Crocker, Atkinson lead after Leg One
NST, 12-10-2008

MOTORIMAGE'S Australian partnership of Cody Crocker and Ben Atkinson took the overnight lead after Leg One of Round Five of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, the Malaysian Rally 2008 (MR8) in Johor Baru yesterday.

The duo, on board a Subaru Impreza WRX, clocked a total time of one hour 58 minutes and 55 seconds to lead the overall rally by two minutes and 22 seconds from Japan's Hiroshi Yanagisawa and Yoshimasa Nakahara, who were piloting a similar car.

Young New Zealander Mark Tapper, with Jeff Judd as co-driver in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 was not only the fastest non-Subaru, but also did his bid to take the Pirelli Star Driver Competition for youngsters a world of good by running third overall.

The tough stages yesterday had their toll on the field, with 10 of the 19 cars contesting the APRC round failing to complete the stages.

Round Five of the Malaysian Rally Championship (MRC), which runs simultaneously saw defending champion Karamjit Singh confirm his second consecutive title by taking the overnight lead in that section under the Superally format.