Crocker, in his Les Walkden Rallying Impreza WRX STI, was the best-placed Australian in the event, finishing in twelfth place outright.
Leading the field home in the P-WRC was Czech Mitsubishi Lancer driver, Martin Prokop, who was 42.2 seconds quicker than New Zealand Subaru driver, Richard Mason. Crocker and co-driver Ben Atkinson were next, a further 53.1 seconds back and one minute 35.3 seconds behind Prokop.
Crocker was delighted to finish on the podium given that he was expecting to be a spectator at this World Rally Championship round. It was only when Les Walkden offered him a rescue package twelve days ago that Crocker got his dream of competing in the first WRC round on the east coast of Australia.
After dominating the Asia-Pacific Championship for the past three seasons, the Victorian was thrilled to compete at the highest level in a home event.
“We are really pleased to finish on the podium,†Crocker said.
“It is a great tribute to Les Walkden and his team to be able to present us with such a competitive package at such short notice. This really was something that was just pulled together at the last minute.
“It is a fantastic outcome for everyone involved. It really was an international effort to get me here. Les, with his crew, put the car on the track, but I’m also really grateful to our Indonesian backers, Sean and Ricardo Galael, who also made this campaign possible.
“It’s been an awesome event. The crowds that we have seen out cheering us on really show that there are a lot of people really interested in this sport.
“It has been great for Ben and me to come here and compete in front of our home crowd.
“We went out hard this morning hoping to put pressure on both Prokop and Mason, but they both kept their pace up, so in the afternoon we adjusted to make sure we brought the car home and finished up on the podium.â€
Crocker’s next event is the penultimate round of the Asia=Pacific Championship, which takes place in Indonesia on October 3 and 4.
Rally Australia, P-WRC Results
1 Martin Prokop (CZ), Mitsubihsi Lancer Evo 9
2 Richard Mason (NZ), Subaru Impreza WRX STI, +42.2 secs
3 Cody Crocker (AUS), Subaru Impreza WRX STI, +1min 35.3 secs
4 Armindo Araujo, (P), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 +4:08.1
5 Stewart Taylor (NZ), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9+5:39.1
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