ASIA PACIFIC RALLYCHAMPIONSHIP 2016

Photo: Mitsuru Kotake

Starting 29th April in New Zealandfollowed by events in Australia

Malaysia, Japan, China and India

The FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship is spread through a diverse range ofcountries, climates, cultures and a huge population base of over 2.5 billion people.

In 2016 six events make-up the championship starting in New Zealand with the fast and smooth roads at Rally of Whangarei, followed by Australia’s Rally Queensland based on the Sunshine Coast.

The APRC then heads to Asia to the very hot and humid Malaysian Rally based in Johor Bahru. Japan is next and the fast forestry and public roads of Rally Hokkaido, followed by the China Rally. Run as a Asia Cup event in 2015, India Rally held on a coffee plantation in Chikkamagalur joins the APRC with status in 2016.

Registered competitors can score points for the drivers, teams and manufacturers championships in the six rounds and must enter a minimum of five events to qualify. Alternatively if an APRC registered Team nominates to run a vehicle in all events then multiple drivers can enter one-off events with that team and score APRC drivers points.

More information at www.fiaaprc.com or contact APRC Coordinator Murray Brown.

“It’s been absolutely fantastic, so happy I could do this championship a lot of good experience and good memories …. its memory for life”. Pontus Tidemand (Sweden) 2015 APRC Champion

Malaysia

New ZealandWhangarei

Auckland

Date: 29 April - 01 May 2016Location: WhangareiPopulation: 4.4 million Nearest International Airport: Auckland 2.5 hoursWebsite: www.rallywhangarei.co.nzAverage temperature: 12-15 degrees CDescription: The ultimate driver’s rally. Smooth, fast cambered roads previously used by the WRC.

Photos: Geoff Ridder

Photos: Geoff Ridder

Australia

Brisbane

Sydney

Date: 17 - 19 June 2016Location: Sunshine Coast, QueenslandPopulation: 22.5 million Nearest International Airport: Brisbane 1.5 hoursWebsite: www.rallyqueensland.com.auAverage temperature: 17 degrees CDescription: Great location and challenging roads on Queensland’s, Sunshine Coast .

Kuala LumpurJohor Bahru

Location: Johor Bahru Population: 28 million Nearest International Airport: Singapore 1.5 hoursKuala Lumpur International Airport: 4 hoursWebsite: www.malaysianrally.comAverage temp: 30 degrees C and 95% humidityDescription: Rallying in a Sauna, and one of the most challenging of the championship. Great location just across the course-way from Singapore.

Malaysia

Photo: Tan Jie

Photo: Asia Pacific Sports Media

JapanObihiro

Tokyo

Location: Obihiro, HokkaidoPopulation: 127 million Nearest International Airport: SapporoWebsite: www.rally-hokkaido.comAverage temperature: 15 degrees CDescription: Fanatical fans on fast and narrow roads with a soft-base that can to turns to deepruts on the second pass.

China

Photo: Asia Pacific Sports Media

Shanghai

Population: 1.4 billion Nearest International Airports: ShanghaiWebsite: www.fasc.org.cnAverage temperature: 15 - 18 degrees CDescription: In one of world’s largest economies rallying is huge, with 120+ entries in their CRC events and teams of up to ten cars!

India

Photo: Anand Philar

India

Location: ChikkamagaluruIn the foothills of the World famous Western Ghats.Coordinates: 13.32°N 75.77°EPopulation: 1.2 billion Nearest Intl Airport: Bengaluru (Bangalore), about 250 Kms away, Mangaluru, about 140 Kms away.Website: www.mscc.org.inAverage temperature: 17 degrees C during winter.Description: Gravel and dirt roads held on a huge coffee plantation with the colours and cuisine of India.

New Delhi

Mumbai

Chikkamagaluru

Photo: Asia Pacific Sports Media

FIA APRC Asia and Pacific CupsThe Asia and Pacific Cups are separate competitions within the APRC that allows teams/drivers to compete at events in either region – and still enjoy the benefits the APRC offers such as coordinated shipping, advanced start order and extensive media coverage. These two zone Cups cater for drivers who will do their “home” event plus the experience of competing in a minimum of one other international events in the respective zones.

