CODY CROCKER CLAIMS CHINA LONGYOU RALLY TITLE AGAIN

FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship and Guanghe-Xinhu Scenery Garden Cup China Rally Longyou 2009, which also serves as the last stage of 2009 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championships (APRC), came to a conclusion in a fashionable style in Longyou, Zhejiang province as Cody Crocker of Australia from Motor Image Racing Team won the rally to complete a perfect 2009 APRC season. Xu Jun from Team Hongyun Honghe leads the standings of Chinese drivers.

The six special stages of the last day race took place in Sanmenyuan and Hengshan and drivers had to race three times, which lasted 99.09 kilometers. The temperature lowered to 8 degree and the heavy rain also increased the difficulties for drivers to complete their plan. Adding to their misery, the difference of altitude above seas caused heavy frog and made the race unpredictable.

Four-time APRC champion Crocker proved his status as No 1 in finishing the stages first and wrapped up a perfect APRC season. “I’m so glad to finish the season with an overall title in Longyou rally. It’s a tough race today for me, especially the heavy rain,” said Crocker, who finished the Longyou rally in 3 hours, 40 minutes and 47.6 seconds. “But I did a perfect job and my car also worked very well throughout the race. “Besides, my co-driver and I had very good teamwork. It’s a great season and it’s a great title for me.” The victory is also Crocker’s third straight win in Longyou. He is also the winner of the 2009 FIA Asia Cup.

Dean Herridge from Subaru Rally Team, followed by Team FCACA’s Jari Ketomaa finished 2nd and 3rd place on the Longyou rally.

Rifat Sungkar from Pertamina Prima XP Rally finished 4th overall, Yuya Sumiyama from Cusco Racing, and Crocker’s teammate Emma Gilmour finished 5th and 6th. These three drivers also settled for 2nd, 3rd and 4th in FIA Asia Cup competition in Longyou rally.

The Longyou rally also served as the 4th event of 2009 China Rally Championship(CRC). Xu Jun from Team Hongyun Honghe claimed the title of Chinese drivers. As his opponent made mistakes one after another, Xu Jun managed to hold on and was the first to pass the finishing line.

“I did not expect to win the race because my arm suffered during the race. It’s impossible for me to pull the hand brake,” said Xu. “But I had the chance after two contenders pulled out of the race. I tried to keep consistent later on and won the stage. It’s a first stage title and I’m so happy.” Team FCACA’s Han Han lagged far behind after the first-day race but managed to catch up yesterday, finally finishing in second. Southeast Motor Wanyu Team’s Fan Fan came in third place.

In the Group S in CRC, Chen De’an and Qin Fawei made it one-two for Team Volkswagen Qingyang Golf at the S3 group (2.0 litre) . It’s a breakthrough for Chen as he never managed to finish the Longyou stage since 2003. “It’s raining in the last stage and made the race difficult. My teammate Qin also caught up in the last distance but I held on and won,” said a jubilant Chen. “I think all the drivers did a very good job as it’s such a tough race. “But it’s a greater day for me as I failed to finish the stage here in the past years. Things were even worse last years as I had to withdraw at the last minute as a leader.”Wang Xiang from Team Chaoyang Tire finished in third place.

The tough race was highlighted in the S2 group (1.6 litre) as only two out of the nine cars finished the competition. Liu Bin from Team Volkswagen Skoda and Red Bull won the title after a solid show, followed by Jin Binbin from Team Yiwu Rally.

In the S1 group (1.4 litre), Li Dawei from Team Maxxis Tires was crowned the title and Wen Fan from Team Chongqing Lifan 320 was second. Wen’s teammate Liu Jing came in third.

Only 33, out of the total 81 cars (41 percent), managed to finish the race and underlined Longyou’s image as a really tough race.

CHINA RALLY LONGYOU 2009 RESULTS
1. Cody Crocker/Ben Atkinson (AUS) Subaru Impreza WRX STI N14 3:40.47,6
2. Dean Herridge/Chris Murphy (AUS) Subaru Impreza WRX STI N14 +4.32,8
3. Jari Ketomaa/Miika Teiskonen (FIN) Subaru Impreza WRX STI N14 +6.56,6
4. Rifat Sungkar/Scott Beckwith (RI/AUS) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +13.55,7
5. Yuya Sumiyama/Naoki Kase (J) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +17.17,9
6. Emma Gilmour/Claire Mole (NZ/GB) Subaru Impreza WRX STI N14 +17.58,0
7. Xu Jun/Liu Sheng (RC) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +21.46,3
8. Han Han/Sun Qiang (RC) Subaru Impreza WRX STI N14 +23.11,3
9. Fan Fan/Fang Junwei (RC) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +33.51,5
10. Shi Chunlei/Pan Hongyou (RC) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +43.14,4

APRC STANDINGS
1. Crocker 94, 2. Gilmour 53, 3. Taguchi 47, 4. Gill 12, 5. Green 9.

Pacific Cup: 1. Paddon 29, 2. Green 22, 3. Leyraud 14.

Asia Cup: 1. Crocker 47, 2. Taguchi 28, 3. Sungkar 28, 4. Gilmour 22, 5. Yanagisawa 8, Sumiyama 8, 7. Gill 6.