The latest addition to Rally Queensland took a slightly different approach to race preparation on Wednesday.

Instead of finely tuning their cars, and memorising race notes, Shanghai FCACA Rally Team took to Australia Zoo to get accustomed with the local wildlife. Wang Rui and Xiao Song, who helped their team to the Chinese Championship last year, will tighten their seat belts this weekend for the 41st Rally Queensland.

The round two race of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) tears through the Imbil forest, with teams from a number of countries competing in the race. This year’s Rally Queensland is the first time the race will be part of the APRC circuit, attracting a host of competitors.

Shanghai FCACA team manager John Allen, a former Nambour High School student, said the rally and visiting Australia would be great experience for his amateur team of drivers. “It’s definitely an experience. It’s something that they haven’t seen before,” he said. “It’s been great for me as well. I haven’t been here for 30 years. They have no idea (what to expect). It’s only basically what I told them from my experience here.”

Check out the full story by Travis Meyn at www.thedaily.com.au

Photos courtesy of Kari Bourne, www.thedaily.com.au and www.autosports.org.cn