FIA APRC Junior CupThe APRC is one of the best FIA regional rally championships to learn to drive a rally car offering a huge variety of surfaces, climates and conditions. The Junior Cup pro-vides an opportunity for young drivers from anywhere in the world to compete in a shorter series of FIA sanctioned events in either 2WD or 4WD cars (excluding ASN, R5 and S2000) - the ideal class being NR4 .Junior Cup competitors compete in four FIA APRC rallies: New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and Japan. Minimum qualification is one rally in the Pacific and one in the Asia region. All details and eligibility requirements can be found in the 2016 FIA Regulations (APRC) or by contacting APRC Coordinator Murray Brown.

Competitor Information

Malaysia

FIA APRC Production CupOpen to all FIA homologated Group N cars. These are cars based on standard production models as homologated by the FIA. This series provides for competitors who wish to continue to run their existing Gp N cars and compete with similar cars for the FIA Rally Production Cup. It is a FIA sanctioned Cup series aimed at competitors without the need to invest in the more competitive purpose built class cars. The FIA APRC Production Cup will be contested over the 6 events of APRC.

APRC Teams Trophy The Teams Trophy has provided an opportunity for teams to contest an APRC regional trophy alongside the overall APRC championship. Details can be found in 2015 FIA Regulations (APRC) or by contacting APRC Coordinator Murray Brown.

Photo: Mitsuru Kotake

Even though the championship is held over such a large geographic area, the logistics of shipping cars and equipment are surprisingly easy when all shipping is handled by APRC coordinator Murray Brown – who performs a dual role as logistics coordinator and competitor liaison representative at all events and Working Group meetings. Co-ordinated shipping means that all containers arrive and depart at the same time – with considerable savings for all teams.

Based on 2015 costs, the average shipping budget for a team utilizing a 40’ SOC container for the whole championship (six events) is US$52,000 for ocean freight, domestic transport and logistics. Assistance and advice will be given on other aspects including air freight, customs clearance, documentation, insurance and local assistance. Shipping from home port to first event, and return to home port after last event, can easily be arranged.

Teams can consider a 2 car team operating from one 40’ HC container to potentially reduce freight costs significantly. Where possible all containers and equipment are handled as one import and export providing a cost effective, efficient logistics solution.

Coordinated Logistics

Malaysia

Photo: Asia Pacific Sports Media

Eligibility of Cars

Australia

The World Motor Sport Council allows the APRC to approve cars from countries within the region to participate and score points in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.Examples are Chinese, Malaysian and Australian Rally Championship cars, with some restrictions such as 34mm turbo restrictors.

This is in addition to cars that comply with the JAF RJ, CAMS & MSNZ AP4 regula-tions and maxi cars already locally homologated in Argentina. With the growing manu-facturer and consumer interest in alternative fuel cars, the APRC is considering a category to cater for this class in the near future.

More Information:Murray Brown, APRC Coordinator: murray.brown@fiaaprc.comAPRC Secretariat: aprc_secretariat@malaysianrally.com

CLASSES GROUPSRC2 S2000-Rally: 1.6T engine with a 30 mm restrictor

S2000-Rally: 2.0 Atmospheric Group R5 (VR5)Group R4 (VR4)Group NR4 over 2000cc (current N4)AP4 (MSNZ & CAMS regulations – including Argentine Maxi car)RJ Category (JAF regulations) – over 2000cc

RGT RGT cars

RC3 Group A over 1600cc and up to 2000cc Super 1600R2 (over 1600cc and up to 2000cc – VR2C)R3 (atmo / over 1600cc and up to 2000cc – VR3C) R3 (turbo / up to 1620cc / nominal – VR3T)R3 (diesel / up to 2000cc / nominal – VR3D) G2 (CAMS regulations)

RC4 Group A up to 1600ccR2 (over 1390cc and up to 1600cc – VR2B) Kit-car up to 1600ccGroup N over 1600cc and up to 2000ccRJ Category (JAF regulations) – over 1600cc and up to 2000cc

RC5 Group N up to 1600ccR1 (up to 1600cc –VR1A/VR1B)RJ Category (JAF regulations) – up to 1600cc

New ZealandPhoto: Asia Pacific Sports Media

Television and MediaEach event in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship receives extensive international televi-sion and media coverage.

