FAN FAN WINS IN JEMPOL WHILE GREEN TAKES THE 2012 CROWN

JEMPOL, SUNDAY, 9 December 2012 - THIS was what Fan Fan had planned when he started the second leg this morning. With a healthy lead he took a fast and easy approach to the remainder of the 68 KM stages which made up Leg 2. There was however a fight for the remainder spots in the top ten.

Missing from the start list for leg 2 is Kenneth Koh, he was unable to fix his broken gear box as he came to the rally minus the Proton R3 crew, whom are in full force at the Sepang circuit where the team ran 2 cars. The fight in the top 10 was between Francis, Dinie, Ahmad Shafie, Siraj, Azmeer, Mike, Abdul Gaffar and Mohd Rafizal. The lot were separated by just 9 minutes! So it was game on in the heat and dust of Jempol.

It was Siraj whom fell victim to mechanical gremlins first in SS8. Then on SS10 Dinie Nazmies hard fought rally came to a halt only after 100 meters into the stage with a broken gearbox. Another victim of the gearbox onslaught was Mohd Rafizal on the very last stage. He was posting competitive stage time on his return to the championship after a long break. With the three retirements, Ahmad Shafie with his ailing Subaru Impreza was elevated to 4th. Francis Keng had a late scare when he overcooked a right hand corner and bent his rear wheel on the second last SS. It was sign for Francis to slow down.

Indonesian Robi Agusman and compatriot Muhammad Zulfikar Pane restarted the rally under the super rally rules and was happy sampling the Malaysian stages in preparation for the 2013 season. Further down the field, Jamaluddin Tukmin and younger system Rozita managed to creep into the top 10 after a frustrating rally which he was unable to fight for a class win after when he came with the wrong tyres. It was a successful outing for the Tetipad Malacca Rally team when all of its 5 cars made it to the finish with their female driver finishing just outside the top 10.

The prize giving ceremony was graced by Y.B.Dato’ Shamsulkahar b. Abdul Deli the ADUN Serting with Brian Green and Fleur Pederson officially being crown the 2012 Malaysian Rally Champion.

Round 4 winner was Fan Fan and Francies Keng, while Mike Ariokiasamy from MRU motorsports was second and third respectively. 4th place went to Ahmad Shafie of Tetipad Malacca Rally team and Azmeer Yusri finish fifth. Well done to the 18 crews whom finished the rally and crossed the finish ramp.

The Final round of the 2012 Malaysian Rally Championship was organized with faultless precision and ran like clockwork. Thanks to the organizers and its dedicated crew and without the supporting competitors, the Rallying scene will be folded into the history books; let’s hope that will ever happen. Come April 2013, the 4 round championship promises to be another challenging season. Hope there will be an increase in the number of competitors, stiff competition among the competitors and more support from the government and sponsors will be the main attraction of the championship.

MR12/FIA-APRC : MCRAE IS KING OF THE MUD

15 JULY 2012, JOHOR BAHRU- The conditions were tough and made worse by the overnight rain but Alister McRae kept his feet firmly planted on the ground to win the Malaysian leg of the Asia Pacific Rally Champion (APRC) under such difficult circumstances yesterday.

As the wet weather continues to hover over the Tai Tak Estate route yesterday, the participants knew very well that the challenges ahead were going to be enormous but McRae and co-driver Bill Hayes in their Proton Satria Neo 2000 sailed through the muddy terrain to win the race in a total time of 2hrs 57mins 31.5secs.

Lying third after Saturday's opening round, McRae went into Round 2 yesterday knowing very well that he has to keep an eye on the road and make sure his vehicle  stay on course, which he did in style.

"It was such a challenging race. But we came through in the end and I am happy for the team and my co-driver. That's the nature of rallying. You win some and you could lose some too," said McRae. Chris Atkinson in a Skoda Fabia 2000 came in second with a total time of 3hrs 21mins 06.6secs with Brian Green in a Subaru Impreza third in 3hrs 24mins 08.1secs.

"Alister and I had such an interesting tussle but in the end he won and my congratulations to him. It was such a demanding race but in the end he was better," said Atkinson.

The race also saw the overnight leader Per-Gunnar Anderson of Sweden in a Proton  Satria Neo suffering an setback  when his electronic system failed to function which left him out of contention.

In a double swoop McRae also won the Malaysian Rally Championship round with the Cusco Racing team of Yuya Sumiyama and co-driver Naoki Kase in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X coming in second in a time of 3hrs 13min 32.2secs while third was Chris Atkinson and Stephane Prevot in their Skoda Fabia 2000.

Karamjit Singh, the defending Malaysian Rally Championship winner, was fifth in 3hrs 24mins 56.6secs in his Proton Satria Neo 2000.

"It is still a wide open race for the Malaysian Rally Championship. With two more rounds to go, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan, there are still enough points to fight for," he said.

MR12/ FIA-APRC : A SWEDE VICTORY FOR ANDERSON

14 July 2012, JOHOR BAHRU - The conditions were not ideal but Per-Gunnar Anderson in a Satria Neo 2000 came through the mud and the slush to clinch the opening round of the Malaysian leg of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship yesterday.

