10 December 2010, KANGAR, PERLIS - Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya is the new overall 2010 Malaysian Rally champion even before he sits behind the steering wheel of his Subaru Impreza.
All he has got to do is to turn up for the fourth and final round of the championship over the weekend at the Tasoh Lake Resort in Kangar, Perlis with his co-driver Sean Gregory and claim the title he so richly deserve.
With a total of 40 points collected over the previous three legs- Johor Baru, Seremban, Kuala Terengganu- Muhammad Rafiq sits pretty on the top with an unassailable lead over the second placed team of Muhamad Siraj Abdullah and Abi Redzuan in a Proton Neo Satria who are on 18 points.
Third overall is Karamjit Singh and co driver Douglas Pickering in a Mitsubishi Lancer on 16 points, a situation even the man they dubbed the Flying Sikh, a former world rally champion, could not overcome this time.
But for Muhammad Rafiq who is driving under the MRU Racing team banner, the final round in Kangar, is yet another competition where he hopes to prove that he deserves the overall title.
"I have put in a lot of hard work over the past 12 months and all my effort has paid off. But I still want to show the rally fraternity that I am in the sport for the long haul. That means I will give my best in Kangar even though I have the overall title in the bag already," said Muhammad Rafiq.
And his participation in Kangar has been given a huge psychological boost with his 7th overall finish in the recent Rally of China in Lohu where 92 cars took part.
But for Karamjit, the 2010 Malaysian Rally has been a season of so many twist and turns with a broken gear shaft and mechanical problems which was to cost him dearly.
At one stage he was in serious contention for the crown with only eight points separating him and the leader, until last month at the third round in Kenyir Lake in Kuala Terengganu where his gear box gave way and his hopes lie shattered.
Which is why Muhamad Siraj and his Proton Satria Neo of the MRU Racing team has leapt into second placed overall but Karamjit is still very much in contention for a consolation second placed finish leaving Muhammad Rafiq to celebrate his success.
Ends
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