Japan [P] - 1-3 Sep 06

Posted: September 4, 2006 10:27 PM

MacHale/Nagle Fifteenth in Rally Japan
Sanyo Air Conditioners MacHale World Rally Team driver Gareth MacHale and co-driver Paul Nagle claimed fifteenth place overall in the eleventh round of the World Rally Championship Rally Japan. Gareth Ireland's WRC hopeful and winner of the Billy Coleman young rally driver award showed a strong performance throughout the rally weekend with their Sanyo Ford Focus 05 setting a blistering pace through the narrow lanes of the Japanese event. A disagreement with the parapet of a bridge with three stages to go the in rally meant the Irish crew were unable to take their share of world championship points but a strong finish was a fair result on such a difficult rally.

Leg one of the rally and the first loop of competitive stages witnessed many crews taking a cautious approach, the rain of the previous few days had subsided to leave clearer conditions but the narrow gravel special stages almost 100km north-east of Obihiro were extremely muddy and tricky. Gareth and Paul set about finding their rhythm and set a number of top ten stage times throughout the course of the day with them emerging at the end of the day just outside the top ten in eleventh place overall. "The roads were extremely muddy and slippery and the conditions became worse with the passage of every car it is all about keeping it clean and tidy" said Gareth emerging from the first day's stages. "I am really enjoying the event" he added.

Leg two and the drivers tackled two loops of gravel special stages northeast of the host city of Obihiro, in similar territory to previous day's action. The day ended with two more passes over the spectacular super special stage on the edge of the city, making a total of 128.02km of competition. Blue skies and warm sunshine ensured the roads were drier than the first leg, although there was plenty of mud under the trees in the forests to keep the drivers focused. The day went well for the Sanyo team crew with a sixth fastest stage time on stage thirteen followed by eight and ninth fastest on the following stages the crew moved into a strong tenth place overall with ninth place not far from their reach. The crew pushed hard on the closing stages and the two runs over the spectator stage to emerge tenth overall heading to day three. "We are delighted with tenth place and with one day remaining maybe a championship point but we must remain focused," said Gareth at the end of the leg.

Leg three and the shortest of the three days and the MacHale team after the strong performance on the previous days stages settled back into their rhythm setting a blistering pace over the opening test and moved into ninth place overall. Then disaster struck on the second of three stages on the first loop when their Ford Focus caught the parapet of a low bridge and damaged the rear of the car. The crew emerged unscaved but their top ten finish had slipped from their hands. "We are disappointed not to have finished in the top ten but we have learnt a lot on this event and are happy with setting some very quick stage times against the works teams" mentioned Gareth at the finish of the event. "It rained a lot before the rally and although it got drier as the event went on, there were plenty of muddy sections under the trees in the forests to catch out even the most experienced. "This is only our second incident on a WRC event and we have still finished fifteenth overall which isn't a bad result" The MacHale WRC team will now start preparations for Rally Wales GB the teams next WRC event at the beginning of December, while the WRC circus heads back to Europe for the first of two events in the continent Rally Cyprus.

For more information on Gareth MacHale and the Sanyo MacHale Rally Team

Gareth Machale Rallying

Full Results and News:
www.wrc.com - World Rally Championship Offical Site
worldrallynews.com (WRC)

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PRE EVENT NEWS

• MacHale Team Head To Sanyo Home Rally
• Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle are at @ No 12

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26/08/06
MacHale Team Head To Sanyo Home Rally
Sanyo MacHale World Rally Team crew of Gareth MacHale and Paul Nagle will travel to the Land of the Rising Sun for the newest event in the world rally championship. Rally Japan (31 August - 3 September) is appearing for only the third time in the championship calendar and follows the teams strong tenth place finish on the recent Rally Germany. The Japanese event provides the perfect opportunity for the team to maintain the momentum, which has already brought three valuable world championship points.

The event is based in Obihiro, 900km north of Tokyo on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido. The gravel stages are located in the hills north of the city and run through natural forests. However, many of the roads are man-made and don't always follow the contours of the hillsides. Frequently narrow, the special stages are often shaded by a heavy canopy, which sunlight rarely penetrates and the tracks tend to stay damp.

The weather in Hokkaido in early September is often wet. Forecasts indicate rain is likely again this year but there appear to be no signs of typhoons, which Japan is especially prone to experience in August and September.

Gareth and Paul travel to Japan at the weekend for their first visit to this epic event although it will be their third time taking part on a long haul WRC event and gravel stages. Similarly to Mexico and Argentina the teams Ford Focus will service within the M-Sport Ford WRC team service area supported by the MacHale team mechanics.

"I am looking forward to the event and a return to gravel after the abrasive tarmac stages in Germany" said Gareth. "I am hoping for another good result it would be great to get inside the top eight and gain some WRC points like in Mexico, it is a long and tough rally so I will need to perform well and a bit of luck."

"I have been in contact with drivers who have competed in the rally before and they say the stages are very fast and narrow so a good Reece will be very important for us and with no gravel crews permitted on the event I will have to watch my lines through the corners" said Gareth about the event.

The rally as with last year is based in Obihiro, in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, with a central service park at Kita Aikoku a few kilometers south. All the traditional stages are based north of the city and are broadly similar to 2005, although several have been modified. The main change is the introduction of a new super special stage next to the service park, which will be used on all three days. After a city centre ceremonial start on Thursday evening, the Irish crew will face two anti-clockwise loops north-east of Obihiro on Friday. Saturday's second leg is the longest of the event and is located in the same area but makes use of tests further south near the town of Ashoro. The final day is the shortest and heads north west of Obihiro. Drivers face 345.72km of competition over 27 stages in a route of 1586.28km.

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22/08/06
Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle are seeded 12 for Rally Japan.
Full Details on:

Rally Japan

• 2006 World Rally Championship