Former Swedish rally champion set a fastest time of 58.8 ahead of International Rally of Whangarei
Sweden's Pontus Tidemand and co-driver Emil Axelsson set the fastest time at the shakedown, ahead of this weekend's International Rally of Whangarei - the opening round of the FIA Asia Pacific rally championship.
Whangarei (NZ): Driving a Skoda Fabia S2000 car, former Swedish rally champion Pontus Tidemand set a fastest time of 58.8 on Friday’s shakedown ahead of this weekend’s International Rally of Whangarei. The test precedes the three-day competition that covers 282.2km. MRF Tyres’ teammate and last year’s winner Gaurav Gill was the second fastest, clocking 59.4 sec. Andrew Hawkeswood of New Zealand was third and USA’s Ken Block was fourth fastest with a time of 1.00.5sec.
Conditions favoured faster times and the drivers did not disappoint.
Tidemand beat Gill in a close race with the latter finishing his two stages in an overall timing of 2.00:04. “We are very happy to be the fastest, although it’s Saturday that matters. The roads were tricky. I have never seen something like this before and it was a good challenge to drive on them. I hope to continue in the same vein and enjoy my driving,” Tidemand said afterwards.
On the other hand, Gill hopes to end up on the podium after a good showing on Saturday. “The roads are new when compared to last year and I hope to finish on the winning side this time too.” With the climate being pleasant, the crowd turnout was decent during the shakedown and they egged on the drivers, both APRC and International Rally of Whangarei.stage classifications
Overall: 1. Pontus Tidemand & Emil Axelsson (Skoda Fabia S2000) 2.00:01; 2. Gaurav Gill & Glenn Macneall (Skoda Fabia S2000) 2.00:04; 3. Michael Young & Malcom Read (Subaru Impreza) 2.05:08; 4. Subhan Aksa & Nicola Arena (Mitsibushi Lancer Evo X) 2.06:02.
Stage 2: Tidemand & Axelsson (59.8); 2.Gill & MacNeall (1.00.02); 3. Young & Read (1.02.02); 4. Aksa & Arena (1.02.03).
Stage 1: 1. Tidemand & Axelsson (1.00:03); 2. Gill & MacNeall (1.01:02); 3. Young & Read (1.03:06); 4. Aksa & Arena (1.03:090).
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