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> FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship Rd.6/Asia Cup Rd.3 Rally Indonesia
Oct 9, 2009
Despite of unfortunate squall and several bud luck,
Team satisfied productive event in Indonesia
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The round six of 2009 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) also The round three of Asia Cup, “Rally Indonesia” was taken place from 3-4 October. Cusco Racing who has been concentrating to competing Asia cup skipped previous round in Malaysia.(Asia cup requires nominate three events from total four events) Team switched their machine to Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X from this season and brought this first time to international field at Hokkaido round in July. Using experienced which gained from the debut event, since then, team made more improvement on the machine especially on engine, suspension and differential.
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This year’s Rally Indonesia again based on Makassar, Capital of East Sulawesi Island. Just before rally start, huge earthquake hit Sumatra Island in same country, but fortunately rally venue had no affect from the tragedy and kicked off by ceremonial start on Friday evening on schedule. Day 1 was consisted by two loops of four stages while Day2 was set by two loops of three stages. The condition was dry and air temperature reached 40 degree in day time. Rally Indonesia adopt three minutes gap between each start due to considering heavy dust. However the dust would became mud if tropical squall visit which made road surface extremely slippery. And team’s ace Yanagisawa was one of victim of the squall on day 1.
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Yanagisawa stood 3rd overall at morning loop of the Day 1 and attacked second loop in the afternoon. One of four stages which was set on day 1 was the longest stage of the event with 24km. When Yanagisawa made start of the second run of the long stage, the condition was still dry. But around 10km before the finish, suddenly the squall began which rapidly changed the surface to muddy. It was uncontrollable condition as later Yanagisawa expressed as “It was like kind of driving on snow with gravel tyre”. It was very hard to even making machine just forward and he was off the course even driving such a slow pace around 5km/h.The squall ironically stopped when Yanagisawa’s machine was stopped. Another bad luck hit Yanagisawa when he tried to put gear into reverse, the clutch left which made him unable to move. Also the transmission was failed rapidly which made him abandoned to drive rest of the day. Meanwhile team mate Sumiyama who challenged to first attendance to Indonesia event hit the stone like material inside the corner which bent tie-rod. He tried to continue the rally, however the tie-rod finally broken on following stage which put him withdrawn from Day 1.
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Despite of both two cars withdrawn from Day1, but machine had any serious damage, team put both cars to run on Day2. As taking this opportunity as best circumstance for testing, team tried several task to make further improvement on their machine. Through the day, team showed strong passion to use any adverse situation to their chance for team’s newcomer machine including tasted different tyre cut by team’s two drivers. Also drivers showed their promising potential as Yanagisawa set third fastest time on opening stage of the day while Sumiyama recorded second fastest time on final stage of first attendance of here Indonesia. Yanagisawa also was ranked third position on individual result on Day2 which brought him one bonus point for Asia cup standings.
In addition Cody Crocker who won this event mathematically secured fourth APRC title in a row. Meanwhile Asia cup title will be decided on final round in China. Yanagisawa still has chance for third position.
Cusco Racing now is looking for their and also APRC/Asia cup’s final round “China Rally” which will be taken place from 14-15 November.
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Hiroshi Yanagisawa
“Since previous round in Hokkaido, the machine had been fairly improved, so I have good feeling with this. Although I finished in third at Hokkaido, my time gap is not acceptable for me. But now my time become competitive with top runners. That means machine has been matured. This time I was not able to being final classification, but the overall feeling is quite good. Stage in China is pretty narrow with low speed range which is not really ideal for Lancer, but this is also Rally’s task. I would like to learn more for that surface and tried to be nice for that.”
Yuya Sumiyama
“It’s my first time to visit Indonesia. It was hot and tough of course, however team prepare for this like bring cool-suit, so I was able to keep my strength. On the rally, I was not able to practical result, but as a driver, I had got good feeling to control the machine as we became to find good setting for this, so it was not so bad. In China last year, I done my commitment to complete the rally, but I was not satisfied with my time. This year, I would like to complete the rally with convincing time.”
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Rally Hokkaido Final Classification (APRC)
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1.Cody Crocker
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Subaru Impreza WRX STI
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3:17:7.5
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2.Katsuhiko Taguchi
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Mitsubishi Evolution IX
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+ 1:29.0
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3.Emma Gilmour
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Subaru Impreza WRX
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+10: 1.9
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4.Subhan Aksa
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Mitsubishi Evolution IX
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+11:35.0
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5.Sadikin Aksa
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Mitsubishi Evolution X
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+21:11.5
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6.Rifat Sungkar
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Mitsubishi Evolution VIII
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+60:17.1
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-Click here to see the picure of Rally Indonesia-
