Driving a Cusco Racing-prepared TRD Toyota Vitz RS supported by Dunlop Tyres Japan, New Zealander Michael Young and Australian co-driver Daniel Willson, finished first in the APRC two-wheel drive Cup and Junior Cup class at the opening round of the 2013 Asia Pacific Rally Championship, Rally Whangarei in New Zealand.
Overall 9th in the international event, Young and Willson were an amazing third of the APRC registered drivers and won the two-wheel drive manufacturers prize for Toyota.
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The 20-year old Kiwi was pleased with his first outing in the new car and was impressed by its performance right out the box.
“All weekend the car ran faultlessly. It's very well balanced making it very easy to drive and that's all credit to the Cusco team."
Cusco will now take back the data to their home base in Gurma, Japan, where a team of engineers are working on developing the Toyota Vitz's rally potential further.
“We have done our job this weekend and now the team will look at small modifications to improve the car's performance prior to the next event in Queensland," Young added.
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Rally of Whangarei, NZ, 17 - 19 May, 2013
1 Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN) Skoda Fabia S2000 2h51m18.3s
2 Gaurav Gill(IND)/Glenn MacNeall (AUS) Skoda Fabia S2000 +4m03.2s
3 Michael Young (NZ)/Daniel Willson (AUS) Toyota Vitz RS +34m35.5s
4 Sanjay Takale (IND)/ Sean Gregory (IND) Subaru Impreza WRX 39m33.0s
FIA APRC Junior Cup: Michael Young (NZ)/Daniel Willson (AUS) Toyota Vitz RS
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS AFTER ROUND 1:
1 Lappi 39 points;
2 Gill 30;
3 Young 24;
4 Takle 19;
5 Hiroshi Asakura 5.
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