555 Subaru races for title at Rally Australia
555 Subaru races for title at Rally Australia
PERTH, West Australia (Agencies): The 555 Subaru World Rally Team will have a strong presence at the 1994 Telecom Rally Australia as it pursues the Asia Pacific Manufacturer and Drivers' titles.
The event, the fourth stop of the 1994 Asia-Pacific Rally Championships, is scheduled for tomorrow through Sunday. The race is to cover a stretch of 560 kilometers split into 34 Special Stages (SS).
The first stop is Bentoel Rally of Indonesia in Medan, North Sumatra, which was won by 555 driver Pousum Bourne last June. The second stop is the Rothmans Rally of New Zealand (July 28 -31), followed by the Petronas Rally of Malaysia (Aug. 13 -16).
Bourne started to close the gap on championship leader Kenneth Erickson in Malaysia last round. He extends 555 Subaru's lead in the manufacturer category.
"The important aspects for me so far have been to score good points' but, at the same time, to get used to the new Impreza 555," said Bourne. "We are half way through this series. Australia is an event I know well and I'm driving a car that is recognized as a winner."
The Impreza, now well respected on the world stage, is perfectly suited to the gravel stages that dominate the events.
"It is going to require maximum concentration throughout," said 23-year-old Richard Burns on the eve of his first visit to Australia. "My job here will be to support the team's title aspirations and learn for the future. I hope that I will also have the chance to push myself and the car a little bit harder than in recent rounds."
The FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship is the youngest of the FIA Regional Rally Championships but clearly has the potential to rival the famous European Championship, which has become one of the most prestigious and popular motorsport championships in the world.
Following the latest world series in Finland late last August Frenchman Didier Auriol topped the drivers world championship list with 90 points. Second was Carl Sainz of Spain with 84 points. Juha Kankkunnen of Finland was third with 74 points.