Alister leads Chinese Rally Championship
Mar 27, 2006

Alister McRae proved that despite his 18 month absence from the World Rally scene that he is still one of the world’s leading drivers.

A new co-driver and a new team did not daunt the former British Rally Champion when he competed on the Shanghai Rally on 25/26th March. This was the first round of the Chinese Rally Championship which attracted drivers from New Zealand, Finland, Italy, Britain, Japan, Malaysia and China.

Having driven in China when the Rally of China was a round of the World Rally Championship Alister McRae was keen to return to this country to accept the challenge of it’s rallying.

It did not take long for McRae and Gordon Noble from Northern Ireland to get their act together within the car, the Chinese team providing a reliable car for the winning combination.

Driving the Wanyu Rally Team Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 McRae led the event by 3.5seconds at the end of day one. A puncture on the second stage of the final day lost McRae the lead. However, an attack over the final stages saw him finish ahead of the field.

British drivers David Higgins and Phil Collins both suffered mechanical problems on the first day. Leading Chinese driver Chi-Lu driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 was second with Nico Caldaro from Italy third and former Asia Pacific Rally Champion and PWRC Karamjit Singh driving a Proton was fourth.

The next round of the Chinese Rally Championship in on 4th August in Guizhou Lupnshini.

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