2003 ASIA PACIFIC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

The Mitsubishi crew of Armin Kremer and Fred Berssen powered their Lancer Evolution to second position in the Rally of Thailand, also claiming honors and maximum points in the Group N production car category. Mitsubishi drivers were a dominant force in the event, the fourth round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, and Lancer Evolution drivers were placed third, fourth, fifth and sixth overall.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
K. TAGUCHI / M. STACEY

"Because we can lose a lot of time on the fast sections in a Group N car, we are very happy to be able to achieve such quick times against Group A machinery", commented Kremer at the end of the event". The German now has an enviable lead in the Group N series with just one round remaining. "I hope to be able to go to India and win the Championship. We will be going maximum attack there!" he warned.

It was a close-fought battle for honors from the outset, with Mitsubishi driver Geof Argyle taking the early lead in Group A machinery. One fastest stage time (SS2) and a string of top three times aided his charge and he claimed the overnight lead after leg one, despite damaging the front suspension from landing heavily after a jump.

At the end of the second leg however, arch rival Karamjit Singh had powered into the lead in his Proton, the Malaysian going on to win the event by more than a minute.

Argyle ultimately finished third overall, a mere three seconds adrift of Kremer. The New Zealander was frustrated to have lost time in the final leg when he slid off the road, losing 20 seconds and second position in the process. "We were disappointed to have lost time on the last stage, but happy to be going to India with a points advantage in the Championship", he said.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
F. NUTAHARA / S. HAYASHI

Katsuhiko Taguchi claimed fourth position in his Group N Lancer Evolution, the Japanese driver enjoying a trouble-free run and setting fastest time in SS5, and a string of top stage positions throughout the event. "I am very pleased to have finished the Rally of Thailand", he said. "I tried very hard and am happy with the result".

Fumio Nutahara, driving another of Mitsubishi’s Group N cars, claimed fifth overall, third of the Group N contenders. The Japanese enjoyed a trouble-free run in the opening leg but struggled to maintain the pace during the second day when his charge was thwarted by throttle problems. He too got caught out on a jump, also damaging his front suspension. P. Tawatchai rounded off the top six in another Lancer Evolution.

After the Rally of Thailand, Mitsubishi has an unassailable lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship, Geof Argyle has held on to this lead in the Drivers’ Championship and Armin Kremer jumps ahead of Nutahara in the Group N series with just one round remaining (Rally of India, December 5-7).