Mark Higgins grabbed a last-gasp victory on the International Rally of Queensland at the weekend as the British driver overhauled Gaurav Gill on the final stage of the two-day FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship round.
Gill led by just 1.4 seconds in his MRF Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X heading into the mammoth 35-kilometre final stage but, having caught the struggling Proton of Alister McRae on the road, lost 16 seconds to the similar car of Higgins.
McRae had led after the opening day, snatching the lead on Saturday’s final stage having suffered problems during the morning. However, the Scottish driver’s hopes of victory were ended when he suffered engine problems after driving through a water crossing on Sunday.
He limped through the final few stages and ultimately dropped out of the podium places to fourth behind the second MRF Mitsubishi of Japanese driver Katsu Taguchi.
McRae’s Proton team-mate Chris Atkinson also showed strong pace in the Australian event and led early on the first day. Unfortunately his rally was ended soon after by electrical problems.
Nathan Quinn inherited the lead on his home event after Atkinson’s departure, but then faded down the order and ultimately retired.
Behind the top four, Indonesian drivers Rifat Sungkar and Subhan Aksa finished fifth and sixth in their Mitsubishis.
FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship results – Round 2, International Rally of Queensland
(APRC entrants)
1 Higgins / Thomas, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, 2:22:14.2
2 Gill / MacNeall, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, +15.8
3 Taguhci / Stacey, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, +1:09.6
4 McRae / Hayes, Proton Satria Neo S2000, +5:45.4
5 Sungkar / Beckwith, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, +6:03.6
6 Aksa / Mboi, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, +7:36.9
7 Leyraud / Peden, Subaru Impreza WRX STI, +10:59.4
8 Palau / Song, Subaru Impreza WRC, +14:00.2
9 Singh / Ponnusamy, Proton Satria Neo, +24:40.5
10 Fan / Fang, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, +26:14.2
11 Bamba / Yasui, Proton Satria Neo, +29:08.4
12 Yuan / Pan, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, +39:15.5
13 Vald / Nicoli, Ford Fiesta ST, +50:57.5
14 Rajoo / Singh, Proton Satria Neo, +1:02:36.6
Not classified
Quinn / Webb, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
Green / Pedersen, Mitsubishi Lancer RS Evo IX
Atkinson / Prevot, Proton Satira Neo S2000
Masumura / Nakagawa, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
Championship Standings (after 2 rounds)
1 Gaurav Gill, 52pts
2 Alister McRae, 41
3 Mark Higgins, 39
4 Chris Atkinson, 33
5 Rifat Sungkar, 19
6 Katsu Taguchi, 19
7 Fan Fan, 17
8 Brian Green, 14
9 Akira Bamba, 10
10 Rafiq Udhaya, 8
Pacific Cup
1 Mark Higgins, 37
2 Rifat Sungkar, 26
3 Subhan Aksa, 20
Next round: 17-19 June, Rally de Nouvelle Caledonia
Watch the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship on Motors TV.
Andy Wilkinson
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