Transcript of APRC Live – Rally Hokkaido 2009

Cody Crocker has one hand on a 4th consecutive APRC championship title, with a convincing victory at the 4th round of the 2009 season, Rally Hokkaido.

The Japanese round of the series is not only the mid-point of the season, it’s a pivotal event for the crews looking to claim the 2009 APRC Championship.

And the two most likely contenders for APRC crown, Crocker and Katsu Taguchi duked it out during the opening day.

Over the first 6 stages of leg 1, they took 3 wins each, the Japanese driver caugt napping on stage 3 when Crocker was able to take 18 seconds from him, but Taguchi reducing the gap to 12 seconds before midday service.

— IV: Crocker – Morning 1

But the rally took a dramatic turn after lunch, Taguchi punctured after a jump, elected to complete the stage on the rim, and lost nearly a minute in the process.

— IV: Katsu – Morning 1

Behind them, Gaurav Gill was having a better outing in the new MRF Evo 10, holding down 3rd place after 5 stages. But his luck deserted him on stage 6, a slow roll bringing to an end any chance of a good result.

— IV: Gaurav – Roll

While Gaurav and co-driver David Senior were unhurt in the accident, Senior was almost collected by Emma Gilmore, who arrived on the scene before the MRF crew could plac warning signs by the road.

— IV: Emma – Near miss

Gilmore extended her impressive debut in the MotorImage Subaru, setting consistent times in the unfamilar conditions to collect 4th outright and the final APRC podium place.

— Email Sweeper

Beating her for 3rd outright was Hiroshi Yanagisawa, the Cusco team back for the Asia Cup leg of the championship and showing real progress with their new Lancer EVO Xs. Yanagisawa and Gill trading stage times for much of the event, while the Cusco drivers experience on the northern Japanese roads meant he was able to stay well ahead of Gilmore for entire event.

— IV: Yana

Not so happy was his teamamte Yuya Sumiyama, who last 8 stages before transmission problems forced retirement.

But the event belonged to Crocker, who now takes a decisive lead in the championship, 11 points clear of Taguchi, the Japanese driver disappointed not just to have missed out on a win at his home event, and maybe also sensing the championship has slipped away

— IV: Katsu – End

So Cody Crocker extends his lead in the series, which now moves on to Malaysia on the 15th of August, an event he’s won for the last 3 years running. The Malaysian round will also see the return of a couple of APRC favourites. Indonesian Rifat Sungkar makes his 2009 debut in a Lancer Evo 9, while the ‘flying Shihk’ Karamjit Singh will roll out the new Proton Neo S2000 for him home event.

But let’s leave the final word to the winner of Rally Hokkaido 2009, Cody Crocker.

— IV: Crocker – Final