GUDANG GARAM INTERNATIONAL RALLY 2008 ROUND 3
Gaurav Gill deserved to be the champion of the fifth round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) which was also the third round of The Gudang Garam International Rally Indonesia 2008 at the sugar plantation of Takalar, Makassar, South Sulawesi, that ended Sunday (24/8).
Since the first leg on Saturday (23/8), Gill consistent performance was accompanied by his Malay co-driver Jagdev Singh. Driving Mitsubishi Evo IX, this driver of MRF Tyres Rally Team succeed to get to finish at the shore-platform of Losari Beach, Makassar, Sunday afetrnoon(24/8).
Gill who already sit on the first position with 1:50:16 on the first day, made his way as the winner eventhough he got the 10-second penalty at SS 11. At the end of the race, they scored the best result with 3:03:23.
"As I said the day before, I intend to try to run everything according to the plan. That was the strategy that of my success. I am definitely happy with the result." said Gill with the 12 points.
The Japanese driver, Tatsuhiko Taguchi, and his co-driver Mark Stacey, sit on the second position, with total time 3:04:30. They’re now at the top of the classification with 51 points.
Cody Crocker, the driver of Motor Image Rally Team, who since the first leg on Saturday (23/8), sit on the second position, and very eager to race Gill out, should be satisfied on the third position with 3:05:47. With that result, Cody has failed to be the champion, and also failed to be the champion of the provisional classification of APRC 2008 series. He stuck on the second position with 46 points.
Cody’s colleague from Motor Image Rally Team, Rifat Sungkar/ Bill Hayes is on the fourth position with total time 3:08:44. But for the national rally championship, Rifat is still the winner.
The result made Rifat a constant champion of the national rally championship, since 2007. With extra 30 points, that made it 58 points total, Rifat made it more impossible for the other competitors to race him out. Including by Rizal Sungkar/ Anthony Sarwono who previously sit on the first position with 36 points.
The driver of Pertamina Bosowa Rally Team, Subhan Aksa/ Hade Mboi, is on the second position of the national rally championship with 3:11:19, while Ricardo GElael/ Tony Sircombe of KFC Rally Team is on the fourth position with 3:17:32
Overall Result of the Classification APRC series round 5 (unofficial):
1. Gaurav Gill/ Jagdev Singh Evo IX 3:03:23
2. Katsuhiko Taguchi/ Mark Stacey Evo IX 3:04:30
3. Cody Crocker/ Ben Atkinson Subaru Imprezza WRX 3:05:47
4. Rifat Sungkar/ Bill Hayes Subaru Imprezza WRX 3:08:44
5. Subhan Aksa/ Hade Mboi Evo IX 3:11:19
Overall Result of the Classification IRC round 3 (unofficial):
1. Rifat Sungkar/ Bill Hayes Subaru Imprezza WRX 3:08:44
2. Subhan Aksa/ Hade Mboi Evo IX 3:11:19
3. Akbar Hardianto/ Arianto S. Evo IX 3:13:37
4. Ricardo Gelael/ Tony Sircombe Subaru Imprezza N14 3:17:32
5. Sadikin Aksa/ Adi Wibowo Evo IX 3:22:46
- Willy Weyens- also photos
