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| Sumiyama achieved his first podium while Yanagisawa proved superb speed! |
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2009 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship(APRC) seventh and final round, also Asia cup forth and final round “China Rally Longyou” was held from 13-15 November around Longyou, Quzhou City of Zhejiang Province where 400km from Shanghai. This is fourth year to hosting China round of APRC in Longyou. The battle for the APRC series was already decided at previous round in Indonesia when Cody Crocker gained enough points to secure his fourth consecutive champion. However the battle for Asia cup title was still open for Crocker and Mitsubishi driver Katsu Taguchi. Meanwhile on Chinese national championship category which was also held in conjunction, many of strong drivers were invited from UK, Finland, Australia, which made the event more competitive. Under this tough situation, Cusco racing came to China for the third event with Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X as team switched their machine from this season. Ace driver Hiroshi Yanagisawa looked at moving his fourth place of Asia cup up while team mate Yuya Sumiyama aimed to gaining some first point of the season. |
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The event was kicked off with opening ceremony on Friday 13th followed by running Super SS. The second part of day 1 on 14th, the route was set by three loops of three stages which were 7km, 24km and 8km long. On day 2, competitor tackled another three loops of two stages which distance were 20km and 13km. As running narrow and twisty stages three times each, it was easy to expect that the surface would be getting rough. Therefore everyone concerned not only speed but also how could they avoid any accident. Although focusing on Asia cup which compete by only half events of the full season, Yanagisawa already has regarded as one of top competitor among APRC. It’s proved that he was given Car No. 3 on the starting list next from Crocker and Taguchi. Sumiyama’s Car No.8 is regarded as lucky number in China traditionally which is also promising sign. On the opening Super SS, Yanagisawa made good start with setting second fastest time behind Croker. Sumiyama also showed good run and set eighth fastest time into strong international drivers. On proper stage from following day, even the weather was overcastting, some damp patch still remain after several rainy days as the stages were set around mountain area which made condition tougher. The most important point of the day was 24km long stage and Yanagisawa faced misfortune on the first run of exactly the stage. The continuous impact from rough surface made damage on oil cooler. From that point, the part had been contacted with tyre which made the damage more serious. Yanagisawa realized the malfunction began around 2km from the start, however he was not able to specify what was exactly caused the accident as the condition was too rough. He managed to complete this stage and following 8km stage to returning service. However the damage on engine was quite serious after running without oil. He proved his natural speed as setting second fastest time on SS2 which threatened multiple time champion Croker, however he decided to withdraw from the event regrettably. The 24km long stage saw most accident of the day as about 20 cars retired total three runs of the stage. Sumiyama also was not able to avoid some accident as the brake hose of his machine was broken at second run(SS6) and he had to drive rest of over 20km with only hand brake. He also had flat tyre at the third run of the stage, still he completed all nine stage of the day with his best effort and finished the day in 12th overall and 4th among Asia cup. Even he had some time gap from the top, however concerning full of drama on the day, no one could expect how the overall standing would be changed at the finish. Following day 2, Sumiyama showed stable speed into strong competitor. Although he bent tie rod by hitting concrete wall, but also other Asia cup competitors saws many of troubles. Sumiyama managed to complete all of rough stages of the rally and showed great effort as finished in 2nd among Asia cup on individual result of day 2. Eventually he finished in 5th overall and 3rd among Asia cup which brought his first podium finish and great end of first season with Mitsubishi cars for the team. |
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Team director, Tsutomu Nagase “This is not satisfied result as figure, however it’s been very productive season as we have got valuable information and understanding with new machine which would be useful for next season. Drivers are not entirely happy with the result I think, however I would like praise the speed which Yanagisawa showed at this event. I think our machine will be more stable if we make just some tiny works, so it’s been not too bad as we felt our way in the dark at beginning of the season. This is first time to use Mitsubishi car after long time, so it was kind of start from zero, so I’m very proud to made well progress within only half of the year. I hope we can show more speed next season.” Hiroshi Yanagisawa “On the stage which the problem happened, many stone were scattered many stones, so it seems that I hit bigger stone which push the oil cooler. The damage was extended through contact with tyre. Machine itself had been improved with new engine from previous event, also differential was improved by some works, so as driver I’m getting more used to control this. Here in China, I knew that the road was narrow and twisty, also our machine was bigger than previous, so I thought it shouldn’t be able to showed same speed to previous. However it was not really and my time was quite good. I wished to compare my time with others more under this condition and to try several things on differential, so I’m not satisfied with this conclusion. This year, our aim was building EvoX up, so first half of the season was bit confused, but still finished in third at Hokkaido. Also my time was improved to battle for the top at later of the season, so it’s been not too bad. I was not able to complete the event this time, however some trouble would appear on only actual event, so it’s kind of experience. We had been putting best effort as much as we could under limited condition which should be satisfied. From now on, we will make well prepare for the next season.” |
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Yuya Sumiyama “As I was competing this event last year, this is one of few international stage which I have experience. Therefore I knew that the road was narrow, so mentally I was well prepared than other events of the season. After finishing Indonesia, I felt that I got understanding and feeling of the new machine quite well, so I talked with my co-driver and decided to aim completing the rally at least and hopefully finished within podium positions. The stages of the event were really rough and many stone came out at repeated run, so I also had many trouble. However I was able to cope with each accident and to manage finish all stages, so I think I was quite lucky. As I took aim to gain bonus point on day 2, it was good that I was able to kept my speed without being to much cautious until very last stage, and I had good tension under own task which I gave to myself. Again I have got valuable experience this time, and it should work well for next season.” |
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China Rally Longyou Final Classification |
| PA1. | CODY CROCKER | Subaru Impreza STI | 3:40:47.6 |
| 2. | DEAN HERRIDGE | Subaru Impreza STI | +4:32.8 |
| 3. | JARI KETOMAA | Subaru Impreza STI | +6:56.6 |
| A 4. | RIFAT SUNGKAR | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 | +13:55.7 |
| A 5. | YUYA SUMIYAMA | Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX | +17:17.9 |
| PA6. | EMMA GILMOUR | Subaru Impreza STI | +17:58.0 |
| 7. | XU JUN | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 | +21:46.3 |
| 8. | HAN HAN | Subaru Impreza STI | +23:11.3 |
| *PA=APRC registered A=Asia Cup registered |
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