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.