The constant drizzle over the Tai Tak Estate yesterday made conditions tough, so tough that the organizer had to cancel one stage of the race simply because of it's poor condition but then again Anderson and co-driver Emil Axelson were in their element to complete the estimated 115 km race in the fastest time of 1hr 48mins 49.9secs.

Second fastest was India Guarav Gill also in a Skoda Fabia with his co-driver Glen MacNeall of New Zealand in 1hr 50min 12.6secs while Proton Motorsports Alister MacRae and partner Bill Hayes came in third in 1hr 51.04.4secs.

The weatherman had predicted rain over the area over the past couple of days and true to their prediction, the rain came throughout the entire morning, making conditions a challenging one instead.

As Karamjit Singh, Malaysia's No 1 rally driver who came in fourth yesterday said: 'It was tough out there today. The roads were so slippery and a slight mistake could see you pay a heavy price. But then again the conditions are same for everybody,"

Karamjit, driving a Proton Satria Neo with Vivek Ponussamy was timed at 2hrs 08.02.2secs with New Zealand's Brian Green in a Subaru Impreza was fifth in 2hrs 09.50.9secs.

"More rain are expected tomorrow and I believe conditions will not get any better. So it's all a matter of staying in control tomorrow," said Karamjit.

MR12/FIA-APRC : RALLY BIG GUNS READY FOR SHOWDOWN IN JOHOR

13 JULY 2012, JOHOR BAHRU- As the big guns of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) gather in Johor Bahru for the Malaysian leg of the championship, the gravel roads of the Tai Tak Estate, is expected to test the resolve and skills plus the patience of the competitors, to their very limit.

And they know things could change overnight on a venue where little mistakes could be punished severely but huge rewards could be reaped if things go your way.

And that's where the likes of Australia's Chris Atkinson, the championship leader, is hoping to thrive on.

Driving a Skoda S2000, Atkinson is the leader after three rounds of the championship in New Zealand, New Caledonia and Australia with a total of 101 points and he knows too well of the task confronting him this weekend.

After all he was part of the Malaysian Proton Motorsports Team two years ago which swept the field to win the title at the very same venue.

"It has always been a very challenging venue. More so when it rains. But whatever the conditions, I am hoping for a podium finish," said Atkinson who will have Belgian Stephane Prevot as his co-driver.

Atkinson leads the championship on a total of 101 points with India's Guarav Gill second on 63 pts and New Zealand's Brian Green, third on 52 pts.

Then come the Proton Motorsports driver Alister McRae in his Proton Satria Neo 2000 who is lying joint fourth together with Sweden's Per-Gunnar Anderson on 48 pts each.

But expect a stiff challenge from Green's Subaru Impreza and McRae too.

Especially McRae who has the experience of driving under such trying conditions of the gravel track of the Tai Tak Estate in Kota Tinggi where a slight mistake could inflict heavy punishment.

As Malaysia's leading rally driver Karamjit Singh said: The Tai Tak Estate can be a very unforgiving venue. More so if it rains. But if it stays dry than it can be very rewarding especially those with a powerful car.

Karamjit with co-driver Vivek Ponusamy have been entered for the race with a Proton Satria Neo under the Proton R3 Cusco team instead of his usual turbo-charged Mitsubishi Lancer Evo XI which he normally drives in the Malaysian Rally Championship.
"But whatever the make of the car I am determined to have a go at the championship," said Karamjit.

A total of 16 cars have been entered for the APRC championship and 21 cars for the Johor Bahru round of the Malaysian Rally Championship; which will run simultaneously.

All eyes will be on China's Fan Fan who will be behind the wheels of his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X where he will be defending his Malaysian Rally title he won at the very same venue last year.

Driving under the GSR Air Asia Rally Team, Fan Fan was supposed to have raced at the Kangar leg of the Malaysian Rally last month but because of his car's late Customs clearance, he was denied the opportunity.

"But everything is solved now. I am looking forward to the Johor Bahru leg of the Malaysian Rally," said Fan Fan. And for the first time in the championship, the organisers have decided to hold a 2.5 km Special Stage race at the Plaza Angsana under the floodlights.

APRC/MR12 - YOUNG FOCUSED ON CHAMPIONSHIP PROSPECTS AT MALAYSIAN RALLY

 
8 July 2012, JOHOR - Michael Young, the 19-year-old rally driver from Opotiki, New Zealand, heads to the 2012 Malaysian Rally next weekend focussed on consolidating his championship prospects.

Young currently has a commanding lead in the Junior Cup category of the 2012 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship with the Malaysian event counting as the third round of the series. The only Kiwi in the four-strong junior class, Young has twice the number of points of his nearest rival, Japanese driver Akira Bamba, after contesting APRC events in Whangarei and Queensland.

“We are leading the championship after two rounds with a good lead on the other junior competitors,” says Young before he left New Zealand on 8 July. “The hard work has been done; we must now think about the championship and focus on finishing this tough event. But of course I want to win again!”

