This opening round of the 2018 Asia Pacific Rally Championship gets under way this weekend at the ENEOS International Rally of Whangarei, that also doubles as the second round of the NZ Rally Championship. With just four APRC entries – Mike Young (NZL) and Malcolm Read (NZL), Yuya Sumiyama (JPN) and Takahiro Yasui (JPN), Fabio Frisiero (ITA) and Simone Scattolin (ITA), Fuyuhiko Takahashi (JPN) and Mitsuo Nakamura (JPN) – is this enough to call it a championship?
The series started in 1988 with the idea of a Pacific Rim championship and at its height in the mid-nineties, was considered second only to the World Rally Championship (WRC). At that time it had full factory teams from Mitsubishi, Subaru and Toyota and boost some of the top emerging talent.
Past winners include Rod Millen – (1989 – Mazda 323 4WD), Carlos Sainz – (1990 – Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165), Possum Bourne – (1993 – Subaru Legacy RS, 1994– Subaru Legacy 555, 2000 – Subaru Impreza WRX) and Kenneth Eriksson (1995-97).
It’s a contest that first attracted and was dominated by Group N cars but in recent years cars built to R5 and S2000 regulations have tended to be the frontrunners (Skoda has won the last five championships).
This season the APRC is celebrating 30 years of competition that has seen regular events in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Japan, China and India. While four entries in 2018 is not enough, one cannot ignore the history that this championship has established. For the last five seasons, it has had between four and five drivers competing for the overall APRC title.
So what of the future? From the outside one has to question how long the championship can continue. Yet, for the last five years it has wavered between four and five entries. Maybe its saving grace is that it runs alongside current events and not as a stand-alone rally.
2018 APRC Calendar
NOTE – Dates to be ratified by the FIA.
Rnd 1 5 – 6 May Rally of Whangarei – New Zealand
Rnd 2 2 – 3 June National Capital Rally – Australia
Rnd 3 21 – 22 July International Rally of Johor
Rnd 4 15 – 16 September Rally Hokkaido – Japan
Rnd 5 20 – 21 October China Rally – Longyou
Rnd 6 1 – 2 December Rally of India
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