Esapekka Lappi has moved back into the lead of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship by winning the International Rally of Queensland today (Sunday). The 22-year-old from Finland, co-driven by Janne Ferm, claimed a commanding victory, his second of 2013, with Australian Simon Knowles clinching the FIA Pacific Cup.
But while Lappi celebrated, there was frustration for his fellow Team MRF ŠKODA driver Gaurav Gill. The winner last time out in New Caledonia was in trouble on Saturday’s second stage with a puncture before two spins caused the Indian driver further delay and handed Lappi a lead of more than two minutes starting Sunday’s final leg.
Although Gill went quickest on today’s opening two stages, his pace did little to trim Lappi’s commanding advantage, which grew considerably when Gill retired at the completion of stage 15 after his Fabia Super 2000 suffered a rear strut failure.
“It broke off in a straight piece of road,” said Gill, who had started the gravel event leading the APRC. “I didn’t hit anything but maybe it had fractures in it from somewhere else. I’m really disappointed but we will fight back on the next round in Malaysia.”
Gill’s failure to finish means that Lappi – who had struggled for confidence on Saturday morning due to inconsistent grip levels on the damp forest stages – now tops the championship standings once again with an advantage of 6.5 points over his team-mate. Privateer Simon Knowles was another beneficiary of Gill’s exit by wrapping up the FIA Pacific Cup, which was made up of the opening three rounds in New Zealand, New Caledonia and Australia.
Subaru Impreza driver Sanjay Takale, from India, won the FIA APRC Production Cup and scored runner-up APRC points to maintain second place in the overall standings, having slipped back with a puncture on leg one.
Japan’s Hiroshi Asakura claimed two-wheel-drive honours in a PROTON Satria Neo. But there was despair for his Cusco Racing team-mate Michael Young, who rolled his Toyota Vitz on stage 15. “A bump in the road caused the car to unbalance sending us wide and into a bank,” said Young. “We then spun backwards down the road and somehow ended upside down in the ditch.”
The accident compounded a tough weekend for the emerging New Zealander, who was slowed by a puncture on Saturday.
WHAT THEY SAID:
Esapekka Lappi (Finland), first position: “This win means a lot and is really good for the championship. It’s sad our team-mate Gaurav had some problems and had to retire but we certainly enjoyed the rally. We had some confidence problems to start with but found our confidence yesterday afternoon. But the last two stages were horrible actually, narrow and very slippery. We had to drive very carefully.”
Simon Knowles (Australia), FIA Pacific Cup winner: “We’ve had a great weekend and to get the Pacific Cup is just incredible. We really feel for Gaurav but to finish first, first you must finish. Considering there is only four of us; myself, Margot and two service crew guys, we never expected this but we’re really happy.”
FIA APRC RESULTS (after 21 special stages, 222.91 kilometres):
1 Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN) ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 2h08m43.8s
2 Simon Knowles (AUS)/Margot Knowles (AUS) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX +20m14.6s*
3 Sanjay Takale (IND)/Sean Gregory (MYS) Subaru Impreza WRX STI +20m14.3s
4 Hiroshi Asakura (JPN)/Osamu Yoda (JPN) PROTON Satria Neo +37m50.7s
* Registered for FIA Pacific Cup points only
FIA APRC Production Cup: Sanjay Takale (IND)/Sean Gregory (MYS)
FIA APRC Team Trophy: Team MRF ŠKODA
FIA Pacific Cup winner: Simon Knowles (AUS)/Margot Knowles (AUS)
FIA APRC Junior Cup: No eligible finishers
FIA APRC Rally Cup 2WD: Hiroshi Asakura (JPN)/Osamu Yoda (JPN)
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS (full standings at www.fiaaprc.com):
Overall drivers: 1 Lappi 78pts; 2 Takale 75; 3 Gaurav Gill 71.5; 4 Michael Young 28; 5 Hiroshi Asakura 28. Overall co-drivers: 1 Ferm 78; 2 Gregory 75; 3 Glenn Macneall 71.5; 4 Daniel Willson 28; 5 Osamu Yoda 23; 6 Takumi Takahashi 5. Manufacturers: 1 ŠKODA 113.5; 2 Subaru 76; 3 Mitsubishi 71.5; 4 PROTON 18; 5 Toyota 14. *Subject to anti-doping checks being carried out.
EVENT DATA:
Stage winners:
Leg one, Friday July 12 and Saturday July 13, 111.24 kilometres:
SS1: Showgrounds 1 (2.02kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
SS2: Showgrounds 2 (2.02kms): Gaurav Gill (IND)/Glenn Macneall (NZL)
SS3: Gibber 1 (6.00kms): Gaurav Gill (IND)/Glenn Macneall (NZL)
SS4: Derrier 1 (21.22kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
SS5: Breakneck South 1 (4.18kms): Gaurav Gill (IND)/Glenn Macneall (NZL)
SS6: Kandanga 1 (15.35kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
SS7: Pomona Dash 1 (6.85kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
SS8: Pomona Dash 2 (6.85kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
SS9: Gibber 2 (6.00kms): Gaurav Gill (IND)/Glenn Macneall (NZL)
SS10: Derrier 2 (21.22kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
SS11: Breakneck South 2 (4.18kms): Gaurav Gill (IND)/Glenn Macneall (NZL)
SS12: Kandanga 2 (15.35kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN
Leg two, Sunday July 14, 111.67 kilometres:
SS13: Million LA 1 (14.56kms): Gaurav Gill (IND)/Glenn Macneall (NZL)
SS14: Mitchell Ck 1 (8.85kms): Gaurav Gill (IND)/Glenn Macneall (NZL)
SS15: Breakneck North 1 (4.70kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
SS16: Derrier Reverse (21.20kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
SS17: Gibber Reverse (5.68kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
SS18: Million LA 2 (14.56kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
SS20: Breakneck North 2 (4.70kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
SS21: Big Derrier (28.57kms): Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN)
Rally leaders:
SS1-2: Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN) ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000
SS3: Gaurav Gill (IND)/Glenn Macneall (NZL) ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000
SS4-21: Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN) ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000
NEXT ROUND: Malaysian Rally, August 23-25
MORE INFORMATION: Visit the official FIA APRC website at www.fiaaprc.com or www.aprc.tv
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APRC enquiries: murray.brown@xtra.co.nz
Television enquiries: brian@apsm.tv
