brchi17
16-11-2003, 06:46 AM
In the wake of a terrible year for the Subaru Rally Team Australia, Coby has gained an unbeatable lead i the ARC after winning leg 1 in Tasmania yesterday.
Here's the article published on the Subaru (http://rally.subaru.com.au/EventLive.aspx) Rally site.
Crocker takes unassailable lead to continue Possum tradition
With victory in the opening heat at Subaru Safari Tasmania, Subaru rally driver Cody Crocker has taken an unassailable lead in the 2004 Australian Rally Championship, with the second heat, the last of the season, still to be run tomorrow.
It is an emotional win for Crocker, who will be the first driver to have his name inscribed on the newly named Possum Bourne Memorial Trophy, as the winner of the national driver’s title.
Bourne, who won the previous seven consecutive national titles, was Crocker’s mentor and team leader, and was tragically killed in April this year.
Going into the final two Super Special Stages at Baskerville Raceway, Crocker trailed Juha Kangas by 0.6 seconds. He needed to win today to make tomorrow redundant in the championship chase, and he did so with two clean laps of the tarmac racing track, running out the winner by 6.5 seconds from Kangas.
His Subaru teammate, Dean Herridge was 3rd, with Toyota’s Neal Bates fourth and Mitsubishi’s Ed Ordynski back in fifth place.
Crocker’s success completes a superb year for a team that has endured enormous challenges since the untimely death of Bourne in a car accident in New Zealand.
As well as the driver’s title, Subaru also won the ARC Manufacturer’s title for a fourth consecutive year, making it seven wins from the lat eight years.
Crocker was naturally ecstatic, while at the same time reflective, as he took over the mantle from Bourne as the best rally driver in the country.
"It is unbelievable, really," said Crocker. "You try not to think about it when you’re out there behind the wheel, but then it is done and it’s capped off the year."
"This means so much, not just to us, but to the whole team including Peggy (Bourne) and everyone at Possum Bourne Motor Sport."
"We lost someone who meant so much to us all and to continue his legacy, by building on his seven straight championship wins, is just fantastic."
"For the team to come back from losing Possum and to achieve so much is pretty special, and that’s what we are going to rejoice in."
Heat 1 Results - Subaru Safari Tasmania (Provisional)
1 C Crocker/G Foletta Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1:16:41.7
2 J Kangas/J Rabbett Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 1:16:48.2 +6.5 secs
3 D Herridge/G Macneall Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1:17:07.3 +25.6
4 N Bates/C Taylor Toyota Corolla Sportivo 1:17:34.2 +52.5
5 E Ordynski/I Stewart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 1:18:10.3 +1:28.6
ARC Points
1 Cody Crocker 190
2 Ed Ordynski 156
3 Simon Evans 127
4 Juha Kangas 117
5 Dean Herridge 109
I think this result fantastic restult for the team is an adsolute credit to their abality to continue to fight (& win) after the tragic death of Possum. Whilte this isn't Cody's first group N championship it is his i first ARC crown & it great to see.
cheers. :D
Here's the article published on the Subaru (http://rally.subaru.com.au/EventLive.aspx) Rally site.
Crocker takes unassailable lead to continue Possum tradition
With victory in the opening heat at Subaru Safari Tasmania, Subaru rally driver Cody Crocker has taken an unassailable lead in the 2004 Australian Rally Championship, with the second heat, the last of the season, still to be run tomorrow.
It is an emotional win for Crocker, who will be the first driver to have his name inscribed on the newly named Possum Bourne Memorial Trophy, as the winner of the national driver’s title.
Bourne, who won the previous seven consecutive national titles, was Crocker’s mentor and team leader, and was tragically killed in April this year.
Going into the final two Super Special Stages at Baskerville Raceway, Crocker trailed Juha Kangas by 0.6 seconds. He needed to win today to make tomorrow redundant in the championship chase, and he did so with two clean laps of the tarmac racing track, running out the winner by 6.5 seconds from Kangas.
His Subaru teammate, Dean Herridge was 3rd, with Toyota’s Neal Bates fourth and Mitsubishi’s Ed Ordynski back in fifth place.
Crocker’s success completes a superb year for a team that has endured enormous challenges since the untimely death of Bourne in a car accident in New Zealand.
As well as the driver’s title, Subaru also won the ARC Manufacturer’s title for a fourth consecutive year, making it seven wins from the lat eight years.
Crocker was naturally ecstatic, while at the same time reflective, as he took over the mantle from Bourne as the best rally driver in the country.
"It is unbelievable, really," said Crocker. "You try not to think about it when you’re out there behind the wheel, but then it is done and it’s capped off the year."
"This means so much, not just to us, but to the whole team including Peggy (Bourne) and everyone at Possum Bourne Motor Sport."
"We lost someone who meant so much to us all and to continue his legacy, by building on his seven straight championship wins, is just fantastic."
"For the team to come back from losing Possum and to achieve so much is pretty special, and that’s what we are going to rejoice in."
Heat 1 Results - Subaru Safari Tasmania (Provisional)
1 C Crocker/G Foletta Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1:16:41.7
2 J Kangas/J Rabbett Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 1:16:48.2 +6.5 secs
3 D Herridge/G Macneall Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1:17:07.3 +25.6
4 N Bates/C Taylor Toyota Corolla Sportivo 1:17:34.2 +52.5
5 E Ordynski/I Stewart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 1:18:10.3 +1:28.6
ARC Points
1 Cody Crocker 190
2 Ed Ordynski 156
3 Simon Evans 127
4 Juha Kangas 117
5 Dean Herridge 109
I think this result fantastic restult for the team is an adsolute credit to their abality to continue to fight (& win) after the tragic death of Possum. Whilte this isn't Cody's first group N championship it is his i first ARC crown & it great to see.
cheers. :D