ASIA PACIFIC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 - FIA APRC
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ASIA PACIFIC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2018
2018 Calendar The FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship is spread through a diverse range of
countries, climates, cultures and a huge population base of over 2.5 billion people.
05 - 06 May New Zealand APRC Pacific Cup Junior Cup
02 - 03 June Australia APRC Pacific Cup Junior Cup In 2018 six events make up the championship starting in New Zealand with the fast
and smooth roads of Rally of Whangarei, followed by Australia’s Rally of Canberra
21 - 22 July Malaysia APRC Asia Cup Junior Cup based in the nation’s capital city.
15 - 16 September Japan APRC Asia Cup Junior Cup
The APRC then heads to Malaysia to the very hot and humid Rally of Johor, then
21 - 22 October China APRC Asia Cup North to the fast forestry roads of Rally Hokkaido, Japan.
01 - 02 December India APRC Asia Cup
Next is the China Rally and a return to the mountain roads around the city of
Longyou, 400 kilometres south-west of Shanghai.
The finale is once again the Coffee Day India Rally, held on the plantations roads
of Chikmagalur in South India.
For 2018, competitors will now nominate a Championship or Cup, rather than indi-
vidual rallies. Points will only be scored at nominated Championship rallies, with no
penalties imposed for any rallies that are missed.
More information at www.fiaaprc.com or contact APRC Coordinator Murray Brown.
2018 is a milestone year for the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Champi-
onship, the 30th anniversary for the championship that’s been
running since 1988. To mark the occasion many of the photos
used in the 2018 APRC brochure feature former champions or
special moments in APRC history. The photo on this page is
4-times APRC Champion Cody Crocker at 2007 Malaysian Rally.
Malaysia
Photo: Asia Pacific Sports Media
New Zealand Skoda has supported the APRC since 2012 and in 2013 Esapekka
Lappi from Finland drove for the team – the first of many Euro-
pean Skoda drivers. Lappi was followed by Jan Kopecky (Czech
Republic), Pontus Tidemand (Sweden), Fabien Kreim (Germany)
Whangarei and in 2017 Ole Christian Veiby (Norway). 2013 was the first year
Auckland of a multi-year partnership with Wurth.
Date: 05 - 06 May 2018
Location: Whangarei
Population: 4 . 7 million
Nearest International Airport: Auckland 2.5 hours
Website: www.rallywhangarei.co.nz
Average temperature: 12°C - 19°C
Description: The ultimate driver’s rally. Smooth, fast
cambered roads, many previously used by the WRC.
Photo: Ross Hyde
Australia
Brisbane
Sydney
Canberra
Date: 02 - 03 June 2018
Location: Canberra, ACT
Population: 24.1 million
Nearest International Airport: Canberra
Website: www.nationalcapitalrally.com.au
Average temperature (June): 12°C
Description: Australia’s National Capital, Canberra,
is host to the sweeping dusty roads of the nearby
Cotter and Kowen forests.
Canberra Rally 2007. Australian Cody Crocker is the only driver
to have won the APRC Drivers championship four times (2006 –
2009). Other drivers were equally as fast, but Crocker’s secret was
his ability to finish even when the conditions were atrocious such
as China Rally 2007 when he was one of only two competitors to
complete the event. Photo: Hiroshi Seiki
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
Johor Bahru
Date: 21 - 22 July 2018
Location: Johor Bahru
Population: 28 million
Nearest International Airport: Singapore 1.5 hours
Kuala Lumpur International Airport: 4 hours
Website: www.malaysianrally.com
Average temp: 30°C and 95% humidity
Description: The heat and humidity make this event one
of the most challenging of the championship. Great
location just across the cause-way from Singapore.
New Zealander Possum Bourne, driving a Subaru, won the APRC
drivers championship 3 times in 1993, 1994 and 2000. His co-driver
for the 2000 APRC was Mark Stacey who currently works as team co-
ordinator for the MRF Skoda team. This is Bourne and Stacey on the
2000 Rally of Malaysia. Photos: Asia Pacific Sports Media
Japan
The 2004 Rally Hokkaido doubled as an APRC and World Rally
Championship (WRC) event and Australian Chris Atkinson raised a
few eyebrows with top ten stage times in the WRC and led the APRC
race for several stages before a puncture lost him time to eventual
Obihiro winner Karamjit Singh. Atkinson’s giant-killing performance in Japan
launched his WRC career with Subaru in 2005. Atkinson driving for
MRF Skoda won the drivers championship in 2012.