Young and his co-driver Tasmanian Daniel Willson are in the interesting situation of having rallied more frequently in Malaysia than they have in any other country.

“We have good experience of Malaysian roads - this is my fourth event in Malaysia although I haven’t rallied in this part of the country before. If we are in a position to win, we won't hold back!”

Young and Willson meet up with their team, Japan-based Cusco Racing, in the Malaysia’s southern-most city, Johor Bahru, on Monday before the event runs over the weekend of 13 to 15 July.

“We will test with the team on Tuesday and have a lot of preparation to do with the Proton Satria – we need to replace the clutch and the drive-shafts after the Queensland event which was rough on the gear. Also Malaysian rallies are very low speed so we will be using lots of clutch and changing from second to first a lot.”

Young and Willson have the opportunity to complete a two-pass reconnaissance of the rally route on Wednesday and Thursday before Friday evening’s official start ceremony. All competitors then start the event at 9:30 pm around the 2.5 km super special stage around the Angsana shopping complex which also houses the service park for all rally crews. With an 11 am start on Saturday, they tackle 155.4 km of special stages to the north of the city before Sunday’s 79.88 km of competitive stages and the finish ceremony in the afternoon.

Young is passionate about competing in the Asian events, despite the challenges of the tropical climate and tree-lined plantation roads typical to the Malaysian event.

“I love the whole experience of Malaysia; the food and the people are awesome. The rally will be very tricky coming from a New Zealand winter to the heat of at least 30 degrees. And remember that temperature is almost double inside the car.


“The roads are often rocky, rough and extremely slippery if wet! Through the plantations, they’re lined with palm oil trees and deep ditches, so we have to be super aware of those challenges which can end our rally very easily.”

Competing under the Mike Young Motorsport banner, Young drives a two-wheel-drive Proton Satria 1.6-litre rally car built and prepared by Cusco Racing and is fortunate to have the support of Yokohama Tyres which provides as many tyres as Young needs throughout the event.
 After Malaysia, Young heads to Japan in September for the final round of the 2012 APRC Junior Cup. The APRC Junior Cup was first introduced in 2011 with the intention of increasing opportunities for young talented drivers from within the region. It's open to drivers aged 28 years or younger as at 1 January 2012 driving currently homologated two-wheel-drive cars with a maximum engine capacity of 1600cc, and competitors must enter at least two rounds to qualify for points.

Results from the Malaysian Rally can be found on the website www.malaysianrally.com. Young has also established a new website www.mikeyoung.co.nz which will feature news, image and video content, or find 'mikeyoungmotorsport' on Facebook.

ENDS/

KARAMJIT IS STILL KING

13 MAY 2012, KANGAR - Karamjit Singh is the undisputed winner of the Kangar round of the Malaysian Rally 2012 championship.

Over two legs, Karamjit, the defending overall champion, found himself fending off the challenge of the rest of the field to win both the rounds, covering a total distance of an estimated 125km race over 16 stages.

Together with co-driver Nicole Ann Gill in their Mitsubishi Lancer, the pair clocked a total time of 1hr 20:50.7secs with New Zealander Brian Green and co-driver Fleur Pedersen in a Subaru Impreza who did a total time of 1hr 22.50.03secs.

Third was Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya of the MRU Racing team in a time of 1h 26:15.9secs. On Saturday in the opening round, Karamjit was hardly in trouble as he raced away to take the crown and on Sunday, it was also business as usual for the man whom they call the Flying Sikh.

He got off to a flying start in the opening stage on Sunday, which is Stage 9, covering a distance of 8.02km and he was in his element. From then on it was smooth sailing, minus a little hiccup here and there.

"But in the end we came good. The stages were a bit too straight for my liking and it could play havoc with the handbrakes. But we kept clear of trouble and I am happy," said Karamjit.

The action shifts to Johor Baru for the third round of the 2012 Malaysian Rally which also co-incide with the Asia Pacific Rally Championship(APRC) where some big names from the region are expected to take part.

But by then Karamjit will have a "new" car to handle. A three-year old Mitsubishi Lancer which his team GSR Repsol Air Asia have bought for him from New Zealand.

"I am looking forward to driving the new car and it will be a totally refreshing experience. I have not test driven it yet but I am sure it will be fast," said Karamjit.

And the return of China's Fan Fan, last year's winner of the Malaysian leg of the APRC in Johor Baru, will only add competitiveness to the championship.

Fan Fan's million ringgit Mitsubishi Lancer was supposed to have raced in Kangar but because of it's late arrival due to customs clearance, the car did not see action in Kangar.

"But I will be back. The car is still in Malaysia (Kangar and then Kuala Lumpur) and I will be ready to race in Johor Baru," said the Beijing based Fan Fan.

KARAMJIT VICTORIOUS ON DAY 1

12 MAY 2012, KANGAR - Karamjit Singh or better known as the Flying Sikh does what he do best - Winning rally that is.

He swept to victory in the opening day of the Kangar round of the Malaysian Rally in Kangar leaving his opponents wondering what it will take to dislodge him.

