-palm plantations of Kota Tinggi. |
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Day Two kicks off tomorrow morning (Sunday, 16th August 2009) at 6.30am. |
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| Classifications for Day 1 - APRC Malaysian Rally |
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Pos |
Car No |
Entrant |
Driver / Co-driver |
NAT |
Vehicle |
GRP/CLS |
Total Time |
1 |
1 |
Motor Image
Racing Team |
Cody CROCKER
Ben ATKINSON |
AUS
AUS |
SUBARU
Impreza WRX STI |
N4 |
2:03:15 |
2 |
3 |
Motor Image
Racing Team |
Emma GILMOUR
Claire MOLE |
NZ
GB |
SUBARU
Impreza WRX STI |
N4 |
2:11:27 |
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| 2009 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship Dates & Locations |
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| Rally de Nouvelle Caledonie |
France |
10th – 12th April |
| Rally Queensland |
Australia |
9th – 10th May |
| Rally of Whangarei |
New Zealand |
5th – 7th June |
| Rally Hokkaido |
Japan |
11th – 12th July |
| Malaysian Rally |
Malaysia |
15th – 16th August |
| Rally Indonesia |
Indonesia |
3rd – 4th October |
| China Rally |
China |
14th – 15th November |
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* Please note that the APRC 2009 will feature seven events on the calendar but participating teams only need to register and race in a
minimum of six events. Motor Image Racing Team has nominated to participate in all events except the Rally de Nouvelle Caledonie in 2009. |
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| The Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) |
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The APRC is organised by the FIA and consists of seven legs of rallying under
gruelling conditions. Taking place in some of the most diverse regions of the
world, the APRC attracts drivers from across the world. Each rallying leg has
it own unique characteristics, adding to the allure of rallying. From the dust
and dirt of Australia, to the wintery conditions of New Zealand, to the steaming
jungles of Malaysia, APRC offers participants challenges in both topography and climate. |
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The APRC is primarily a Group N championship in that the favoured cars are the current
world leaders in Group N rally technology. The championship is subject to regulations
laid down by the FIA. Vehicle eligibility is open to Production cars (Group N) and
Touring cars (Group A5, A6, A7). Each class has a driver and co-driver award along with
an overall manufacturer trophy. In 2006, Subaru were the recipients of the manufacturers'
trophy, while Cody Crocker won the driver's title. |
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Group N cars are built from base cars with a limited range of modifications allowed. The
Group N cars by Subaru use the same engines as the Subaru WRX STI road cars. The production
of the Group N rally cars in Singapore began in November 2006 with the support from Subaru
Tecnica International (STI) and Possum Bourne Motor Sports (PBMS). The Group N cars, which
are built and distributed from the state-of-the-art Subaru Hub in Toa Payoh, are production
vehicles fitted with safety equipment in compliance with the governing Federation International
de l'Automobile's (FIA) guidelines and regulations. |
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For more information on APRC, please refer to www.fiaaprc.com. |
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| About Motor Image Racing Team |
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The Motor Image Racing Team (MIRT) is part of Singapore-based Motor Image Enterprises that
was conceived in 2007 after a project with Subaru Tecnica International to build Group N Cars.
The MIRT has been making waves in the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) with two
manufacturers' titles under its belt and Cody Crocker winning two consecutive driver's
championships for the team. For more information, please visit www.miracingteam.com. |
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Motor Image is the sole distributor of Subaru automobiles in Singapore, and has since
expanded its presence to manage the Subaru distributorships in Southern China, Cambodia, Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The Group is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed Tan Chong International Limited (TCIL), engaging in
automotive, commercial, manufacturing, trading and property investment businesses in Asia.
Visit Subaru's official website at www.motorimage.net. |
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Subaru's philosophy is based on high quality engineering, safety, reliability,
a fun driving experience and value. The company was founded in 1955 when a P-1
prototype of an all-wheel drive passenger car was completed. Since then, Subaru
has grown to become one of the world's leading carmakers, with Subaru vehicles
offering superb driving pleasure and safety based on advanced technologies,
including the Horizontally-Opposed Engine, the symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
system and the intelligent continuously variable transmission (I-CVT). |