Tokyo
Date: 15 - 16 September 2018
Location: Obihiro, Hokkaido
Population: 127 million
Nearest International Airport: Sapporo
Website: www.rally-hokkaido.com
Average temperature: 15°C
Description: Fanatical fans on fast and narrow
roads with a soft-base that can to turns to deep
ruts on the second pass.
Photos: Asia Pacific
Photo:
Sports
Ross Media
Hyde
China Proton launched their S2000 Satria in 2009 at the Rally of Indonesia.
Alister McRae and co-driver Bill Hayes won the final event of 2011
APRC, the China Rally to secure the drivers and co-drivers champion-
ship plus the coveted Manufacturers title for Proton.
Shanghai
Longyou
Date: 21 - 22 October 2018
Location: Longyou, Zhejiang Province
Population: 1 . 4 billion
Nearest International Airports: Shanghai, or Hangzhou
Website: www.autosports.org.cn
Average temperature: 15°C - 22°C
Description: Bamboo Forests and Mountains.
Road Surface: Hard gravel base with some concrete roads.
PHOTO: Asia Pacific Sports Media
India
India
New Delhi
Mumbai
Chikmagalur
Date: 01 - 02 December 2018
Location: Chikmagalur
In the foothills of the World famous Western Ghats.
Coordinates: 13.32°N 75.77°E
Population: 1.2 billion
Nearest Intl Airport: Bengaluru (Bangalore), 5 hours.
Website: www.mscc.org.in
Average temperature: 30°C
Description: Gravel and dirt roads held on a huge
coffee plantation with the colours and cuisine of
India.
The 2003 India Rally held in Pune, was the first of many champion-
ship titles won by the MRF Tyres team. Considering the team and
the tyres had only been competing for one year it was a remarkable
achievement and has been followed by eight further driver, team and
Photos: Asia Pacific Sports Media manufacturer titles.
Competitor Information
FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship APRC Teams Trophy
The Premier FIA Championship of the APRC, this championship has been contested The Teams Trophy has provided an opportunity for teams to contest an APRC regional
since 1988. trophy alongside the overall APRC championship. Details can be found in 2018 FIA Reg-
ulations (APRC) or by contacting APRC Coordinator Murray Brown.
The winning driver and codriver are expected to attend the FIA Gala at the end of the
year to receive the FIA APRC Champions trophies. FIA APRC 3 Championship (formerly 2WD Cup)
At time of registration, drivers must nominate which Championships or Cups they wish This championship replaces the previous 2WD Cup and is open to all drivers of 2WD cars
to score points at. Points are only awarded to APRC registered drivers and codrivers for for all 6 rallies of APRC. As for APRC 2 Championship (above) there will be APRC 3 Cups
rallies in the Championship or Cup that is nominated. for each of the Asia and Pacific Championships.
FIA APRC 2 Championship (formerly Production Cup) FIA Asia Pacific Rally Cup powered by Würth.
Open to all FIA homologated Group N cars. These are cars based on standard produc- This is a competition open to ALL drivers in the international event (including non-regis-
tion models as homologated by the FIA. This championship provides for competitors tered APRC drivers and co-drivers) and there is a podium presentation for the top-three
who wish to continue to run their existing Gp N cars (including ASN cars approved by drivers in the international event where Wurth prizes are presented to the overall winner,
the APRC executive) and compete with similar cars for the FIA APRC 2 Championship. 2nd and 3rd overall.
It is a FIA sanctioned championship aimed at competitors without the need to invest in
the more competitive purpose built class cars. The FIA APRC 2 Championship will be All details and eligibility requirements can be found in the
contested over the 6 rallies of APRC. There will be an APRC 2 Cup for each of the Asia 2018 FIA Regulations (APRC) or by contacting APRC Coordinator Murray Brown.
and Pacific Championships.
FIA APRC Asia and Pacific Cups
The Asia and Pacific Cups are separate competitions within the APRC that allows
teams/drivers to compete at events in either region. For Pacific Cup, competitors may
compete in the 2 Pacific rallies. Asia Cup will feature 4 events - teams can compete in
up to 4 rallies, the best 3 results will count to the final standings. It is possible to register
for the APRC and one of the Cups.
