Longyou is a narrow low speed course filled with rugged up and down sections. The conditions couldn’t get any worse this rally, with heavy rain making the course very slippery. It was TYPE Gr.N equipped driver, D.Higgins, looking for his 8th consecutive win, who had a good start after the opening ceremony, finishing the special stage in 2nd place, 0.2seconds behind the leader.
Driving through the narrow course, limited the top speeds on the cars, but it allowed the Impreza GRB’s to set fast times. D.Higgins running in 2nd position was driving hard, aiming to grab the top position.
D.Herridge was sitting in the top position in SS6 and SS7 but suffered from gear box trouble, letting D.Higgins to take advantage and grab a 40 second lead and 1st position. As everything looked to fall in place with a safe lead building up, the unexpected happened in SS9 and he drove off course. He wasn’t able to retrieve his car that day, which left no choice but to retire from the rally.
Around 60% of the field ended up retiring from the trouble filled Longyou rally, but TYPE Gr.N equipped driver C.Liu finished in 3rd position as the 1st Chinese driver to cross the finish line. Fan Fan finished in 4th position as the 2nd Chinese driver. In the S class, VW Sagitar came home on the podium in the 3rd position.
The next round will be the final round of the 2008 season held at Shaowu. |
