For championship leader Yuya Sumiyama from Japan his goal is simply to finish and score points. With his main rival for the driver’s championship title Fabio Frisiero not running in Malaysia, Sumiyama knows he can build a useful buffer of points simply by finishing.

Sumiyama’s main challenge will come from his Cusco team-mate New Zealander, Mike Young. The young Kiwi has had a difficult start to the season with two DNF’s, however Young has plenty of experience of the Malaysian conditions having competed at the 6 times, the first being 2012.

“We are completely focussed on the Johur Rally now,” he confirmed “The Cusco team have been working hard and installed a new clutch, rear diff and rear suspension. A lot of work has gone into keeping the TRD engine cool and after a good test and shakedown they look to have that sorted too – its now up to Malcolm and I to bring it home”.
The APRC field is completed with local driver Abdul Kaathir driving a 2WD Satria Neo, while behind are a further 30 cars entered in the local Malaysian Rally Championship, one of the largest entries in many years.