"I was at absolute maximum everywhere today," Taguchi said. "We changed the rear differential at service today because we had that problem last year, and changed our set-up for more high speed. I pushed hard, very hard. Now we go to New Zealand and there, I think, too it will be absolute maximum."
However, there was another surprise waiting for Taguchi and Crocker at the Rally of Canberra finish; when the points were tallied for the two rounds of the Asia-Pacific series held so far, it was Cusco Racing's Dean Herridge who appeared at the top of the list.
Herridge, co-driven by Chris Murphy, grabbed a well-deserved second place among the international drivers in the Rally of Canberra to secure 10 series points on top of the 11 he had already collected in New Caledonia. Herridge now leads the championship with 21 points, followed by Taguchi on 18 and Crocker, who missed the opening round in New Caledonia, on 16.
"I'm surprised but it's a pleasant surprise," Herridge said. "My plan for this season was a limited program with Cusco Racing to win the three-round Pacific Cup, and we're achieving goal very well. To lead the Asia-Pacific championship is a welcome bonus. It shows how important consistency is in any programme."
Herridge finished the rally 2minutes 51.6 seconds behind Crocker, while his team-mate in the sister Cusco Racing
Subaru, Japan's Hiroshi Yanagisawa, was third, 3mins 24.1secs further back.
Indonesian rally star Rifat Sungkar was troubled by turbocharger problems in his Motor Image Subaru early and with a replacement fitted after service, upped his pace as the day progressed to secure fourth position.
"I'm really happy with the improvement in my speed, this was a tough event and with lots of very good competitors, so to finish 4th is great! Bill Hayes my co-driver was so helpful and really knew when to push hard or back-off. I've been working on my fitness too and it really paid off on this event. I feel we're really getting on top of the pace notes, even its in a foreign language for me", said a delighted Sungkar at the finish.
![Cody Crocker / Ben Atkinson - Motor Image Subaru Impreza. Rally of Canberra. APRC [Pic credit: Linear Photographs]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/438575.jpg)