Together with co-driver Nicole Ann Gill in their Mitsubishi Lancer they completed the 62 km course across the sugar plantation of Chuping to win in a total time of  40mins 39secs leaving New Zealander Brian Green and Fleur Pedersen in a Subaru Impreza  in second place in 41mins 22.6secs.

Third was the 2010 Malaysian Rally champion Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya also in a Subaru Impreza in  42mins 59.3secs.

The day had started off reasonably well for Karamjit in the 2.68km special stage where he finished thirdfastest but from then on there was no looking back.

He brushed aside the challenge of the rest of the field to win comfortably and then declared that he is looking forward to the next round in Johor Baru in two months time.

"I have a new car, a Mitsubishi Lancer  which we brought from New Zealand. It is now in Port Klang and once we take it out from there will will prepare the car. I am looking forward to driving it.

It will surely be better given it's condition as compared to the present car," said Karamjit who is driving under the GSR Repsol Air Asia banner.

But for now Karamjit is still the man to beat.

Even China's Fan Fan, the winner of the Malaysian round of the Asian Pacific Rally Championship last year, could not catch up with him.

But then again, Fan Fan ran into some problems yesterday. His Mitsubishi Lancer which he brought from China was delayed by the Port Klang strike recently and it was ony an hour or two before the rally flagged off yesterday that his car arrived in Kangar.

"Obviously we could not get the car certified because of the late arrival and we had to get him another car. Obviously he struggled with some one else's car. It's a pity really because he is such a talented driver," said Gunaseelan Rajoo, the team leader of the GSR Repsol Air Asia Team under which Fan Fan is driving.

EXHILARATING ACTION AWAITS MRC FANS IN PERLIS

11 MAY 2012, KANGAR - China's Fan Fan, the winner of the Malaysian leg of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship last year, is down for the second round of the Malaysian Rally Championship in Kangar over the weekend.

And his participation has added a touch of glamour and add to the competitive spirit as the rest of the field gather in the Northen capital ovet two days of action across the sugar cane plantations of Chuping.

Fan Fan, who was a familiar name in Malaysian Rally in the nineties, has pushed competitive rallying into the background to concentrate on his online business in the past couple of years.

"But I guess he has a bit more time on his hands now and that's why he accepted our invitation to race in Malaysia this weekend. He is such a talented driver and his victory in the Malaysian leg  of Asia Pacific Rally Championship in Johor Baru in April last year, is ample proof of that.

"I am sure he will be give the rest a fight in his Mitsubishi Lancer. No doubts about that," said Gunaseelan Rajoo, leader of the GSR Repsol-Air Asia team under which Fan Fan and his co-driver Fang Jun Wei will be racing in.

But for now New Zealander Brian Green and co-driver Brian Fleur of the MRU Racing team are the leader after their impressive opening round performance in Manjung, Perak two months ago.

There is also the 2011 Malaysian Rally Champion Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya in his Subaru Impreza who is now lying second overall and given his experience, on and off the track, he and his co-driver Sean Gregory are always going to be a threat.

"I have always believe that if you prepare the car well and drive to the best of your ability without the need to take uneccessary risks, then there is always a chance, "said Muhammad Rafiq.

And then there is Karamjit Singh, the undisputed King of Malaysian Rally with twelve overall titles under his belt.

But a disastrous opening round, opening day performance in Manjung where his Mitsubishi Lancer broke down early in the race, meant that even his victory in the second day was not enough to see him in the top five overall classification as the 15-car participation list heads for Kangar.

"We have lot of catching up work to do from now on. No more breakdowns and we have set ourselves a target of finishing first in every race from now on," said Karamjit.

The Kangar round will also see the young driver Kenneth Koh with the veteran Jagdev Singh alongside him, racing in a brand new Proton Satria Neo, which he hopes will help provide his fledgling career a boost.

Kenneth, 22 is a former Malaysian Rally Junior champion and  was placed fifth overall in the 2012 Malaysian Rally Championship.


"I am still learning but I will get better each year and I hope the new car will give me the extra push," said Kenneth.

KARAMJIT SINGH IS THE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION

TITLE NO 12 AND YET HE IS NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP



11 December 2011, JEMPOL - The Flying Sikh wrapped up the fourth and final round of the Malaysian Rally 2011 in Jempol, Negeri Sembilan today to finish unbeaten over two days of rallying which in the end also gave him the overall crown too.

His two victories in Jempol over the weekend saw him collect a total of 44 points over the four roundsof competition held in Johor Baharu in April; Kangar in July; Malacca in November and then Negeri Sembilan with defending champion Rafiq Udhaya finishing second on a total of 42 points.

Karamjit who drives under the GSR Pennzoil bannercame to Jempol trailing Rafiq by two points and deep inside knows what needed to be done.

Obviously he responded to the occasion and conquered the opening day on Saturday in the 63.5km stage in his Mitsubishi Lancer. And again he was in fiery form yesterday, sweeping past all and sundry in the 46km stage to finish unbeaten again.

