Aug 10th the Asian cross country rally starting of the Leg 1. FEDERA-FLEX ASIA CROSS COUNTRY RALLY 2014

Today rally start from Pataya to Sakaeo total run of 403.1km, within the 403.1km today they will challenge to run 193.50km of SS1. During the middle of the run 99.0km point will have the PC. At PC area could receive the support from the team.

Today’s SS1, by the looks of the navigation map it seems that they will running through the “NARROW” section with many ditch and jumps required. There are many caution section with the markings of “!” or “!!” need to run with very caution, but the section with the marking of “!!!” three caution marking will the tougher section of all and all the driver and riders must be very cautiously run through the courses. At the end of SS1 point of 18.33km there are “!!” two caution marks.

At the 18.33km there is a marking on the Navigation Map that said “Rough Turn Right” and also there is a marking of “Mind to Stuck”.

Those marking on the navigation map were written in a last min add it to the map, danger must laying up ahead. But the worse dream drama started.

Us reporter crew were filming the rally at the point of 18.50km and the markings of the map was “MUDDY” and there was only one caution marking. Around the area spouse the road condition should been very dry, because these area never rain in a few days no sudden rain been reported. But soon reporter crew realized that the course area is covered with three surrounded forest, so the road condition is very muddy and the condition never been dry.

At the SS in the muddy condition two wheel started and 4WD as followed. Two wheels going through the muddy course with sliding their bikes and going through the tough course, but the 4WD would not be so fortunate. The car #115 Freddy KARLSON wasn’t fortunate his team car got stuck on the very deep mud and couldn’t get the car out of the mud. Passing motorist has stop and winching the car up to get it out, but the car is getting stuck on the mud deeper and deeper, also the time is not their side. The reporters at the nearby location heard the commotion went for help and saw 4 other car was stuck on the scene. The team members and other team crew help each other and finally got all the car out of the mud, started the go forward towards the check point.

As the rally cars and riders going through the plantation section of the forest, there is one thing to be careful not get lost, because they are surrounded by three front, back, and side to side.

At this plantation course many riders are the one getting off course, due to the fact the rider does not have co passenger to navigate the course, they are alone. Therefore many of the rider gets off course at this section.

Even the condition of the SS was worse but the riders are kept coming in the finish line. Also some of the rally cars are finishing up the SS course, but even the sun set down but no rally cars has been reported back to the finishing line yet. This years FEDERA-FLEX ASIA CROSS COUNTRY RALLY LEG1 has been a very tough one from the beginning.

Despise the worse condition of the rally but, the rider who took the first place was the #110 Keisuke MAEDA time was 3hours and 58min 48sec, under 4hour to finish the section. Amazing. Second place is the #107 Yoshio IKEMACHI time was 2min 12scond behind #110 MAEDA 4hours and 1min then he finishes the SS. Third place was #102 Tadao EZURE time was 6min and 15sec behind from the first and second. These riders are part of the FB JAPAN team to challenge in this rally this year.

#110

#103

#112

#117

As for the 4WD, the first place is #11 Nuttapon ANGRITTHANON / Peerapong SOMBUTPONG Team time is 3hours and 19 min 14sec. Second place is #1 Paltoon THAMMASIRIKUL / Thanyaphat MEENILL Team time is 22sec behind 3hours 19min 36sec. Third place is #8 Wichawat CHOTIRAVEE / Athikij SRIMONGKOL Team time is 3hours and 40min 43sec.

The Japanes 4WD top finisher is #4 Yoshiro ITO / Takeshi HIRAKA Team 25min 43sec behind from the first place 3hours and 44min 57sec fourth place. Good job.

#11 Nuttapon ANGRITTHANON / Peerapong SOMBUTPONG

Tomorrow LEG2 will be the starting point and also the place for the players hotel aranyaprathet, from here tomorrow will go on to Loop line course total run of 358.95km the SS is 239.84km little bit more distance than the LEG1 SS. This course will be having the marking of four !!!! caution marks according to the navigation map. The rally starts at 7:00 am tomorrow. Good luck s to all challengers .