Winning start by Team MRF in Australia

The first round of the 2005 Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) that was run as the Subaru Rally, Canberra, Australia kicked up plenty of dust in more ways than one. When the dust and din settled, debutant Jussi Valimaki (co-driver Jarkko Kalliolepo) from Finland, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII for Team MRF Tyres (India), emerged as the winner. However, the 30-year old Finn, nicknamed “Fast Jussi” had to wait for the several hours that it took the Stewards to conduct scrutiny and then exclude first placed Toshi Arai of Japan.

An obviously elated Valimaki said: “This was a good first rally with a new team, new car and new tyres and I’m very happy with the result. I am sure with some more time we can get faster – it’s the biggest win of my career.”