All in all Karamjit and his Indian co-driver Viviek Ponnusamy clocked a total time of 1 hr 36min 13.2secs while Rafiq and his partner Sean Gregory in a Subaru Impreza, who finished second on both days, returned a total time of 1hr 42mins 25.5secs.

Third overall is Mike and Manuthi Arokiasamy in a Proton Satria in a time of 1 hr 46 mins 09.5secs.

"It has been a long hard season. I am happy that I have picked up title No 12 but it would not have been possible without the help of my teamates support.

"It was a team effort and I am looking forward to title No 13 next year. I believe I still have a few more years lef t of rallying in me," said the 48-year old Karamjit.

For Rafiq, losing the crown doesn't mean he is a loser either.

"I lost to a better driver. Simple as that. Karamjit is an extraordinary rally driver and to lose to him is no shame at all. Hopefully next year we will try to win the crown again." he added.
And the organiser of the Malaysian Rally, Wheel Sport Management, has annnounced that
the 2012 season will have five rounds instead of the present four, a development which has earned the praise of the competitors.

Five is just ideal. Four is a bit too little is the response from those who are taking part.

-ends.

KARAMJIT IS UNBEATABLE

10 December 2011, JEMPOL - Karamjit Singh and his Mistsubishi Evo was just unstoppable as he charged to victory in the opening day of the fourth and final round of the Malaysian Rally 2011 in Jempol on Saturday.

Together his co-driver Vivek Ponnusamy, they completed the 63.5km stretch of the race in a total time of 52min 22.5sec, leaving the defending champion Rafiq Udhaya and his Subaru Impreza trailing in his wake and a good five minutes behind.

Karamjit is looking forward to the overall title and only Rafiq is standing in his way but after the opening round victory, the Flying Sikh, as he is more popularly known, has taken a step closer to the crown.

As things stand before the start of Saturday's race, Rafiq has a total of 30 points while Karamjit has 28 and Karamjit knows that unless he beats the leader, the title won't be in his possession.

"Round one is completed and eveything went well. I got a good five minutes lead going into Sunday's race and I know if I stay out of trouble tomorrow, I am confident I should be able to win the overall title.

"But you never know. The weather is unpredictable and the condition varies. Today was fine but once it rains the scenarios could change. The track becomes soft and slippery and it would put a real strain on the engine," said Karamjit who has won the overall title a total of eleven times so far.

No 12 beckons and Rafiq knows he needs something spectacular on Sunday to keep Karamjit at bay.

"Karamjit drove flat out today and I expected that. He needs to beat me to win the title and if he does so he deserves it because he is such a talented driver," said Rafiq.

Rafiq is lying second on a total time of 57min 24.9secs while Mike Arokiasamy in a Proton Satria is third on a total of 58min 55.2secs.

A total of 25 cars were on the starting grid.

-ends.

AN EXCITING FINALE IN JEMPOL

9 December 2011, JEMPOL - Defending champion Rafiq Udhaya and challenger Karamjit Singh are both headed for a nail biting finish over the weekend as the Malaysian Rally 2011 enters it's decisive race in Jempol, Negeri Sembilan.

As things stand, Rafiq and his Subaru Impreza are the current overall leader on 30 points after three rounds of races, Johor Baru, Kangar and Malacca but 11-time winner Karamjit Singh is lying second on 28, a mere two-point difference as they both square off in the fourth and final round.

The rest of the field gathered in Jempol today, totalling 25 all in all, knows they are not going to be able to catch up with the two leaders, given the gap in the points accumalated so far.

Australia's Cody Crocker, a former Asia Pacific Rally Championship winner could have been in contention with the 16 points he has after his performances in Johor Baru and Kangar in the opening two rounds but sponsorship issue has forced him out of the race in Malacca and he is not coming to Jempol either.

Then there is the Japanese combination of Aji Kim and Noriko Takeshita in their Proton Satria Neo who are lying third alongside the young Malaysian pair of Kenneth Koh and Nicole Gill, on 10 points each.

Count them out too because whatever happens, Aji or Kenneth are not going to overhaul the two pace setters, given that there are only a total of 16 points at stake in Jempol.

So the stage is set for a Rafiq versus Karamjit duel and revenge is certainly on their minds.

Rafiq and his co-driver Sean Gregory in their Subaru Impreza, wants to prove that they can get the better of Karamjit and consolidate their reputation as a worthy overall champion.

Karamjit in his Pennzoil-backed Mitsubishi Lancer on the other hand, wants title No 12 to shore up his reputation as the man to beat in Malaysian rallying.

But the one factor that both man has no control over and which could play an important role in deciding which way the title is headed for, is the weather.

The current wet spell is playing on the minds of both competitors and given the experience they endured last year at the same venue, they know that once the skies open up, things are no longer the same.

"I know the conditions are going to be treacherous once it rains. I remember last year we were caught in some very slippery conditions when it started raining.

"The weather man are predicting rain again this time. So we have to be well prepared. I am excited over the prospect of challenging Karamjit for the title.

