13 Jul 2008

Subaru rally driver Cody Crocker has endured horrendous weather to finish the opening day of Rally Hokkaido in seventh place.

Crocker, driving the MotorImage Impreza WRX STI, was first on the road on the opening day and copped the worst of the conditions that saw three of the eight stages cancelled.

The two-time Asia-Pacific Rally Champion finished the day in seventh place outright, fifth in APRC, three minutes 29.3 seconds behind first placegetter, Japan’s Toshi Arai.

The torrential rain which lashed the course made the second passing of the afternoon’s four stages almost impossible for Crocker.

On SS6 alone, the Victorian driver was around five minutes slower than his morning run across the same stage, as he was forced to push deep water out of ruts created during the first pass a few hours earlier.

The cars that followed found it slightly easier, but even so, the organisers where forced to abandon the final two stages of the day.

“The conditions this afternoon were the worst conditions I’ve ever experienced by a long way,” Crocker said.

“The rain had to be seen to be believed. On SS6 it was like driving through a lake. The difference between that stage this morning was incredible. I lost three minutes to the leader on that stage alone.

"The last two stages would have been just as bad but at least they were cancelled.

“The only benefit out of the day is that I now won’t be first on the road tomorrow.

“We’re a long way behind, too much to make up, but we’ll give it a go, push hard and see where we finish up.

“Given this day, our job now is to get as many champion ships points as we can.

The final day sees a further 10 stages, but just 79.88 competitive kilometres, weather permitting.