TAPPER ELEVATED TO WORLD RALLY SCENE

New Zealander Mark Tapper steps up triumphant as the Asia Pacific Pirelli Star Driver winner after a challenging weekend at the Ancom Malaysian Rally.

Hayden Paddon’s early retirement meant a boxing match between Australian Eli Evans and Tapper on Day One

and the start of Day Two – with each trading stage wins. But Evans’ retirement on the second stage of Day Two meant Tapper only had finish out the day with reasonable times to secure the title.

Aussie Eli Evans:

Tapper commented at the finish:

It hasn’t sunk in yet!

The phone’s been ringing off the hook with calls from around the world.”

Not only did Tapper top the young drivers, but he also made the podium on the event overall – beating out more experienced APRC drivers to third place.

Malaysian Rally highlights:

“It’s a added bonus to be on the podium again at an APRC event and to beat the regulars by such a large margin. Our Reece Jones Rallysport prepared Evolution Nine ran faultlessly all weekend – a great testament to Reece himself and his team.”

After some tough times in the last few years, the twenty-seven year old has come out on top and will now move up onto the world stage.

“The biggest part for me is being able to re-pay the people who have backed me and had faith in me even when things have not gone so well.”

Malaysian James Russell:

This prize will catapult Tapper onto the world stage in the way that no-other single event can. He will now go onto compete in six WRC rounds in 2009 against the four winners from the other regional Star-Driver competitions. Full details about the Pirelli backed initiative are yet to be decided.

An assault on the world rallying scene like this is anything but cheap and the fully funded package put together by Pirelli is rumoured to be in excess of 500,000 Euros. This will take a lot of pressure off Tapper next year enabling him to focus on his driving.

A calculated approach and a relatively problem free weekend enabled Tapper to keep a level head and drive to match the tough Malaysian conditions.

Rizal Sungker:

“We chose to use the slippery wet conditions to our advantage and had the right car and tyres for the job, and feel that’s where we won the award.”

This is the kind of stepping stone that the late Possum Bourne grabbed with both hands – as Mark now looks to follow in his footsteps to represent New Zealand in world rallying.