"He is a good driver and it's obvious that I have to beat him if I want to retain my title," said Rafiq.

-ends.

CODY REIGN SUPREME IN KANGAR

29 May 2011, KANGAR - There was no looking back for Cody Crocker as he steps up his challenge for the Malaysian Rally Championship crown.

No one could come close to him as the 41-year old Australian produced another sterling performance to win the Kangar round yesterday in a performance which has put him on the top of the overall leader board alongside defending champion Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya.

But things had looked so uncertain for the Cody, a four-time Asia Pacific Rally Championship winner before the 26-driver field gathered in Kangar for the second round of the Malaysian Championship.

After all he only had two points to show from the opening round in Kota Tinggi last month because his Subaru Impreza went off the road in the opening day and he was left with an enormous task ahead.

But how his fortunes changed. On the opening day on Saturday in Kangar, Cody, driving under the Pennzoil GSR banner, killed the rest of the opposition to come home an easy winner.

And yesterday he was in his element again and crossed the finishing line in style with a two-day total time of 1hr 17min 28.2secs.

It was a worth a total of 16 points from his two-day work and add to the two points he won in Kota Tinggi, Cody is now on 18 points alongside Muhammad Rafiq, the defending champion.

Muhammad Rafiq of the MRU Motorsports Team behind the wheels of a Subaru Impreza was third overall over the two days on a total time of 1hr 24mins 11.9secs.

And in between them was the 11-time champion Karamjit Singh also of the GSR Pennzoil Team who produced a fighting performance in his Mitsubishi Evo to stay second in a time of 1hr: 17mins 45.5secs.

"It's still a wide open race for the overall crown. We have Cody and Karamjit in the front but don't forget Muhammad Rafiq is there and should anything happen to our two cars, he can capitalise on it.”

"After all, the gap is still so close and there are two more rounds (Malacca and Negeri Sembilan) to come," said Gunaseelan Rajoo, team leader of the GSR Pennzoil team.

For Cody, things are looking up and the next round in Malacca in three months time could provide the real test.

CODY AND HIS FLYING SUBARU IMPREZA LEADS AFTER LEG 1 IN PERLIS

28 May 2011, KANGAR - Australian ace Cody Crocker was fast, in fact just too fast as he hauled himself back in contention for the 2011 Malaysian Rally Championship crown.

A sterling performance in Kangar in the opening day of the second round of the Malaysian Rally Championship in Kangar today which left his rivals gasping in admiration, has given Cody the precious points and the physiological boost he so desperately needed.

A four-time Asia Pacific Rally Championship overall winner, Cody took his Subaru Impreza past the finishing line first to make up for the disappointing finish in Kota Tinggi in the opening round last month where he collected a miserable two points.

The 41-year old, a former Australian No 1 rally driver finished ahead of everyone else in a total time of 38mins 46.0secs, leaving local ace karamjit Singh in a Mitsubishi Evo second with 12 seconds behind and Japanese driver katsu Taguchi also in a Mitsubishi Evo, third.

The overall defending champion Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya and still the overall leader, in a Subaru Impreza, is fourth, almost four minutes behind Cody.

There is still another day of rallying to go today over the sugar plantation of Chuping but for now Cody is the man to beat.

"It's clear that I needed a podium finish in Kangar to keep my hopes alive and I am glad things went well for me and the car. It was smooth sailing and the car responded well. You wish that rallying is all so easy.”

"But I know that accidents do happen like what I went through in the opening round in Kota Tinggi last month. Hope it doesn't happen to me tomorrow," said Cody who is driving under the Pennzoil GSR banner.

Karamjit who is bidding to add a 12th overall crown to his name fought tooth and nail throughout the entire six stages of the race but he found the pace set by Cody too hot to handle.

"Cody and karamjit are such talented drivers and to see them at their very best today is a thrill. For us we are still in the chase and the best we can do is to stay out of trouble and drive to the best of our ability," said Muhammad Rafiq.

The Flag off ceremony earlier was graced by Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail at Dataran Terinai, Timah Tasoh.

MUHAMMAD RAFIQ IS THE MAN TO BEAT

27 May 2011, KANGAR - Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya sits pretty at the top of the heap when the cast of 28 drivers lined up for the start of the second round of the Malaysian Rally Championship 2011 in Kangar on Saturday.

But actually Muhammad Rafiq, the defending champion, is not in pole position.

Rather he is lying second overall but because China's Fan Fan, the man who won the opening leg in Kota Tinggi last month is not here because of his visa problem, the Kuala Lumpur based driver has assumed the leading role.

Muhammad Rafiq and his co-driver Sean Gregory behind the wheels of a Subaru Impreza has 11 points. Fan Fan and partner Fang Junwei has 13 and should things go right for Muhammad Rafiq in Kangar, he can look forward to taking a giant step towards retaining his overall title.

Starting third overall is Japanese driver Aji Kim and Noriko Takeshita in a Proton Satria Neo on seven points and then come the two Malaysians, Mohd Shazly Ilias and Kenneth Koh on five and four points respectively.