FIA APRC Junior Championship
The Junior Championship provides an opportunity for young drivers from anywhere in
the world to compete in a shorter series of FIA sanctioned events in either 2WD or 4WD
cars (excluding ASN, R5 and S2000) - the ideal class being NR4 . Junior Championship
competitors compete in four FIA APRC rallies: New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and
Japan. Minimum qualification is one rally in the Pacific and one in the Asia region. Lim-
ited to drivers aged 28 years old or younger as at 1 January 2018.
Karamjit Singh and co-driver Allen Oh were APRC champions three
times for Proton in 2001, 2002 and 2004. They were the inaugural
winners of the FIA Production (Group N) World Rally Championship in
2002. This is Singh and Oh on the 2002 China Rally.
Photo: Asia Pacific Sports Media
Coordinated Logistics
Even though the championship is held over such a large geographic area, the logistics
of shipping cars and equipment are surprisingly easy when all shipping is handled by
APRC coordinator Murray Brown – who performs a dual role as logistics coordinator
and competitor liaison representative at all events and Working Group meetings. Co-
ordinated shipping means that all containers arrive and depart at the same time – with
considerable savings for all teams.
Based on 2016/2017 costs, the average shipping budget for a team utilizing a 40’ SOC
container for the whole championship (six events) is US$54,000 for ocean freight, do-
mestic transport and logistics. Assistance and advice will be given on other aspects
including air freight, customs clearance, documentation, insurance and local assistance.
Shipping from home port to first event, and return to home port after last event, can
easily be arranged. Where possible all containers and equipment are handled as one
import and export providing a cost effective, efficient logistics solution.
2004 China Rally was a one-off visit to Huizhou City an event won
by MRF Mitsubishi driver Katsu Taguchi. However, the highlight for
everyone was the interesting logistic arrangements on Day 1. China
Photo: Asia Pacific Sports MediaEligibility of Cars
The APRC has been authorised to approve eligible cars, that meet specific criteria,
under the National Car Approval process. This is in addition to cars that comply with
the JAF RJ, CAMS & MSNZ AP4 regulations and maxi cars already locally homolo-
gated in Argentina.
With the growing manufacturer and consumer interest in alternative fuel cars, the
APRC has introduced a class of cars for Alternative Energy Vehicles (AEV).
New for 2018 is a class of competition for Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) or Crossover
vehicles. Such vehicles will be eligible under the APRC National Car Approval process
(ASN) and will have a separate competition designated as SUV.
Application for approval of these cars can be made via the secretariat and further
details are available in the 2018 RRSR (V4 – APRC) or from:
Murray Brown, APRC Coordinator: murray.brown@fiaaprc.com
or APRC Secretariat: aprcsecretariat@cams.com.au
New Caledonia
Photo: Asia Pacific Sports MediaTelevision and Media
E ach event in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship receives extensive international televi-
sion and media coverage.
On-Event television news feeds and a dedicated TV series distributed worldwide ensures
the APRC is seen by TV viewers in over 118 countries with a measured global annual audi-
ence of 463 million households.
Broadcasters include FOX Sports Asia (STAR Sports in China) and Australia, SONY TEN
Sports India, Outdoor Channel Asia, Guangdong TV China and Motorsport-TV Europe.
APRC social media channels include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
APRC Social Media Fan Base:
Facebook: India : 40%, Indonesia : 32.3%, Malaysia: 7.3%, Australia : 4.3%, Sri Lanka: 4.2%.
YouTube: Malaysia: 21%, India: 16%, Indonesia: 15%, Japan:13%, Australia:4%.
Twitter: India: 22%, Japan:13%, Australia:12%, UK: 8%, Spain: 4%, NZ: 4%, USA: 4%.
APRC Facebook 2017: 115,000+ Fans across three pages, average of 39,459 views per
video clip.
APRC YouTube 2017: 169,000 views, 410,000 minutes, average duration 2.25 minutes.
In 2015 an independent TV evaluation report was generated by Repucom Asia, a company
owned by Neilson Holdings. Repucom calculated the average advertising costs for each
of the APRC TV broadcasters, applied a QI media value of 26.65% of the full value and
established that each second of the APRC TV series has an advertising value of US$741/
second when spread across all the networks. Copies of the Repucom Exposure Analysis
report are available on request.
