Malaysia’s international rally driver Karamjit Singh is the 2004 Asia Pacific Rally Championship drivers champion and at Rally of India, Singh added to his championship wins by securing the manufacturers championship for Malaysian manufacturer Proton.
India’s international event held in the hills around Pune, 170km from Mumbai, proved to be one of the toughest and roughest rallies on the world calendar ‘definitely the roughest event of my rallying career’ said Singh at the finish. Singh and co-driver Allen Oh were pushed hard all the way by Japanese driver Katsuhiko Taguchi in his MRF Mitsubishi Evo8 and at the half-way point the pair were seperated by only 6.4 seconds. However this event was all about suspension and tyre wear and during the 2nd and final leg Taguchi lost time to Singh, who’s Pirelli tyres seemed better able to stand the rough abrasive surface. Singh’s other main competitor for the championship, German driver Armin Kremer also in an MRF Mitsubishi, went out early in the event, after losing control on SS2 and crashing off only a few hundred metres from the stage finish.
At the ceremonial finish back in Pune, Singh was a happy man “This event even though its been the hardest is the highlight of the year for me, I wanted to win for Allen (Oh) as its his last event, I wanted to win the manufacturers championship for Proton and I wanted to win it for my sponsor JK Tyres of India, so this is definitely the sweetest one”.
For Taguchi and co-driver Mark Stacey the win in front of their Indian sponsors MRF Tyres, alluded them and they were happy to reflect on a solid year in 2004 and look ahead to 2005 as Taguchi commented. “It was very close at the end of Leg 1, only 6 seconds away from Karamjit and today we push very hard but we choose the wrong compound tyre for the hard surface and lose a lot of time. Overall though, today and yesterday we are pushing very hard, for us our driving has improved over the last couple of events, the car and tyres were getting better and better and my driving is much more improved from the first round. I hope to come back next year and get Asia Pacific champion”.
Third overall for Mitsubishi driver and team principal Geof Argyle was an excellent result, considering that behind him in 4th and 5th place for APRC drivers, were his two team-mates Brian Green and Dermott Malley. “One of the roughest rallies in the world and we got all three cars in the Silverstone Tyres team to the finish – says something for the car, the tyres and our small crew. Third place is definitely a good way to finish the season , Hopefully we can get a package together for next year and we’ll be back again’ said Argyle at the finish.
With 2004 over, there is now a 4 month break before the first event in the 2005 championship – Rally of Canberra scheduled to run 22-24, April, 2005.
INTERVIEWS END OF EVENT
ARGYLE: 3rd place, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8:
One of the roughest rallies in the world and we got three cars (Silverstone Tyres team) to the finish – says something for the team. Third place is definitely a good way to finish the season , hopefully we can get a package together for next year and we’ll be back again.
TAGUCHI: It was very close at the end of Leg 1, only 6 seconds away from Karamjit and today we push very hard but we choose the wrong compound tyre for the hard surface and lose a lot of time. Overall though, today and yesterday we are pushing very hard, for us our driving has improved over the last couple of events, the car and tyres were getting better and better and my driving is much more improved from the first round. I hope to come back next and get Asia Pacific champion.
SINGH: This event even though its been the hardest is the highlight of the year for me, I wanted to win for Allen (Oh) as its his last event, I wanted to win the manufacturers championship for Proton and I wanted to win it for my sponsor JK Tyres of India, so this is definitely the sweetest one.
GREEN: Mitsubishi lancer Evo 8 4th in APRC: Its our best result in Asioa Pacific this year its certainly been a very demanding event, very rough and long days and its taken a good crew and a good car to finish – and we’ve got all three cars in the team to the finish.
FINAL RESULTS
1. Karamjit Singh / Allen Oh, Proton Pert, 2.01.17.5
2. Katsuhiko Taguchi /Mark Stacey, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8, +29.8
3. Geof Argyle / Chris Cobham, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8, +4.57.5
4. *Naren Kumar / D Ramkumar, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7, +10.57.0
5. Brian Green / Fleur Pedersen, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8, +17.36.6
6. Dermott Malley / Patrick Malley, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5, +19.29.2
7. *Young Tae Lim, Hyundai Tiburon, +45.39.3
* non-registered APRC
