Team MRF Tyres driver Jan Kopecky from the Czech Republic won the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) title after a convincing win in the Rally Hokkaido (Japan) on Sunday.
The 2013 European rally champion Kopecky thus took an unassailable 50-point lead with only one round remaining.
Gill crashes outHis main rival and Indian driver Gaurav Gill crashed out of the lead of the rally and his team was unable to get the car ready in time for the final day.
Kopecky said, “the car was great, the team was great and I would like to thank everyone from Team MRF Skoda for making this possible.
“They did an amazing job these past five rallies and hopefully we can do it again in China,” while thanking his co-driver Pavel Dresler who is also from Czech Republic.
With a total of 154 points accumulated over the past five events, Kopecky wins the 2014 Asia Pacific Rally Championship Driver’s title as he cannot be beaten at this stage.
Gill is currently second on 104 points but with only 39 points available to win in the one remaining round, it’s now impossible for Gill to retain the title he won in 2013. The next leg will be in China from November 4 to 7.
