McRae on course to become world champion
Nov 11, 2004
Jardine Lloyd Thompson Rally Team driver Alister McRae has got his bid to win the Production Car World Rally Championship off to the perfect start on Telstra Rally Australia, seizing the lead on the opening day and extending it to an impressive 45.6s.
The Scot, driving an RED-prepared Subaru Impreza, took the initiative middway through the day and set a relentless pace over the gravel-strewn stages around Perth.
“I can’t praise the team enough, because the car has been absolutely perfect,” said McRae, who is co-driven by David Senior. “Although there are still two long days to go, this is the perfect start, and our lead is looking very encouraging. We just need to keep up this sort of form now.”
With McRae’s title rivals, Finland’s Jani Paasonen, Northern Ireland’s Niall McShea and Japan’s Toshi Arai, in third, fourth and sixth places respectively, the title will go to the Scot, brother of 1995 World Rally Champion Colin, if the drivers remain in the same positions as they are at the moment.
If McRae wins, he will become Britain’s fifth World Rally Champion, after Louise Aitken-Walker, Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Martin Rowe.
Commenting is closed for this article.
previous article •
next article
|
