McRae claims Asia Pacific title

6th November 2011

By Anthony Peacock

Alister McRae has claimed the FIA Asia Pacific title for the first time after winning the China Longyou Rally in his Proton Satria S2000. Proton, run by Mellors Elliot Motorsport in Derbyshire, also claimed the manufacturers’ title.

Wearing spectacles to drive in for the first time, the former British Rally Champion was on top form to win six of seven day-one stages. Despite his healthy lead, McRae pushed again on the morning of the second day to build an even bigger cushion, before throttling back and driving to the finish.

“As you would expect, my co-driver Bill Hayes and I are absolutely delighted with the result – and not just for ourselves, but for the whole Proton team,” said McRae. “On the rally itself, everything clicked for us from the first stage. When that happens, it’s certainly not easy, but everything just flows and works as you would want it to. We pushed really hard on the first day and made some time to build a good lead. As usual, it was a tough rally. It rained quite hard just prior to the rally and on those narrow and tricky stages, it made for a difficult event, but what a great result at the end of it.”

 McRae’s team mate, Chris Atkinson, clinched second in the drivers’ standings in China.