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Livewireshock
29th January 2010, 19:18
Motor Image Leave on Victory Note
29 Jan 2010 - Team Release

Motor Image Racing Team (MIRT), sponsored by Motor Image Enterprises, will no longer participate in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) after finishing the 2009 season, ending its decorated three-year association with the rally.

Since entering the APRC in 2007, MIRT’s two teams - Driver Cody Crocker and Co-driver Ben Atkinson, and first-ever female team consisting of Driver Emma Gilmour and Co-driver Claire Mole - have been extremely successful in their “Made in Singapore” Motor Image Subaru Impreza WRX STI cars.

Notable in 2009 was the consistent podium finishes for both teams in all six rallies that MIRT participated in. From the cold and deep gravel roads of Whangarei in New Zealand, to the slick red mud in humid Malaysia, MIRT conquered each rally location and emerged triumphant. The year also saw Crocker breaking the record as the first driver to ever win four consecutive APRC titles.

In its three years of participation at the APRC, MIRT won three consecutive Manufacturers’ Title, Driver’s and Co-Drivers Championship Titles.

“MIRT’s strong showing over the past three years is testament to the skill and hard work of our team, and a tribute to the rally heritage of the Subaru brand,” said Mr. Glenn Tan, Group Chief Executive of Motor Image Group, and MIRT Team Principal, “We had a good run with the APRC and I am proud to say that our team has achieved what we set out to do – to make a lasting impression on Asia Pacific’s rally circuit.”

The departure of MIRT will undoubtedly close a significant chapter in the history of the Motor Image Racing Team.

Said Mr. Tan Keng Hock, Managing Director, Motor Image Racing Team, “All the success during our involvement with the APRC could not have been possible without a good team of outstanding people behind us. We’ve also received tremendous support from the fans and we would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation for their enthusiasm and dedication.”

Motor Image Racing Team wishes the Asia Pacific Rally Championship all the best for the upcoming seasons.

Sad official news from APRClive.com

Comal
25th March 2010, 03:48
Any word who is doing APRC this season???

Anyone know the format for the Pirelli star driver scheme that also runs in conjunction with it?

TheDogBox
25th March 2010, 05:44
Nothing confirmed yet....but Cusco will be doing Asia Cup, possibly and addtional event. Proton with Alister Mcrae and possible one more. No word on MRF, but Taguchi is likely to doing at least some of the events.

crunch
25th March 2010, 06:07
looking a bit thin....

sollitt
25th March 2010, 09:14
Thin is what it has been ... for years. This year it's looking anorexic.

anesa
25th March 2010, 15:03
Japanese media announced Taguchi's participation to the APRC with MRF + Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

http://www.rallyplus.net/acp/#/news/info.php?no=23955

Official announcement soon, apparently...

ST205GT4
26th March 2010, 14:14
Last I heard Racetorque had converted one of their LHD ARPC 9's to RHD for Scott Pedder. I assume he's going to use it for the ARC but who knows.

TheDogBox
1st April 2010, 04:58
I've just posted a piece up at www.aprclive.com (http://www.aprclive.com).

In short, for the full APRC series there will be Katsu and Gill in MRF Evo Xs (with Chris Murphy replacing Mark Stacey), Alister Mcrae in the Proton S2000, plus Brian Green and Rifat Sungkar in Evos.

There is a strong possibility a former factory WRC driver will drive a second Proton S2000, and the possiblity one of the Asia Cup crews will continue through the full season.

For the Asia Cup (which starts at Rally Malaysia this month), Cusco will run both Yanagisawa and Sumiyama in Evo Xs, with single car entries from Hasepro (Japan), Karamjit Singh and MRU (Malaysia).

Pacific Cup could be a fight among the French; Jean-Louis Leyraud, Claude Clavel, plus one other. And there are rumours that a team from Aus and a team from NZ will also join the cup.

So considering all the doom and gloom and lack of sponsorship dollars, not too bad a lineup. Lots of new faces, a few old ones and it looks like it could be a close fight for the three titles on offer.

:)