Despite that, Cody Crocker still emerged as the reigning champion from the last Malaysian leg, and the defending champion for the APRC 2006 title. He secured this year's title despite finishing only 5th at the Indonesian leg of the APRC 2007.

After gathering a perfect score of 64 points from the first four rounds of the 2007 season, Crocker's six points from this leg of the competition were more than enough for him to win the overall title for Motor Image Rally Team.

"We are all feeling quite ecstatic really. This weekend has been most critical for the
Championship. Although we had a tyre puncture on Day 1 and that cost us some time, what's most important is that we managed to win the Championship title nonetheless.

And the fact that we won the championship made up for all the disappointment," said
Crocker. Crocker's team-mate, Indonesian Rifat Sungkar, also suffered a series of punctures and was placed 6th with a time of 3:13:15.

"Indonesian roads are known to be very rough for rally cars but our car was really
awesome. The car handling was excellent and the engine was powerful. I was doing well in the first two stages but unfortunately, we met with tyre punctures along the way and that made us lose time," said Sungkar.

Summing up the team's effort, Glenn Tan, Group Chief Executive, Motor Image Group said, "I'd like to congratulate Cody on clinching his second APRC title and doing the Motor Image Rally Team proud in our first year of partnership. It has been an eventful weekend, marked by rough road conditions and obstacles. Yet despite these setbacks, Cody gathered enough points to secure the overall title. Riding on this momentum, I look forward to both drivers performing well in the final APRC leg in China this November."

About

Held on the island of Sulawesi and centered around the ancient port city of Makassar,
the Rally of Indonesia is the sixth round of the seven-leg FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship. The Rally comprises a total of 307.77km over 14 stages that run through vast sugar plantations, amidst thick dust clouds that hamper visibility and breathing.

Temperatures can reach a high of 40 degrees celsius, making it extremely challenging for contenders to concentrate while maneuvering roads that can be soft, slippery and rough.

In all, a total of 8 teams competed in the APRC Rally Indonesia. The Motor Image Rally Team, which is backed by Singapore-based Motor Image Enterprises will compete next in the grand finale for the regional championship held in China from 9th - 11th November 2007. The Team, which comprises drivers, engineers and mechanics from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Zealand, made its debut at the Rally of Whangerei, held from 11th to 13th May 2007 in New Zealand.

Oneshift.com is the new, hip authoritative website for the passionate carenthusiast who wants to have anything and everything to do with cars. Backedby a community of strong enthusiasts, including a professional panel of road test journalists, Oneshift has under its wing a supportive, growing car community that houses members of every age from different walks of life.