2008 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship Round 3
NAC Insurance Hella International Rally of Whangarei
6-8 June 2008

Dean Herrige becomes the first champion of FIA Pacific Cup!

The round three of FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, “Rally of Whangarei” was held from 6-8 June around Whangarei, 200km north from Auckland, North island of New Zealand.


The stage in New Zealand is known as “Drivers Stage” which are favoured from world top drivers who have competing in World Rally Championship (WRC). It’s very characteristic as its camber road which meant both side of surface drop down. Making cornering with using this camber effectively would be key point to drive well on New Zealand stages. For this event, former WRC stages are included. There is also the bridge with crest where Marcus Gronholm rolled which make this event special circumstance as world rallying field.

New Zealand’s stages through scenery green land with plenty of up down.	Clearing flowing corners with good rhythm is a relish of NZ stages!	Maori’s traditional “Haka” is war dance and proclaiming their strength to intimidate the opposition.

CUSCO RACING with three cars. Giving No.10 for Sumiyama made much more motivation through whole of team.

CUSCO RACING entered three cars; Hiroshi Yanagisawa, Australian Dean Herridge who aim to achieve FIA Pacific Cup title, and Yuya Sumiyama who try to compete his first rally in overseas. This is first ever for the team to having three cars for rally competition. With getting more strength as a squad, team was going to shoot for the title. On the gravel stage with hard base, starting order would be critical because earlier starter would have to sweep those gravel for followers. This time starting order is third for Yanagisawa, fifth for Herridge which meant they would be likely to have some disadvantage from those gravel. A novice at rally in overseas, but Sumiyama had been valuated his speed with having tenth start.

Yanagisawa through the Hella Bridge which was known as rolled by Gronholm.

The weather for day1 was clear, but there were some damp patch on surface. Also as winter in the Southern Hemisphere at this time, New Zealand weather was unpredictable and was likely to have shower during day time. Day1 set two loops of four stages interrupted by mid-day service. Yanagisawa struggled to get feeling with unmatched setting. He also had to tackle slippery gravel on surface.

Herridge attacked SS5 with refreshed machine which CUSCO mechanic sent with changing gearbox without penalty.

Herridge also faced trouble on gear box at SS2. CUSCO RACING’ cars have installing Cusco made Dog-box. The Group N category is restricted with range of modification, so for gear box, they have to remain to use genuine parts with some area. In case of the trouble which Herridge had, the genuine area was broken and five speeds had been popped out. Because he had to drive remained two stage of section one with having this problem, Herridge was not able to push as he would like. However, for Herridge who had big chance to gain Pacific title, Cusco mechanics made big support with their awesome skill.

The team mechanics completed swapping gear box within scheduled 20 minuets service. They also had done routine work on the machine and send the car to afternoon section without any penalty! (For time over, 10 sec per 1 minute late would be occurred.) Herridge moved up to 4th APRC until end of day1. Yanagisawa followed Herridge and finished the day in 5th APRC. Overseas rally learner Sumiyama made cautious approach for first loop, but built his pace from second loop. He finished day1 in 17th overall. Herridge’s object on day2 was no doubt to gain Pacific Cup. As finishing both first two rounds in 2nd, Herridge only needed to finish this event with keeping his 4th position. With having big margin with front runners, he decided to secure to keep the position. Yanagisawa made big change on machine setting and refreshed for day 2. From this change, Yanagisawa got his feeling and look for narrowing gap between Herridge. However, his feeling was not affected to set better time, he tolerance frustrated time. In the third season to compete APRC, he found another assignment, but drove consistently and finished in 5th this event. Meanwhile Herridge showed solid drive which was exactly controlled for his object. He succeeded to keep position and clinched title of first FIA Pacific Cup.

Podium ceremony for the first FIA Pacific Cup. With consistent approach, Herridge become the first Champion!

Murphy who is co-driving teamed up with Herridge from this season. Good job!

Sumiyama in SS13. He gained valuable experience on difficult stages in NZ.	Sumiyama drove in his pace at difficult NZ stages which are complicated with lots of factor. He was looking for complete the event with gain valuable experience, however he fallen a victim of crest on 8km point of final stage and off the course. Regrettably he retired from the event, however taking lots of knowledge from his first competition in overseas, it was fruitful event for him.
	The first winner of FIA Pacific Cup champion, Dean Herrdge “I’m very happy and hope team is too! When I joined the team, my object was this title. I achieved it consistently with finish three rallies in 2nd, 2nd and 4th, so I’m very satisfied. Team had done good job and changed gear box without any penalty. So I’m very very happy!”

Hiroshi Yanagisawa “I’m bit unsatisfied as having quite big gap from guys in front. I was not able to get good feeling with setting on first day, so made big change for second day. Then I got feeling and made push, but time was not closed to front. I had not exact trouble or didn’t make mistake, so there should be some to think about in overall aspect. However, in positive side, I’ve got team mate from this season which accept to get more data, so we will be able to use for rest of season. Now we are going to Hokkaido where my home country and having plenty of data, so I absolutely will push hard.”

Yuya Sumiyama “My last rally is Rally Japan in 2007 and this rally is first time in last six month. Also I have very new circumstance with new team, new rally, so I drove first loop very cautiously. I got my pace from second loop, but somehow I was not able to set better time. I found many of assignment; i.e. how to make pace note effectively. I had heard about rally in overseas a lot so far, but competing by myself is big difference indeed. I’ve learnt a lot from this event, so I would like to use this experience steadily. From Hokkaido, my campaign for Asia Cup will start, so I’m looking for to get point at every round consistently.”