Gudang Garam International Rally - Gill and Rifat Led The First Leg

MRF Tyres Rally Team, driver Gaurav Gill/ co-driver Jagdev Singh led the race on the first leg of The APRC round 5 which was also the third round of The Gudang Garam International Rally Indonesia 2008 at the sugar plantation of Takalar, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Saturday (23/8).

The Indian driver of MRF Tyres Rally Team has scored total fastest time, 1:50:16. This result makes it more difficult for Cody Crocker to take out the first position in classification from Katsuhiko Taguchi. Cody himself could only sit in the second position with 1:50:51.

"I am happy with this result. About the strategy? Of course, I ran it according to our plan. This is the key of my success today. About my opportunity on the last day of the race (Sunday 24/8), we’ll see it later." said Gill who drives Mitsubishi Evo IX, when asked after the hard and exhausting race.

Cody didn’t look quite happy with his performance on the first day of the race. However, this driver of Motor Image Rally Team, will try his best on the last day. "Surely I will try to be better than the first day." assured Cody.

Different from Cody, Taguchi, the driver from Japan, with Mark Stacey as his co-driver, should be satistfied only on the 3rd position. These drivers of MRF Tyres Rally Team scored 1:51:23. "We had some little problem in the beginning, which were quite distracting." said Taguchi who drives Mitsubishi Evo IX.

The drivers of Motor Image Rally Team, Rifat Sungkar/ Bill Hayes sit in the 4th position with 1:53:50. This result also made Rifat the first position of The National Rally Championship. "At first I had some problem with the car, but after it’s being re-set, I was able to be on the big four of The APRC and first on the national rally championship." said Rifat.

Subhan Aksa/ Hade Mboi of Pertamina Bosowa Rally Team is on the second position of the national rally championship with 1:55:7, followed by Rizal Sungkar/ Anthony Sarwono of Prima XP Rally Team with 1:55:39, and Ricardo Gelael/ Tony Sircombe of Serge Rally Team on the 5th position with 1:59:8.

1. Gaurav Gill/ Jagdev Singh Evo IX 1:50:16

2. Cody Crocker/ Ben Atkinson Subaru Imprezza WRX 1:50:51

3. Katsuhiko Taguchi/ Mark Stacey Evo IX 1:51:23

4. Rifat Sungkar/ Bill Hayes Subaru Imprezza WRX 1:53:50

5. Subhan Aksa/ Hade Mboi Evo IX 1:55:07

1. Rifat Sungkar/ Bill Hayes Subaru Imprezza WRX 1:53:50

2. Subhan Aksa/ Hade Mboi Evo IX 1:55:07

3. Rizal Sungkar/ Anthony Sarwono Evo VIII 1:55:39

4. Akbar Hardianto/ Arianto S. Evo IX 1:56:42

5. Ricardo Gelael/ Tony Sircombe Subaru Imprezza N14 1:59:08

- Willy Weyens - also photos