TAGUCHI'S DAY TO SAVOUR IN THE ASIA PACIFIC RALLY OF MALAYSIA
25/04/2010

Just when Alister McRae thought victory was well within reach, disaster struck which left him wondering why fate had been so unkind to him in the Malaysian Rally 2010 at the Tai Tak Estate in Kota Tinggi.

The 39-year old Scotsman with his Australian co-driver Bill Hayes had gone into the final round of the Malaysian Rally on Sunday as the overnight leader and had a good 27 seconds lead over the second placed, Japan's Katsu Taguchi and his partner Mark Stacey in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.

But then the inevitable happened. A nasty bump at the end of Stage 10 with six more to go, left
his Proton Satria Neo S2000 with a damaged radiator and he was forced into an early retirement. Taguchi never looked back as he seized the opportunity to coast home to victory in a total time of 3hrs 19min: 07.7secs over the 589km race. MORE >>

ALISTER TAKES THE LEAD HALFWAY THROUGH THE MALAYSIAN LEG OF THE ASIA PACIFIC RALLY
24/4/2010

Johor Bahru - Alister McRae is headed for a grandstand finish as he takes the lead midway through the Malaysian leg of the Asia Pacific Rally championship at the Tai Tak Estate in Kota Tinggi.

The fear of heavy rain, which the weathermen had predicted, didn't really come true and
the 39-year old Alister with his co-driver Bill Hayes steered their Proton Satria Neo S2000 to take a 27 second lead going to into the final round on Sunday.

Driving under the Proton R3 Malaysia banner, Alister never really looked back, taking
the opening stage in convincing style and went on to finish strongly with Japan's Katsu Taguchi lying second overall. MORE >>

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD FOR THE APRC 2010
23/4/2010

Johor Bahru - The Malaysian leg of the 2010 Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) flags off on Saturday amidst a backdrop of uncertainty in the weather.

Rain and lots of it, is being predicted, especially in the afternoon over the Tai Tak Estate in Kota Tinggi, the venue of the two-day race, and the competitors are wondering what could happen next if the skies do open up.

For Alister McRae, the Scottish driver with an illustrious family background in rallying, the weather is a concern. He prefers it hot and sunny, typical of the Malaysian climate but then again he is prepared for the worst too.

"If it rains during the race, it would be very difficult for us who are here racing in Malaysia for the first time. The choice of tyres will be crucial," said the 39 year old who will be racing under the Proton R3 banner in a Satria Neo 2000 with co-driver Bill Hayes of Australia. MORE >>

KARAMJIT SINGH TO FLY THE MALAYSIAN FLAG

The Malaysian Rally 2010 or MR 10 scheduled for April 23-25 in Kota Tinggi, Johor has attracted a total of 22 entries and among them is Malaysia's leading light in rally driving, Karamjit Singh.

Together with co-driver Jagdev Singh, the 48-year old Karamjit, the 2002 Production World Rally Champion, has entered the fray under the GSR Penzoil Racing team in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.

Karamjit's team is in the fight for the two championship which will be raced simultaenously, the Asia Pacific Rally Championship(APRC) with Malaysia as the first of the seven stops and the four-leg Malaysian Rally Championship which Karamjit is a ten-time winner.

He will be the man to beat especially in the fight for the Malaysian Rally Championship now that his arch rival Saladin Mazlan of the Felda Rally Team has not confirmed his participation so far.

Also in the race is Alister McRae, the younger brother of the late Colin McRae, the former World Rally Champion who died in a aircrash in 2005, and he will have Australian Bill Hayes as his co-driver behind the wheels of a Proton Satria Neo S2000.

The Malaysian leg of the APRC 2010 has attracted 10 entries and Muhamamad Rafiq Udhaya with Sean Gregory by his side will be making their debut in the championship behind a Subaru Impreza.

MORE >>