Australian co-driver, Glenn Macneall, has landed a lucrative deal with Tommi Makinen Racing (TMR) for the remainder of 2016, co-driving for Hiroki Arai.
Hiroki Arai and Glenn Macneall testing the Markko Martin Motorsport Fiesta R5 in Finland.Macneall recently completed a four-day test with TMR, and also attended one of Toyota’s tests for their new 2017 World Rally Car.
“Straight after Canberra I went to Finland where we did a four-day test in R5 Fiestas. Markko Martin Motorsport is running the R5 cars for us this year, with the whole programmed managed by TMR,” Macneall told RallySport Magazine.
“Hiroki did a brilliant job in his first rally in an R5 car and set fastest time overall on the first stage of the Finnish Championship rally last weekend.
“We were slowed on the next one, when the car in front of us had crashed on the last corner of the stage. A couple of spins in slow corners also cost a little time, but all of part of the learning experience.
“We were third overall after stage six and intent on trying to chase down Juha Salo, but unfortunately the electric power steering failed on the car - after a refuel and with no power steering, the team decided there was little point to try and complete the last three stages.”
The next step in the program is to enter the European Rally Championship Rally Estonia, and then WRC Rally Finland.
“It is a seriously impressive program,” Macneall adds. “Toyota are really committed to the whole project.”
- Peter Whitten
Photos: Jouni Ampuja
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Australian Glenn Macneall (left) will co-drive for Japanese star Hiroki Arai.
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