The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Stage set for Crocker-Valimaki face-off

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Friday, Jun 01, 2007
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Sport - Racing : Motor

Stage set for Crocker-Valimaki face-off

K. Paul Abraham

Canberra: An exciting race is on the cards as defending champion Cody Crocker and 2005 champion Jussi Valimaki of Team MRF face off in the third leg of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) here from June 1 to 3.

Crocker is leading the drivers' championship by a thin margin of one point. The Australian has 16 points, while Valimaki has 15. Katsuhiko Taguchi of Team MRF and Hiroshi Yanagisawa of Cusco Racing are joint third with 13 points.

First-time clash

The Rally of Canberra will also witness a first-time clash between Crocker (Subaru WRX) and Valimaki (Mitsubishi EVO 9) in the APRC. Valimaki took the honours in the first leg at New Caledonia, which Crocker skipped. It was just the reverse in the second leg at Whangarei, New Zealand.

Team MRF did not participate in the event and the Aussie finished first.

However, Crocker has a distinct home advantage here, having practised on the peculiar dirt tracks and being an expert on the typical Australian crests over Valimaki, who has more experience in snow driving.

Rain and cold could also play a key role in deciding the winner. The event will run across 231.26 kms of competitive distance in 16 stages.

A speciality of the rally will be the first stage, SS1 Bullets (10.33 km), which will be run for the first time in the dark on Friday after the cars have crossed the ramp at the ceremonial start in the city centre.

Gill misses out

Meanwhile, Gaurav Gill of Team MRF will miss the competition here, as his car, which was damaged during the New Caledonia leg, has not been repaired yet.

Also skipping the Rally of Canberra is Japanese driver Yanagisawa, who is reported to be getting ready for the next leg at home.

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