Further details are available at www.aprc.tv
Malaysia
Photo: Mitsuru KotakeWürth – APRC Partnership
Würth: Global headquarters in Germany
Industry Fasteners, chemicals, safety products, tools
Products 125,000
Founded 1945
Headquarters Künzelsau, Germany
Revenue € 11.8 bn
Employees 72,000 (2017)
Website www.wuerth.com
The long-term and very successful partnership between Würth and the FIA Asia Pacific
Rally Championship (APRC) that began in 2013, will continue in 2018 with an option for
2019 and beyond. Würth is a global company headquartered in Germany selling over
125,000 products from tools to technical chemicals.
At each event Würth supplies teams with a large selection of its technical chemicals
and supports the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Cup powered by Würth – a competition open to
ALL drivers in the international events with a podium presentation for 1st, 2nd and 3rd
competitors.
Serge Oppedisano, CEO for Würth Australia & New Zealand and Member of the Asia
Pacific Strategy Board for the Würth Group:
“The relationship we share with the APRC is one that we value highly. It allows us to lo-
cally, reach a large portion of end users and customers and showcase what Würth can
deliver in terms of its high-quality products and systems in a tough and often challeng-
ing environment. Our passion for all forms of Motorsport has been one that we have
enjoyed for many years and the FIA APRC is a great backdrop for our local Asia Pacific
market.”
Lane Heenan, CEO Racetorque Engineering / MRF Skoda team:
“The continued Würth support to the APRC is fantastic news for competitors. It is a per-
Australia fect match really, we get great products to use and to show case them in the toughest
Photo:Geoff Ridder conditions”.Former APRC drivers in the World Rally Championship
“Competing in the APRC was a big help”.
Australia
Photo: Asia Pacific Sports Media
Former APRC and MRF Skoda driver Esapekka Lappi got his WRC career off to an epic
start by winning his home event the Rally of Finland for the new Toyota Gazoo Rally
Team.
At the final round of the 2017 World Rally Championship, held in Coff’s Harbour
Australia Lappi talked about how competing in the 2013 FIA Asia Pacific Rally
Championship (APRC) helped him in the early stages of his rally career “First
of all it was a big help to get used to the time difference, to learn how to re-
cover as fast as possible and the second was the surface - every event
was on gravel but the surface was different in every rally. And this event
in Australia, we did one event in Queensland and OK its different but it
helps, I think it’s a good series for sure.
Lappi’s team boss is Tommi Makinen, a four-times World
Rally Champion.
Makinen competed in the 1995 and ’96 APRC for the
works supported Mitsubishi team and has good mem-
ories of competing in the APRC. The Finnish driver is
confident the experience he gained was instrumental in
building him into a complete driver “I remember 1995
when I started my career for Mitsubishi it was a real-
ly big help for me as we did all Asia-Pacific rounds. In
1996 when I won my first (World) title, competing in the
APRC that same year was a big help.
In his new role as team principal for the Japanese Toy-
ota Gazoo Rally Team, Makinen finds those earlier years
of competition a great source of information. “it certainly helps
when we are competing in these regions to have an idea of what
you need and what the conditions are going to be like, especially
when we are not able to do any testing in any events outside Europe.
Australia is an important market for Toyota and of course it would be good to
have more (WRC) events in Asia and of Japan would be one of those”.
Makinen feels that competing in the APRC has really benefited Lappi “Rallying is really dif-
ficult when you are fighting to go fastest, you need to understand every little detail, how
to drive in different conditions and handle the different grip, so many different elements.
If you know it and familiar with it already, it’s a big help’.
Tommi Makinen Esapekka Lappi Victory in 2013 APRC2018 is a milestone year for the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, the 30th
anniversary for the championship that has been running since 1988.
