The Hindu : Nutahara edges Karamjit for title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 14, 2003

Sport

Sport - Racing : Motor

Nutahara edges Karamjit for title

By Sanjay Rajan

ROTORUA JULY 13. For the first time in the 16-year history of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) for cars there has been a tie for a rally crown.

Karamjit Singh drove brilliantly on the final day to finish even with overnight leader Japanese Fumio Nutahara on time (3:00.22.9) at the conclusion of the three-day Hella Battery Town-Rally of Rotorua, the second round of the APRC 2003, here on Sunday.

And it must have been heart-breaking for the Malaysian, of Indian origin, to see the overall title go to the latter on a tie-breaker for having posted the faster timing on the event's opening stage. Nutahara had won the first stage, Motu-1, beating the whole field. So close was the race that at the start of the 15th and final stage, Nutahara was leading Karamjit by half-a-second.

Meanwhile, Bruce Herbert (Rob Ryan), running for the National Championship angle, won the rally for the fifth time on the trot.

Nutahara, a rising star, won the Group N title comfortably, while all the action in this category revolved around the face-off between MRF Tyres' Armin Kremer and Italian Nico Caldarola, the defending Group N champion. Kremer (co-driver Fred Berssen), who was trailing the Italian by 51.2 seconds overnight, recorded faster times than the latter in four of the five stages to finish second. It was the second straight podium finish for Kremer, who had won the APRC overall and Group N crowns in Canberra. He also finished fourth in the APRC overall classification. Nutahara leads the championship overall as well as in Group N with 26 and 34 points respectively. Kremer is second in both classifications with 21 and 30 points respectively.

Team MRF Tyres' other entrant, Austrian David Doppelreiter (Ola Floene), finished fourth in Group N and sixth overall.

"It's a good result considering the problems we have had with the car (brakes locking up). It was a great battle with Fumio today and we get some good points to start our championship title defence," said Karamjit, who began the day nine seconds behind leader Nutahara.

"I hope to get more funding after this performance. The last four stages were really fast, but then owing to the mechanical problem I could not brake late." Nutahara termed this as the best race of his life.

"It's unbelievable to tie with Karamjit, for he was driving a Group A (modified) car. He's such a fast driver. At the start of the day I did not think I stood a chance. But then... it was amazing." Kiwi Andrew Hawkeswood finished third in the overall category on what was his 35th birthday.

Kremer, a former European champion, said he was happy with the result. "It is our first time in New Zealand. We learnt a lot about the car and its set-up in these tricky road conditions. The MRF tyres stood the test. We lost time on the corners (suspension problems), but made up on the straights.

Considering all this, I think a second-place finish is commendable. It's Fred and my first season in this part of the world. I guess it's more about experiencing the conditions." Doppelreiter lost time when he went off the road in the day's first stage owing to a mistake in the pace notes.

He said he made up a good part of it over the next four stages. ''I kept a good pace, am finding the right speed. The car is reacting nicely. I'm happy that I finished the rally,'' said the Austrian.

The results (after three legs):

APRC overall: 1. Fumio Nutahara/ Satoshi Hayashi (Jpn), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7, Gr. A, 3:00:22.9; 2. Karamjit Singh/ Allen Oh (Mal), Proton Pert, Gr. A, 3:00:22.9; 3. Andrew Hawkeswood/ Paul Fallon (NZ), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo6, Gr. A, 3::00:44.4; 4. Armin Kremer/ Fred Berssen (Ger), Team MRF Tyres, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7, Gr. N, 3:02:57.8; 5. Nico Caldarola/Paolo Cecchini (Ita), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7, Gr. N, 3:05.07.4; 6. David Doppelreiter (Aut)/ Ola Floene (Nor). Team MRF Tyres, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7, Gr. N, 3:06:10.9.

Group N (unmodified cars): 1. Fumio Nutahara/ Satoshi Hayashi; 2. Armin Kremer/ Fred Berssen; 3. Nico Caldarola/ Paolo Cecchini (Ita); 4. David Doppelreiter (Aut)/ Ola Floene (Nor).

Group N standings (after two rounds): 1. F. Nutahara/Hayashi (34 points); 2. A. Kremer/ F Berssen (Team MRF Tyres, 30); 3. D. Doppelreiter/ O Floene (Team MRF Tyres, 14); 4. N Caldarola/ P Cecchini (10) 4.

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