APRC a real Fiesta in 2007

Up to six Ford Fiesta ST's could be running on the 2007 Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

After a very promising trial run in 2006, when New Zealander Mark Tapper ran as high as 3rd in the APRC class at Rally of Rotorua, Neil Allport of Namsport sees a bright future for the Fiesta ST's in the APRC.

"The APRC is an ideal way to gain experience at an international level. Seven countries that have a wide variety of surfaces, cultures and climates. The Ford Fiestas have been developed by M-Sport, are easy to drive, very strong and above all - cost effective, half the cost of a four-wheel drive Group N car.

"We're planning to run 4-6 Fiesta's as one team with everyone enjoying the benefits of a combined arrive and drive package that includes everything from hotels, recce car, mechanics and media promotion".

Subaru WRC driver Chris Atkinson proved that a couple of years spent on the Asia Pacific Rally Championship driving smaller 2WD cars can lead to the World Championship.

A few months after the 2004 APRC China Rally the young Australian was at the wheel of a Subaru World Rally car after landing a drive in the 2005 World Rally Championship. Atkinson has just been re-signed for a third year in the Subaru World Rally Team.

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