All-Malaysian Rally: Muhammad Rafiq Wins But Heartbreak For Proton Team

April 25, 2010 20:38 PM

All-Malaysian Rally: Muhammad Rafiq Wins But Heartbreak For Proton Team

By: Ramjit

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KOTA TINGGI, April 25 (Bernama) -- Local rally ace Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya swept to victory in the All-Malaysian Rally category but it was a day of heartbreak for the Malaysian Proton Team in the Malaysian Rally 2010 at the Tai Tak Estate in Kota Tinggi Sunday.

For Muhammad Rafiq though, victory in the All-Malaysian Rally which saw fifteen cars on the starting line-up, has given him a taste of victory which he has never savoured before in his short rallying career.

"Its a victory I was looking forward to. Hopefully it will spur me on for the rest of the season with the Asia Cup coming up in Hokaido, Japan next and the second leg of the Malaysian Rally in Kuala Terengganu in June," he said.

And with favourite Karamjit Singh and his co-driver Jagdev Singh having problems with their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo XIII throughout the weekend, Muhammad Rafiq and his partner Sean Gregory in a Subaru Impreza took advantage of the situation to coast home to victory in a total time of 3hrs 58 minutes 46.6secs over the 589km route.

Karamjit failed to complete the race after suffering mechanical problems as early as the first day and then facing steering wheel problems today, which forced him out of the race.

Andrew Miller and Manohar Menon, driving under the MRU Motorsports banner in a Subaru Impreza, came in second, a good 25 minutes behind and third was the Tukimin siblings, Jamaluddin and younger sister Rozita in a Proton Satria.

But there was no happy ending for the Proton R3 team in the Asia Pacific Rally challenge because just when things were looking good for the 39-year Alister McRae, the overnight leader, disaster struck in the closing stages of Stage 11 today, which left his Proton Satria Neo S2000 with a damaged radiator.

The Scotsman and his Australian co-driver Bill Hayes were forced to retire early, under the most frustrating of circumstances, paving the way for Japan's Katsu Taguichi and his co-driver Chris Murphy in a Mitsubishi Evo X, to come home in a total time of 3hrs 19min 07.7secs to win.

The 38-year old Taguichi, an old hand at rallying and with four years of previous experience competing on the very same circuit, put his victory down to some hard work and a little luck, having to come from behind to overtake Alister and take home the unexpected victory.

"It's a tough circuit to handle. Sometimes it's dry and sometimes it's wet and slippery and really, Alister's car is very much faster than mine. I knew I had to work extra hard to catch up with him to make up for the overnight time difference.

"In the end his car broke down and it does happen. I have experienced it before too," said the Yokohama born Taguichi.

India's Guarav Gill and partner Glen Macneal of New Zealand, also in a Mitsubishi EVO X, came in second, 15 seconds behind the winner.

Third was Indonesia's Rifat Sungkar in a Subaru Impreza WRX with Malaysia's Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya also in a similar vehicle, finishing fourth.

--BERNAMA

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