Cusco have built two CH-R’s rally-cars in collaboration with TRD (Toyota Racing Developments) who supply the engine and attend each event with their top technicians. One of the CH-R’s was tested by Young and the team for 3 days in late July, while the car to run in Hokkaido will be set-up and tested in the days prior to the rally.
“Its a pretty exciting project to be involved in. Many of the things the team learnt from the Yaris have been incorporated or improved in this car. It has a longer wheel-base so during testing it immediately felt more stable, plus being a bigger car there’s more space in the engine bay and passenger compartment”, said Young at the completion of the test.
From the open plains and sweeping roads near host city Obihiro to the lush green forestry stages that thread their way through the mountain regions to the north, Rally Hokkaido delivers plenty of variety.
Sunday’s remaining eight stages are held just to the north of Obihiro with five in the morning and the final three taking up the early afternoon. The rally concludes with a ceremonial finish at the service park location of Kita Aikoku. The weather is typical early autumn with relatively more rainfall. Daily temperatures range between 16-23 degrees Celsius, dropping to single digits overnight. The weekend’s forecast is for cloudy periods and possible rain for Sunday.
Following the Hokkaido event the Cusco CH-R will be shipped to China for the APRC finale based in the city of Longyou 25-27th October.
Photos: Mitsuru Kotake
