Miettinen takes victory in China
APRC driver Jarkko Miettinen from Finland, has won round 2 of the China Rally Championship with a thrilling ‘come from behind’ win over British star David Higgins and fellow Finn Juha Salo.
Overnight leaders, New Zealand champions Richard Mason and Sara Randall, pulled over immediately after the first service of day 2 with what was thought to be water in the fuel of their Subaru Impreza. They had to pump it out and as a result were six minutes late to the start of the first stage, dropping a minute of road penalties and with it, the lead of the rally.
It promoted former British champion Higgins into a narrow lead over Miettinen, both driving Mitsubishi Evo 9’s.
Higgins maintained the advantage through the day, taking a 14.1 second lead into the penultimate 21km test. Miettinen however put in a real charge to take 16.6 seconds back and snatch the lead by just 2.5 seconds going into the final stage of the rally to set up a thrilling finish.
Unfortunately for Higgins and co-driver Ieuan Thomas, with 10km’s of the final 13.5km run still to drive, the engine management system switched itself into ‘safe mode’, and his chances were gone, dropping a further 9.6 seconds to give Miettinen a hard fought victory. Mason also struggled on that final test, retiring from the event.
After many disappointments this year, Miettien’s win will give him a huge boost of confidence going into round 5 of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship the Malaysia Rally (www.malaysianrally.com) on August 18-20th.
Unofficial results from China.
1 Jarkko Miettinen/Mikko Markkula (Fin) (Mitsubishi Evo)
2 David Higgins/ Ieuan Thomas (GB) (Mitsubishi Evo9) +12.1 seconds
3 Juha Salo/Mika Stenberg (Fin) (Mitsubishi Evo9) + 1minute 55.1
4 Domenico Caldarola/Paola Cecchina (Ita)(Subar Impreza WRX) +2:40.2
5 Martin Rowe/Rob Fagg (GB) (Mitsubishi Evo9) +6:12.7
Brian Young
APRC.TV
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