2012 APRC Structure

 What, When and Where:

The FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) is now firmly established as one of the premier regional championships in World Rallying. The quality of events and the level of competition continues to go from strength to strength.

Taking place in one of the most diverse regions of the world, in a climate of rapidly expanding economies, the FIA APRC continues to attract drivers and teams from across the world. Some of the best Group N drivers in the world feature in this exciting and exacting championship, where television audiences around the world are measured in hundreds of millions.

Add to this the exciting S2000 Class 2 cars that now are a feature of international rallying and we have a very strong competition base.

Each of the six events of 2012 APRC has its own unique characteristics, adding to the allure of rallying in this part of the world. From the dust and dirt of Queensland, to the tropical paradise of New Caledonia, to the humidity of Whangarei, to the home of Group N rallying in Japan, to the steaming jungles and plantations of Malaysia, to the majesty of China, APRC offers each and every participant something to savour.  With its diversity of climate, topography, culture, language, cuisine and history, APRC is truly a regional championship offering the very best of what this region has to offer.

APRC 2012 will feature six events on the calendar, Whangarei (New Zealand), Noumea (New Caledonia), Queensland (Australia), Johor (Malaysia), Obihiro (Japan) and Longyou (China).

Competitors can also register for the Asia or Pacific Cups. This provides an opportunity for competitors to get a “taste” of international rallying, without the need to commit to the full APRC. Each Cup will comprise 3 events (3 of 3 in Pacific – 3 of 3 in Asia). Full registration requirements are detailed in the series regulations. 

APRC has primarily been a Group N championship, in that the favoured cars have been the current world leaders in Group N rally technology. However with teams opting to take advantage of the R4 regulations (allowing closer competition with the S2000 cars), and the inclusion of Class 2 cars (both S2000 naturally aspirated and S1.6T), competition will be fierce.  This provides a platform for more manufacturers to be showcased in the series.

In 2011, Proton were the recipients of the manufacturers trophy, while the Proton Motorsports driver Alistair McRae won the drivers title and his co-driver Bill Hayes taking the co-driver honours.
 

 Format: 

The championship runs under similar competition format to the FIA World Rally Championship and is subject to regulations as laid down by the FIA. These include the FIA International Sporting Code and the FIA Regional Rally Championship  Regulations which include the APRC.

Most events follow the FIA format of a central service area with “cloverleaf” legs over 2 or 3 days. Parc Ferme’s are established at end of each leg or day.

Vehicle eligibility is open to Production cars Class 2 - 10 range.  Super 2000 cars including the new 1.6 L Turbocharged cars are eligible to compete.

Points scoring is based on finishing order in each round to calculate overall points, using the same formula as for World Rally Championship. (25,18,15,12,10,8,6,4,2,1).  In addition to this, points are awarded for each leg of each event for the first 5 place getters, 1st (7), 2nd (5), 3rd (3), 4th (2), 5th (1). This is known as SUPERally and allows for non-finishing competitors from the 1st leg to restart the 2nd and any subsequent legs. Points are awarded for each of the Cups on the same basis as the full APRC.

To be eligible for championship points, each entrant, driver and co-driver must have registered with the FIA (on the APRC Registration form) by the closing date.  The process of registration includes the requirement to nominate the 6 events.

In recent times, the Asia Pacific Rally Championship has become more of a focus for international media with media outlets around the world seeking information and updates on what is happening in this challenging and demanding series. With this increased media attention, and the increasing popularity of motorsport in the region, this well-established championship will continue to grow.
 
The 2012 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship will feature the following events:

International Rally of Whangarei  30 March-01 April - Pacific Cup

Rallye de Nouvelle Caledonie  28-29 April - Pacific Cup

International Rally of Queensland  26-27 May - Pacific Cup

Malaysia Rally  14-15 July - Asia Cup

Rally Hokkaido  15-16 September - Asia Cup

China Rally  03-04 November - Asia Cup

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