The big names, like Malaysia's Karamjit Singh, a 11-time overall winner; Japan's Katsu Taguchi, a former world rally participant and the Australian one-time No 1 Cody Crocker are all languishing far behind and Kangar is a real test of their resolve to stay in the championship hunt.

"I know if I stick to my original plan, that is to prepare my car well and drive to the best of my ability, things will work out fine for me. I admit that I am no superior to people like Karamjit and Taguchi but in rally a little luck and the reliability of the car matters a lot.

"And never discount Karamjit or Taguchi. They are very talented drivers and have the experience to take on anybody in the competition," said Muhammad Rafiq.

Which begs the question of whether karamjit and his co-driver Vivek Ponnusamy of the Pennzoil GSR Team can steer their Mitsubishi Evo to a rousing finish in Kangar.

Kota Tinggi was a disaster for the pair and best forgotten as they look towards Kangar.

"The reality is that I need a podium finish in Kangar to stay alive in the chase for the overall championship title. With two more rounds left after Kangar, I need the points now.”

"But I am a fighter. I don't intend to finish last for sure and I don’t intend to finish second either," added Karamjit.

PROTON UNBEATABLE

3 April 2011, JOHOR BAHRU - The Proton Team were just unbeatable at the Malaysian Rally 2011 Championship at the Tai Tak Estate in Kota Tinggi, Johor.

Led by Chris Atkinson in a Proton Satria Neo 2000, the car simply out-powered and outclassed the field to win the opening leg of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

And to add to the celebration, another Proton entrant, Alister McRae, came in third.




In fact the signs were all very clear that the Proton team meant business when they both finished in a similar position after the opening stage on Saturday.

Their domination continued into the second day with yet another round of flawless performance, both from the car and driver.

Atkinson and his co-driver Stephane Prevot from Belgium finished the race over the two-stages in a total time of 3hrs: 14:49.3secs with India's Guarav Gill and his Mitsubishi Lancer coming home second in 3hrs: 16:35.9secs. Third is McRae and co-driver Bill Hayes in 3hrs:23:37.5secs.

The Proton team's victory in Malaysia has come at a time when there were doubts whether the car would hold up under tough conditions, given the bitter experience of last season's outing when both the cars developed mechanical problems and suffered an early knock-out.

But things went well in the end and Atkinson was full of praise for the car at the winners' Press conference here today.

"We have taken a big step forward with our performances here today. The new suspension system and the development work done on the engine have paid off.

It's a great start to the year as we look forward to the rest of the round at the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

"The secret to our success here for Alister (McRae) and me was the way the car
responded. That's why we could win by such a big margin," said Atkinson.

China's Fan Fan, who is making a return to the rallying scene here after a five-year absence won the opening leg of the Malaysian Rally Championship today with a flawless performance over the two stages.



He clocked a total time of 3hrs: 44.30.6secs in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo to push the defending champion Muhammad Rafiq Udahaya in a Subaru Impreza into second place on a total time of 3hrs: 47:20.6secs with Japan's Aji Kim in a Proton Satria Neo coming in third in 3hrs 58:51.6secs.

"I guess knowing the conditions in Malaysia having competed in the 2004 and 2005 series help me quite a bit. It's always tough rallying in Malaysia," said the Beijing based Fan Fan.

For Muhammad Rafiq, the fight continues. More so after the two local challengers, Karamjit Singh, who finished second overall last year and Saladin Mazlan, the 2009 runner-up failed to get their challenge off the ground.

Both the GSR Pennzoil team drivers suffered mechanical problems midway through and they know they need to do better at the next leg in Kangar at the end of May.

ends

THE ACTION BEGINS IN JOHOR BARU

1 April 2011, JOHOR BAHRU - Japan's Yuya Sumiyama is the fastest of them all alongside Indonesia's Rifat Sungkar on the opening day of the Malaysian Rally 2011 in Johor Baru.

Over the purposes built 2.5km dirt track for the special stage race on Friday, the two of them in a similar Mitsubishi Evo X, clocked a similar 2mins 02.1secs to finish at the top.

The achievement from the two of them will certainly give them the psychological boost as the Rally move into the rugged terrains of the Tai Tak Estate on Saturday and Sunday where the real action will take place.

The Scottish driver Alister McRae of the Proton Motorsports Team came in third fastest in 2mins 02.5secs with India's Gaurav Gill in a Mitsubishi EvoX fourth in 2mins 02.7secs.

The best Malaysian finisher was Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya, the overall Malaysian Rally defending champion in a Subaru Impreza who came in 13th fastest in a time of 2mins 18.9secs.

"The special stage race is designed for the spectators who want a close up look of the car in action. So there is no need to go flat out and take unnecessary risks.

"But I feel comfortable in my car and finished the race feeling very good. That's more important as we prepare for the real rallying action tomorrow and Sunday," said Muhammad Rafiq.

A total of 35 cars took part in the special stage race, adjacent to the Angsana Shopping centre and the organisers were happy with what they saw.

"The special stage race gave the spectators the chance to catch the drivers in action from close-up. That's the purpose. But we believe things can be done better next year to add more excitement to the fans.

