China Longyou Rally: SS1 Results – Crocker fastest on Super Special

The Super Special Stage was the highlight of the opening day of FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championships (APRC) Guanghe Xinhu Scenery Garden China Rally Longyou 2009, which is also the fourth stage of China National Rally Championships (CRC) This tournament is more competitive and attractive as the Longyou stage serves as the last stage of 2009 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championships (APRC).

Four-time APRC champion Cody Crocker of Australia underlined his status as the No 1 at the tournament as he led the Super race with 1 minute, 54.1 seconds. Japanese driver Hiroshi Yanagisawa of Team Cusco finished second, just 0.6 second off pace. David Higgins from Team Southeast-Motor Wan Yu was third, 0.9 seconds behind.

The best place by a domestic river was Liu Caodong from Team Guizhou Bailing, who was in 15th place.
Organized by International Automobile Federation (FIA), Federation of Automobile Sports of China (FASC), Zhejiang Sports Bureau, Zhejiang Tourism Bureau and Longyou People’s Government, the tournament has become one of the most attractive event, which saw thousands of spectators at the special stage despite of the cold weather.

The Super Special Stage is 1.82 kilometers and will allow two drivers to race together. The temperature was at 9 degree and it’s cloudy. Since it’s been raining the last three days, considering the condition of the track of the special stage, the organizing committee decided to cancel the qualifications from Group S national drivers. Though the national Group S could not compete at the Super Special Stage, these stars from 13 teams, including the former Olympic gymnastics champion Mo Huilan still showed up at the starting point as a way to support the race.

At 2:35 pm, Crocker, who drove the Subaru, and Japanese driver Katsuhiko Taguchi of Team MRF started to slug it out. Crocker was the first to pass the finishing line, at a time of 1 minute, 54.1 seconds. “I did a very good job today. I’m so happy to achieve such a good result,” said the Australian. “It’s rained last year while racing and it was quite muddy and slippery, but this year it’s much better.”

But Crocker will have a bigger challenge from Taguchi in the next two days as Taguchi is just three points behind at the FIA Asia Cup. Taguchi skipped last year’s race in Longyou and needed more time to get familiar to the track. He settled for a fifth place at the Super Special Stage.

Drives from the CRC were also impressive. David Higgins from Team Southeast-Motor Wan Yu did not test his car on the super special stage on Thursday but still won a third place. Last year’s CRC champion Dean Herridge from Team Subaru failed to deliver more for fans to cheer, finishing in seventh.

Domestic drivers also fought hard for a better finish. Liu Caodong and Han Han from Team FCACA were at the center of limelight as the two were regarded as favorite to fight for the China’s No 1.

Liu came out the winner this time as the Super Special Stage, finishing first among the domestic drivers and 15th among all. Han settled for third and 19th, respectively. The second place among domestic drivers came to Liu’s teammate Wei Hongjie.

Other contenders failed to impress due to mistakes. Li Wei of Team Subaru raced into the wrong circuit at the second lap and wasted lots of time. Ren Zhiguo, who drives for Team Hongyun Honghe this year, was struggling with the radio problem and the caused lots of problems in communication with his co-driver.

Due to the wet and soft road, drivers who started afterwards, found it far more difficult to finish the race.
Xu Weiyu from Team Maxxis Tires made a mistake at the fifth turn while Fan Fan from Southeast-Motor Wanyu was also forced to slow down at the turn in a bid to avoid the mistake.

Saturday’s race features nine special stages from Changsheng Bridge to Mashukou, 39.93 kilometers long. After a warm-up super special stage, a real competition will show up.

China Rally Longyou results after SSS1