Japan : Subaru / PCWRC - Leg 2Day two of competition on Rally Japan began in damp conditions after overnight rain, crews leaving the Kita-Aikoku Service Park at 06:30 hours before taking to the first of the morning`s stages, the 6.28-kilometre Sinotcaki 1 test.
Toshi immediately stamped his authority on proceedings, eclipsing compatriot Fumio Nutahara to take the overall lead at the first time check. He ended the stage 5.1 seconds ahead; and from there, built up a steadily-growing gap throughout the morning, winning four of the five stages.
The order among the PCWRC runners didn`t change up to the Lunchtime Service. Aki Teiskonen had inherited third place from Gabriele Pozzo after a 10-second penalty imposed on the Argentinean late last night, while Mitsubishi runner Villagra held fifth ahead of Marcos Ligato. Sebastien Beltran was seventh and Hamed Al Wahaibi maintained the last points-scoring position of eighth.
Meanwhile in Group N outside the Production Car championship, Australian Cody Crocker kept his lead over Japanese runner Takuma Kamada at between 23 and 27 seconds over the morning`s five stages, with the next closest competitor Norihiko Katsuta a further two minutes back.
Light rain was forecast for the afternoon`s stages as the competitors headed in to the Lunchtime Service.
Toshi Arai
“The tyres have been good throughout the morning`s stages, and we`re having no problems with the car. Also, with the stages widening out and on a fairly soft surface, things have been going well.”
Aki Tesikonen
“The new stages are OK. However, after losing a minute yesterday, it`s very hard to make up the gap. I need more practice on slippery conditions; then we`ll see an automatic improvement on my times. The suspension`s working great on the car.”
Marcos Ligato
“No Problems with the car, the stages are normal. The second run-through of SS 10-12 this afternoon (SS15-17) should be very deeply- rutted.”
The first three stages of the afternoon (SS 15–17) are a repeat of the morning`s opening trio of tests: Sinotcaki 2 (6.28kms), Emina 2 (8.18kms) and Pawse Kamuy 4 (9.05kms). SS18 was run for the first time, the13.90-km Nupri Pake test. Crews then headed back to Rikubetsu for the fourth run-through of that stage, followed by Menan 2, finishing with the evening`s Super Special at Satsunai.
As he had done in the morning, local favourite Toshi Arai built up the gap over his rival Fumio Nutahara throughout the afternoon`s tests, relinquishing only one quickest stage time. As the cars headed for the Super Special (SS21), Arai was 1:39.6 ahead of the Mitsubishi driver. Aki Teiskonen held on to third place, another two minutes back.
Argentinean driver Marcos Ligato maintained fifth, with compatriot Sebastien Beltran in sixth place. The other Subaru-equipped runners in the PCWRC both went out during the afternoon; Gabriele Pozzo losing a wheel and Hamed Al Wahaibi retiring due to engine trouble.
In Group N outside the Production Car championship, Cody Crocker led rivals Kamada and Katsuta by a huge margin, and was 1:11.6 behind Arai for a SUBARU 1- 2 in the Group N category overall.
Super Special: Although Nutahara was quickest over the Satsunai stage by 0.6 seconds, Toshi maintained his comfortable lead at the head of the Production Car field, coming back to Service with a triumphant gap of 1 minute 39.0 seconds. Aki Teiskonen, fifth-fastest under the lights, remains in third overall while Marcos Ligato and Sebastien Beltran are fifth and sixth respectively.
Toshi Arai
“We had no problems on the afternoon`s stages, and kept the pace we were aiming at. I`m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Tony Sircombe
“While we`re pleased to be where we are, we`ll have to take it pretty carefully tomorrow – after all, we`ve got enough of a cushion not to have to push too hard. Nutahara`s a little way back; but in Group N overall, Cody`s really been quick. “
Aki Teiskonen
“Everything was OK on the forest stages, but on the Super Special I didn`t activate my starting mechanism properly so I lost a lot of time there. Our strategy for tomorrow is to stay on the road and set good times on each of the stages. Cody was going really well today, and he`s a good barometer of my perfect pace.“
Cody Crocker
“It is so incredibly rough out there. Running through stages like Rikabetsu for the fourth time feels like murder on the cars. There are ruts that quite literally look about three feet deep! You really have to try for a perfect line or you`ll go off spectacularly – just as Natalie did when she rolled on SS15. The sump guard is getting a constant bashing; it is incredible just how strong these cars are. You can see just how rough the conditions are by the ‘gravel rash` on the sides of the car.”
Tomorrow`s tests comprise 85 kilometres of competitive running held over four forest stages and a final visit to the Satsuna Super Special. The last day of Rally Japan will be a test not only of speed, but also of consistency and control when there`s still so much to play for – and where one false move could mean the end of an entire rally`s hard work.
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