Colin McRae seeking third straight win<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Colin McRae will seek a third straight win
\nin the Asia-Pacific championship when he takes his Subaru into
\nthe Malaysian rally on Saturday.<\/p>\n
In the race for the driver's title, the Scot's 100 percent
\nrecord has opened up a 17 point gap between him and Sweden's
\nKenneth Eriksson. Wins in Indonesia and New Zealand have given
\nthe team a 23 point lead at the top of the manufacturers' table
\nahead of Mitsubishi, Toyota and Ford.<\/p>\n
\"Colin's performances in New Zealand and Indonesia were
\nsuperb\", said Subaru chief David Richards. \"He showed he has the
\nmakings of a true champion-thinking tactically and driving
\nbrilliantly. In this form he seems unbeatable.\"<\/p>\n
McRae's teammate, the Asia-Pacific title holder Possum Bourne,
\nis lying fourth in the drivers' standings, 26 points adrift of
\nMcRae but only one point behind Toyota's Didier Auriol of France.<\/p>\n
Bourne admits his hopes of taking a third successive Asia-
\nPacific crown appear to be fading, but he had no intention of
\ngiving up the fight.<\/p>\n
\"In Indonesia I was unlucky. I lost a wheel mid-way through a
\nspecial stage on the first day taking us right out of contention.<\/p>\n
\"Then in New Zealand I took a while to get back into my stride
\nafter a few teething troubles early on. But by final day I was
\nright back up with the pace. I now know the car and feel
\nconfident I'll be challenging for a win.\"<\/p>\n
McRae and co-driver Derek Ringer will be hoping to repeat
\ntheir victory in Malaysia two years ago. But they know it won't
\nbe easy.<\/p>\n
\"Both Kenneth and Tommi will be pushing very hard to close the
\ngap in the Championship,\" said McRae.<\/p>\n
\"They had mechanical problems in Indonesia, but those will
\nhave been sorted out by now. It\"s likely to be a very close
\nevent.\"<\/p>\n
Driving conditions in Malaysia are similar to Indonesia with
\nmost of the stages taking place over rough dirt tracks which wind
\ntheir way through the country's plantations.<\/p>\n
In previous years, rain and cattle have combined to make this
\na hazardous race. The flash rainstorms of the monsoon season turn
\nthe dusty trails into treacherous mud slides, while stray cattle
\nlast year halted many drivers, and caused the cancellation of one
\nspecial stages.<\/p>\n
The three day events starts in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/colin-mcrae-seeking-third-straight-win-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }