A second win in Atko’s sights for New Caledonia Rally
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011PROTON Motorsports driver Chris Atkinson start next week’s Rally de Nouvelle Caledonie with his sights set on a second victory from three Asia-Pacific Rally Championship rounds in the Satria Neo S2000.
The third round of the APRC starts from the capital of New Caledonian, Noumea on Friday (June 17) afternoon.
Atko dominated the opening APRC round of the series and looked like repeating that performance on the second event in Queensland, Australia, before dropping back from the front of the field. PROTON’s Satria Neo S2000 does, however, remain the class of this year’s APRC field with more fastest times than any other manufacturer.
The fast and flowing stages on next week’s rally will suit the PROTON’s ever-improving power and driveability, empowering McRae and Atkinson to carry the fight to their rivals on what has to be one of the most picturesque rallies in the world.
Sitting 750 miles east of Australia and 900 miles north-west of New Zealand, the action takes place on the Grande Terre, the largest island in the archipelago. The mountainous nature of this 6,300-square metre island mean rain is always a possibility. While the event takes place in the southern hemisphere’s winter, temperatures are still expected around 20 degrees.
The stages offer a stunning mix of inland roads through the forests and rich vegetation and the coastline roads, where one mistake could provide man and machine with a closer-than-expected glimpse of the South Pacific.
Atko will test his PROTON in New Caledonia on Tuesday, where he will focus on finding the perfect set-up for the 19-stage event.
Chris Atkinson said:
“We’ve led the first two – and won the first round – of the championship, so we know we’ve got the pace to be at the front of the field. I was really impressed with what the team had done with the car, just between Malaysia and Queensland, the engine was great, but then we had a few issues. The team have worked really hard to get those things sorted and you could see from the pace on the last intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) round how close the car is to the other factory S2000s; we’re very close with this car now. I’ve done the rally in New Caledonia once before and I remember fast and narrow roads which will suit our car. I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car and showing what PROTON can do again.”
Event data:
Round: 3/6, FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship
Based: Noumea, New Caledonia
Stages: 19
Liaison distance: 387.41km
Competitive distance: 223.73km
Total distance: 611.14km
Shakedown: Noumea (Friday June 17, 0730-1030)
Pre-event press conference: Ramada Hotel, Noumea (Friday June 17, 1030)
Post-event press conference: Finish podium, Noumea (Sunday June 19, 1600)
Time difference: Malaysia is GMT+11hrs
Event timetable:
Friday June 17
SS1 Nouville 1 (2.67km) 1223
SS2 Plaine 1 (3.78km) 1236
SS3 Nouville 2 (2.67km) 1514
SS4 Plaine 2 (3.78km) 1527
Saturday June 18
SS5 Calmines Mkm 1 (24.10km) 0743
SS6 Champs de Bataille Almameto 1 (10.35km) 0836
SS7 Penamax Pierre Clavel 1 (8.55km) 0909
Service – Prony 0929
SS8 Calmines Mkm 2 (24.10km) 1052
SS9 Champs de Bataille Almameto 2 (10.35km) 1145
SS10 Penamax Pierre Clavel 2 (8.55km) 1218
Service – Prony 1238
SS11 Calmines Mkm 3 (24.10km) 1401
SS12 Champs de Bataille Almameto 3 (10.35km) 1454
SS13 Penamax Pierre Clavel 3 (8.55km) 1527
Service – Prony 1547
Sunday June 19
SS14 Tabou Pierre Clavel 1 (8.57km) 0748
SS15 Touongo Almameto 1 (10.33km) 0811
SS16 Pirogues Mkm 1 (14.26km) 0844
Service – Prony 0942
SS17 Touongo Almameto 2 (10.33km) 1047
SS18 Pirogues Mkm 2 (14.26km) 1120
SS19 Plaine 3 (3.78km) 1343
Finish – Anse Kuendu 1358
The 2011 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship
Malaysian Rally (April 1-3)
International Rally of Queensland (May 13-15)
Rally de Nouvelle Caledonie (June 17-19)
Rally of Whangarei (July 16-17)
Rally Hokkaido (September 30-October 2)
China Rally Longyou (November 4-6)