"We are thinking of widening the track to allow for a two-car race instead of the one car system we just used. Having two cars side by side would be more competitive and more challenging," said Clerk of Course Tengku Shaharin Abu Bakar.

ends


Yuya Sumiyama is the fastest of them all at SS1

FIA APRC MALAYSIAN RALLY 2011 (mr11) : Media Centre

The location of media centre for the FIA Asia Pacific Rally championship 2011 at Grand Paragon Hotel while a 'mini' media centre was also set-up at Angsana Complex (photo coming soon).

FIA APRC MALAYSIAN RALLY 2011 (mr11) : Press conference

The Pre-event press conference for FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship was held at Grand Paragon Hotel, 1 April 2011. With the attendance of top APRC competitors such as Katsu Taguchi (Japan, Team MRF), Muhd Rafiq Udhaya (Malaysia, MRU Motorsports), Alister McRae (Great Britain, Proton Motorsport), Rifat Sungkar (Indonesia, Pertamina Cusco Racing), Yuya Sumiyama (Japan,Pertamina Cusco Racing), Akira Bamba (Japan, Proton Cusco Rally Team), Tomohide Hasegawa (Japan, Hasepro Rally Team), Gunaseelan Rajoo (Malaysia, Pennzoil GSR Racing Team), Cody Crocker (Australia, Pennzoil GSR Racing Team) and Chris Atkinson (Australia, Proton Motorsports).

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD FOR MALAYSIAN RALLY 2011

Sumiyama of Pertamina Cusco Racing testing their car

31 March 2011, JOHOR BAHRU - The days ahead at the Malaysian Rally 2011 which kick starts in Johor Bahru on Friday, look exciting.

A crowd of big names in rallying are gathered for the opening leg of the Asia Pacific Rallying Championship (APRC) and also the first round of the Malaysian Championship.

There is Australia's Cody Crocker, the four time APRC overall winner driving under the GSR Pennzoil Team in a Subaru Impreza.

There is Katsu Taguchi of Japan, the defending champion of the Malaysian leg of the APRC in his Mitsubishi Evo XI and there is the pride of Proton, the Malaysia car manufacturer, represented by Alister MacRae in the Proton Neo 2000.

Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya, the defending Malaysian Rally champion in his Subaru Impreza is just as eager to defend his title and so is Karamjit Singh in a new Mitsubishi Evo , who is ready to make up for his loss last season.

The action starts on Friday with a Special Stage Race over a 2.5km purpose built track at the Plaza Angsana before the real race begins at the Tai Tak Estate in Kota Tinggi over the weekend.

"We did a trial run over the circuit at the Tai Tak Estate and it is a challenging one. I just cannot wait for the race to begin. "Rallying is full of surprises and challenges. You never know what lies ahead and lies next," said Karamjit of the GSR Pennzoil team who finished second last season.

The threat of Saladin Mazlan who is making a return to rallying after a one-year absence, is seen as a challenge Muhammad Rafiq and Karamjit cannot ignore.

Saladin came in second to Karamjit overall in the 2009 season in a Proton Satria but sponsorship issue and his love for polo has prompted him to take a break last year.

"But watch out for him. He is a talented driver," said his GSR Pennzoil Team leader Gunaseelan Rajoo.

A total of 35 entries from nine countries including China, India, Australia and New Zealand, making it one of the largest gatherings of rally entries in Malaysian soil, confirmed for the championship.

ends.



Chris Atkinson of Proton Motorsports stirs up a trail of dust during the shakedown at Angsana Complex

‘KL RALLY DAY’ A SUCCESS!

KUALA LUMPUR - Exclusive organiser, Wheel Sport Management brought rally out of the plantations and onto the busy streets of the city with ‘KL Rally Day’, proving to be a success not only among locals but tourists.

The three competing teams - Proton Motorsports, Pennzoil GSR Racing Team, and MRU Motorsports created quite a commotion at Bukit Bintang, Sogo, Pusat Bandar Damansara, and Damansara Uptown with their attention grabbing cars and loud revs.

The parade was an effort by the organizers to expose the sport to the masses and also as a treat to the existent rally fans in Kuala Lumpur.

Reigning champion from the MRC 2010, Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya of team MRU Motorsports came with his Subaru Impreza WRX STi not only signed autographs for rally fans, he even explained rallying to interested members of the public.

While there were many who came forward to have their photos taken with the cars at pit stops, there were also many onlookers on the street as the cars drove past them.

You can look out for your pictures on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/malaysianrally and feel free to tag Malaysian Rally in your pictures of KL Rally Day.

Don’t forget to catch the opening round of the 2011 Asia Pacific Championship, which forms part of the 2011 Malaysian Rally Championship at the Plaza Angsana Johor Bahru and Tai Tak Estate in Kota Tinggi from April 1st until 3rd.

Wheel Sport Management would like to thank PKG, Proton, Naza, and Redberry for being a part of KL Rally Day. A big thank you also goes out to the media for supporting the event.