Colin McRae seeking third straight win

Colin McRae seeking third straight win

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Colin McRae will seek a third straight win
in the Asia-Pacific championship when he takes his Subaru into
the Malaysian rally on Saturday.

In the race for the driver's title, the Scot's 100 percent
record has opened up a 17 point gap between him and Sweden's
Kenneth Eriksson. Wins in Indonesia and New Zealand have given
the team a 23 point lead at the top of the manufacturers' table
ahead of Mitsubishi, Toyota and Ford.

"Colin's performances in New Zealand and Indonesia were
superb", said Subaru chief David Richards. "He showed he has the
makings of a true champion-thinking tactically and driving
brilliantly. In this form he seems unbeatable."

McRae's teammate, the Asia-Pacific title holder Possum Bourne,
is lying fourth in the drivers' standings, 26 points adrift of
McRae but only one point behind Toyota's Didier Auriol of France.

Bourne admits his hopes of taking a third successive Asia-
Pacific crown appear to be fading, but he had no intention of
giving up the fight.

"In Indonesia I was unlucky. I lost a wheel mid-way through a
special stage on the first day taking us right out of contention.

"Then in New Zealand I took a while to get back into my stride
after a few teething troubles early on. But by final day I was
right back up with the pace. I now know the car and feel
confident I'll be challenging for a win."

McRae and co-driver Derek Ringer will be hoping to repeat
their victory in Malaysia two years ago. But they know it won't
be easy.

"Both Kenneth and Tommi will be pushing very hard to close the
gap in the Championship," said McRae.

"They had mechanical problems in Indonesia, but those will
have been sorted out by now. It"s likely to be a very close
event."

Driving conditions in Malaysia are similar to Indonesia with
most of the stages taking place over rough dirt tracks which wind
their way through the country's plantations.

In previous years, rain and cattle have combined to make this
a hazardous race. The flash rainstorms of the monsoon season turn
the dusty trails into treacherous mud slides, while stray cattle
last year halted many drivers, and caused the cancellation of one
special stages.

The three day events starts in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.