APRC: Taguchi wins home event

Katsuhiko Taguchi made it two wins from two rounds with FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship victory on Rally Hokkaido at the weekend.

The Japanese driver now boasts a healthy points lead after several of his closest rivals, including both works Proton drivers hit trouble.

Taguchi, who was driving with new co-driver Chris Murphy for the first time, was lying second of the APRC runners in his MRF Tyres Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X overnight, but was handed victory when the similar car of Gaurav Gill hit a snow marker on day 2 and damaged his rear suspension.

The Indian driver’s misfortunate handed Taguchi a nine-second win ahead of the Cusco-prepared Lancer of Hiroshi Yanagisawa, while Gill held on for third place after limping back to service for repairs on his broken suspension.

There was more disappointment for Proton, who lost a near-certain victory in Malaysia last time out when Alister McRae retired with a damaged radiator.

Former Subaru WRC driver Chris Atkinson retired with an engine problem on Saturday, while McRae also went out after hitting a rock and damaging a sump. They both returned on Sunday under SupeRally regulations and posted competitive times throughout the day.

Championship Standings (after 2 rounds)

1 Katsuhiko Taguchi, 74pts
2 Gaurav Gill, 49
3 Hiroshi Yanagisawa, 26
4 Rifat Sungkar, 20
5 Yuya Sumiyama, 16
6 Chris Atkinson, 15
7 Alister McRae, 10
= Fuyuhiko Takahashi, 10
9 Satoru Ito, 1

Next round: 3-4 July, International Rally of Whangarei, New Zealand

Watch FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship highlights on Motors TV.


Andy Wilkinson

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