Crocker leads on Day 1

A BEAUTIFUL blend of red, yellow and brown fills the Bluetts forest making it a perfect scene. But within seconds the magical colours of this forest are lost in a puff of dust. On a cold Saturday morning, Motor Image Rally Team's Cody Crocker continued his overwhelming dominance in the sport by leading the pack in the Canberra leg of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

On a day when the kangaroos decided to hide in the bushes - one was hit by Team TRD's Simon Evans competing in the national rally championship - Crocker seemed to be ruling on home soil with a timing of 01:12 secs. Giving Crocker a stiff fight was compatriot Scott Peddar of Team MRF trailing by only 39 seconds in his Mitsubishi car.

The dusty conditions on the recently-graded roads proved difficult for the drivers although reigning Asia-Pacific champion Crocker, racing in his Motor Image Subaru Impreza, was sweeping the roads for the rest of the pack. Finishing third on Saturday was Eli Evans of Patrick Evans Team with a timing of 01:13 secs.

Disappointment was in store for Japan's Katsuhiko Taguchi as the Team MRF driver was forced to pull out due to an engine failure. Peddar later admitted conditions were difficult. "It is extremely dusty following in Cody's wake. I'm happy with the way it is going," said Peddar.

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