From:
http://www.suzuki-swt.com On what is considered the toughest rally of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship round 3 Rally of Rotorua (New Zealand), and facing very strong local competition, the Suzuki Rally Team enjoyed a fine result. After two days of punishing competition young Australian Chris Atkinson, and his co-driver brother Ben, finished 12th overall and sixth in APRC standings on their way to winning the Super 1600 class. The rally was also a round of the ultra competitive New Zealand National Championship, and they had strong challenges from the talented local drivers.
Chris Atkinson/Ben Atkinson
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Chris Atkinson ÂÂ
The rally comprised of a mixture of stages, some suiting the Suzuki Ignis Super 1600, and on these stages Chris set times in the top ten, once again challenging the four wheel drive turbocharged cars. He reveled on the smooth fast roads of the second leg, but a puncture, 2 kilometers into special stage 9, cost the crew two minutes changing the wheel and put paid to any chances of moving up the leader board. Chris said after the event "We knew that this rally would be hard, we struggled for grip in the Motu but tried to make up for it in the fast stages. We are delighted with our time on the last special stage of the rally, we were half a second per kilometer faster than last year on the same stage". He went on to add "The Suzuki Ignis Super 1600 ran faultlessly, we are happy to continue with our 100% finishing record for the championship".
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Vesa Mikkola/Risto Niukkanen ÂÂ
On the grueling Motu stages with their endless uphill hairpin turns the Suzuki crews were constantly tested to find grip on the slippery surface. Young Finish driver Vesa Mikkola, son of 1983 World Rally Champion Hannu Mikkola, said after the Motu stage "It was an interesting stage and really fun. My father had not specifically told me about the Motu but once we got into the rhythm it was great". Unfortunately Vesa retired from the event on special stage 9 after hitting a rock dragged onto the road by the preceding competitor. The strong Suzuki Ignis Super 1600 was not heavily damaged but it was enough to stop the crew from continuing. Both Vesa and his co-driver Risto Niukkanen, although disappointed to retire, were very happy to gain experience driving in the rally. Risto said after the rally "This is our third rally for Suzuki and we have competed on three very different events. We are delighted to be in the team and driving for Suzuki, the experience is fantastic".
After round three, mid point of the championship, Chris Atkinson lies 5th in the drivers standings only two points behind Argyle with Suzuki in 4th place in the manufactures points table.
The Asia Pacific Rally Championship now moves onto Rally Japan, based in the northern island of Hokkaido. This year the rally is also a round of the World Rally Championship.
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