APRC Championship Winners - Drivers
The idea of a Pacific Rim championship had been on the drawing board since the
1988 Kenjiro Shinozuka Japan Mitsubishi 1970’s however it wasn’t until the late 1980’s that the climate was ripe for such a
1989 Rod Millen New Zealand Mazda series. Japan had become a world leader in automotive manufacturing, and an
1990 Carlos Sainz Spain Toyota established player in international rallying. Economic prosperity in Asia opened
1991 Ross Dunkerton Australia Mitsubishi up new marketing opportunities throughout the region, and with the wealth came
1992 Ross Dunkerton Australia Mitsubishi a growing number of drivers from countries such as Indonesia, Singapore and
1993 Possum Bourne New Zealand Subaru Malaysia.
1994 Possum Bourne New Zealand Subaru
1995 Kenneth Eriksson Sweden Mitsubishi First held in 1988, the debut series included events in Australia, New Zealand,
1996 Kenneth Eriksson Sweden Subaru India and Malaysia, and was won by Japanese driver Kenjiro Shinozuka in his
` 1997 Kenneth Eriksson Sweden Subaru Mitsubishi. His success ensured a high profile for the series in Japan and Mazda
1998 Yoshio Fujimoto Japan Toyota gave Californian based Kiwi Rod Millen the nod to run a 323 4WD on its behalf,
1999 Katsuhiko Taguchi Japan Mitsubishi winning the title in 1989.
2000 Possum Bourne New Zealand Subaru
The series went from strength to strength, by the mid 1990’s second only to
2001 Karamjit Singh Malaysia Proton
the world championship in stature, attracting full factory teams from Mitsubishi,
2002 Karamjit Singh Malaysia Proton
Subaru, Toyota and drivers the calibre of Colin McRae and Kenneth Eriksson, the
2003 Armin Kremer Germany Mitsubishi
latter taking the title three times from 1995-97.
2004 Karamjit Singh Malaysia Proton
2005 Jussi Valimaki Finland Mitsubishi
The growing Asian automotive industry had also become involved – Proton from
2006 Cody Crocker Australia Subaru
Malaysia, Hyundai and KIA from Korea.
2007 Cody Crocker Australia Subaru
2008 Cody Crocker Australia Subaru
That increased influence from Asia has continued into the 21st century and one
2009 Cody Crocker Australia Subaru
where the series has been dominated by Indian tyre manufacturer MRF and
2010 Katsu Taguchi Japan Mitsubishi
lately by Indian driver Gaurav Gill.
2011 Alister McRae United Kingdom Proton
2012 Chris Atkinson Australia Skoda
Text from “The New Zealand Rally – Celebrating 25 Years”, by David Thomson.
2013 Gaurav Gill India Skoda
2014 Jan Kopecky Czech Republic Skoda
2015 Pontus Tidemand Sweden Skoda
2016 Gaurav Gill India Skoda
2017 Gaurav Gill India Skoda
1995 Rally of Malaysia
Photo: Asia Pacpfpc Sports MediaOle Christian Veiby and Stig Rune Skjærmoen (Norway) Gaurav Gill (India) and Stephan Prevot (Belgium) Robert Blomberg and Lars Andersson (Sweden)
Second Overall Drivers/Co-drivers and WÜRTH Cup FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship for Drivers/Co-drivers Third Overall Drivers/Co-drivers and WÜRTH Cup
FIA APRC Pacific Cup for Drivers and Co-drivers FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Cup powered by WÜRTH
PG Abhilash and Srikanth Gowda (India)
FIA APRC Asia Cup for Drivers and Co-drivers
FIA APRC Production Cup for Drivers/Co-drivers
FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Cup for Manufacturers (Skoda)
FIA APRC 2 Pacific Cup for Drivers
Photo: Asia Pacific Sports Media Asia-Pacific Rally Championship - Teams Trophy (Team MRF) Photo: Asia Pacific Sports Media
(equal with Fuyuhiko Takahashi Japan)
APRC 2017 CATEGORY WINNERSAPRC Secretariat APRC Coordinator and Shipping
Confederation of Australian Motor Sport Ltd Murray Bown
851 Dandenong Road FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship
Malvern East, VIC 3145, Australia Countdown Motorsport Logistics
Tel: +61 3 9593 7722 Mob: +63 908 310 5888
Email: aprcsecretariat@cams.com.au Email: murray.brown@fiaaprc.com
www.fiaaprc.tv Television & Media
www.aprc.tv
Brian Young
APRC.TV Ltd
Tel: +64 7 315 7877
Mob: +64 29 315 7877
Email: brian@aprc.tv
One of the most iconic and picturesque Pacific events was Rally New
Caledonia, sadly no longer part of the APRC calendar. This is MRF Mit-
subishi driver Katsu Taguchi from Japan crossing a large river in 2004.
Taguchi was APRC champion in 1999 and 2010
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