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Local Coverage
Canberra Times Monday, May 12, p24
Canberra Times Thursday, May 8, p26
Canberra Times Wednesday, May 7, p32
Canberra Times Tuesday, May 6, p22
Crocker's five Rally of Canberra wins eclipses his mentor Possum Bourne
11 May 2008
Cody Crocker has become the driver with the most wins in the 21-year history of the Rally of Canberra, his runaway success today eclipsing the four-title previous efforts of his mentor Possum Bourne and WA rally legend Ross Dunkerton.
Top seeds Crocker and co-driver Ben Atkinson, in the Motor Image Subaru Impreza, capitalised on their day one success and although easy winners of the Asia-Pacific section of the rally, nonetheless had to fend off a hard charge from Mitsubishi driver Katsu Taguchi, who had restarted today under SUPERrally rules.
Taguchi, co-driven by Australian Mark Stacey, knew his retirement with an electrical problem yesterday meant he couldn't win the rally, but as bonus points in the championship were still up for grabs as well as the points lead in the A-P series, the Japanese driver wasn't holding back.
Given the status and heritage of the Canberra event, Crocker was delighted to have more ROC wins than every other driver, and particularly pleased to top Bourne's record. Read more
Crocker at top pace while Pedder struggles
11 May 2008
It was a very busy mid-rally service on Day Two of the Rally of Canberra for Team MRF as Australian driver Scott Pedder limped into the Sutton Road complex after the rear differential was holed on his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV on the opening stage (SS10) today.
The diff lost all its oil and the Lancer reverted to front wheel drive as Pedder progressively lost time on the ensuing two stages (SS11, SS12). The diff was replaced on Pedder's car and he returned to the competition in third place. As a precaution, the same part was replaced on the sister car of Japanese driver Katsu Taguchi, who set a cracking pace on SS10 and SS11 to be the fastest of the Asia-Pacific competitors on those stages today.
However, it is Motor Image Subaru driver Cody Crocker who remains the dominant force in the A-P category and going into the service break enjoyed a formidable advantage of 1min41.4sec over his closest rival, fellow Australian Dean Herridge, also in a Subaru Impreza WRX STi. Read more
Penalties and restarts, Day 2
11 May 2008
Crocker raises the dust to lead rally as wildlife takes its toll
10 May 2008
Asia-Pacific champions Cody Crocker and co-driver Ben Atkinson dropped two stages to rival Scott Pedder but have developed a comfortable 38.8sec lead after an eventful day one in the Rally of Canberra today.
The day was not without its trials for the top-seeded Motor Image Subaru crew when twice during special stage one Crocker had to stamp hard on the brakes to avoid hitting kangaroos which had strayed onto the rally road. Read more
Volunteers recognised for contribution to ACT international event
10 May 2008
One of the stalwarts of Australian rallying, Mike Bell, accepted an award last night from the ACT Government on behalf of the more than 500 volunteer officials who are assisting in the running of this weekend's Rally of Canberra.
Bell, the Clerk of the Course for this year's ROC, has been involved in national rallying for nearly 30 years and is widely regarded as one of the sport's most effective administrators and event organizers. Read more
Japanese ace continues to set the pace in the 2008 Asia Pacific championship
9 May 2008
Japanese ace Katsu Taguchi has continued to set the pace in the 2008 Asia Pacific championship by posting the fastest time of the A-P competitors today during the shakedown run for this weekend's Rally of Canberra.
Taguchi, with vastly experienced Australian Mark Stacey as his co-driver, was quickest over the Bluetts Forest sprint with a time of 2min02sec in the MRF Lancer Evolution. The pair scored a nan declared their Canberra preparation was as good as it could possibly be.convincing win in the muddy opening round of the championship in New Caledonia last month and yesterday MRF team manager Lane Hee Read more
Indonesian rally champion ready for Canberra
8 May 2008
In his home country, seven-times Indonesian champion Rifat Sungkar is treated like rally royalty but in Canberra this weekend, he's stepping into territory which is owned by Australia's king of the forest, Cody Crocker.
While the two drivers might be team-mates aboard identical Subarus in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship and in this weekend's Rally of Canberra, the lines of demarcation are well established. Read more
Team MRF has solid hit-out in preparation for Rally of Canberra
7 May 2008
Team MRF had its first hit-out on the Canberra rally roads this week with some solid test sessions on the Hyles Block stages near the Urriara Forestry settlement in preparation for this weekend's Rally of Canberra.
The team has arrived in Australia as first-up winners in the Asia-Pacific championship, with Japan's Katsu Taguchi scoring in the opening round in New Caledonia. Read more
Good Evans; he's back . . . and he's hungry
7 May 2008
By any measure of performance, Simon Evans must qualify as the quickest rally driver on this continent.
The Victorian driver returns to this weekend's Rally of Canberra with an astonishing success record in national rallying: unbeaten in all 12 heats of the series during 2007 and two consecutive national titles under his belt.
Little wonder no-one in the Toyota Racing Development team complains during testing when he arrives back on the service mat yet again, asking for another tweak here and a change of springs there. Read more.