On-Event television news feeds and a dedicated TV series distributed worldwide ensures the APRC is seen by TV viewers in over 118 countries with a measured global annual au-dience of 463 million households. Broadcasters include FOX Sports Asia (STAR Sports in China), TEN Sports India Outdoor Channel Asia, Guangdong TV China, CCTV-5 Chi-na, FoxSports Australia and Motors-TV Europe. APRC social media channels include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Repucom International produce an annual and independent TV Exposure Analysis report, copies available on request. On-Line media includesYoutube, Twitter, Facebook and dedicated websites.

Further details are available at www.aprc.tv

Photo: Mitsura KotakePhoto: Mitsuru Kotake

Würth – APRC PartnershipWürth: Global headquarters in Germany Industry Fasteners, chemicals, safety products, tools Products 120,000Founded 1945Headquarters Künzelsau, GermanyRevenue € 10.126 bn.Employees 66,044 (2014)Website www.wuerth.com

2015 was the third year of a multi-year partnership between the APRC and Würth, a global company headquartered in Germany selling over 120,000 products from tools to chemicals. Würth are to continue in 2016, including support and promotion of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Cup powered by Würth – a competition open to ALL drivers in the international events.

Lindsay Hegan, Racetorque MRF Skoda team: “We always buy the best products available that won’t let us down, so when Würth became a championship sponsor we couldn’t have been happier. Rallying is a great test bed for any product and over the past three years its developed into a real partnership - Würth staff attend each event to provide technical advice, while at the same time they are coming to us for feedback on their products”.

Michael Loefflad of the Würth Asia Pacific Strategy Board:“The growing interest and increasing number of teams participating in the FIA APRC year by year shows the success of this championship and underlines the importance of our sponsoring activity. Team spirit, willingness to perform and to give one’s best are important factors in Rally. Such values determine also the corporate culture of the Würth group”.

FIA APRC President Steven Kennedy: “The organisers and the teams have enjoyed a very good working relation with Würth over the past three years and to know that’s going to continue with a long term agree-ment is fantastic news for everyone, as we plan for the future”.

Photo: Asia Pacific Sports Media

APRC 2015 CATEGORY WINNERS

Hitoshi Takayama (Japan)Hideki Takeyabu (Japan) FIA Asia Cup for Drivers and Co-drivers

Pontus Tidemand and Emil Axelsson (Sweden) FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship for Drivers and Co-drivers

FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Cup powered by WÜRTH FIA Pacific Cup for Drivers and Co-drivers

FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Cup for Manufacturers Skoda

Michael Young (New ZealandMalcolm Read (New Zealand)

FIA Asia-Pacific Production Cupfor Drivers and Co-drivers

Photo: Mitsuru Kotake

Back Cover: Geoff Ridder Front Cover: Mitsuru Kotake

APRC SecretariatWheel Sport Management SDN. BHDLot 2a, Jalan 13/2, Redberry City46200 Petaling JayaSelangor Darul Ehsan, MalaysiaTel: +60 03 7495 1188 Fax: +60 03 7495 1191Email: aprc_secretariat@malaysianrally.com

APRC Coordinator and ShippingMurray Bown

FIA Asia Pacific Rally ChampionshipCountdown Motorsport Logistics

Mob: +63 908 310 5888Email: murray.brown@fiaaprc.com

Television & MediaBrian Young

APRC.TV LtdTel: +64 7 315 7877

GSM: +64 29 315 7877Skype: brianjyoung

Email: brian@aprc.tv www.aprc.tvwww.fiaaprc.tv