The third round of the 2016 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship takes place this weekend (5-7 August) in China on the Zhangye Rally. It is the first time the championship event has taken place in this region, so the competition is very much wide open.

With long gravel special stages, Zhangye is an ideal host for a rally event, and this year the organizer has chosen some new special stages which will certainly add more unpredictability and excitement.

APRC will run alongside the China Rally Championship (CRC) on Zhangye Rally, and the domestic series has competed successfully there from 2011 to 2015.

During the last five editions many good impressions were left for the participants because of the competitive special stage and good facilities. More participants are expected to join in and enjoy the rally, and ensure the 2016 event will still be a fantastic one.

Located in the middle of Hexi Corridor, Zhangye City dominates one area and five counties: Ganzhou Area, Linze, Gaotai, Shandan, Minle and Su’nan counties.

The total area is 42 thousand square kilometers and the total population is 1.28 million people. There are Han, Hui, Tibetan, Mongolian, Yugu and other 38 nationalities, among which Yugu Nationality is the minority only inhabited in Gansu. It’s an excellent tourism city of China and national historical and cultural city now.

Zhangye was originally called Ganzhou. As the “arm” in Zhang Period to the communication with the western regions in Western Han Dynasty, Zhangye got its name and has always been praised as “the Yangtze River region in the frontier” and “the golden Zhangye”.

General information:

Correct title of the Rally: China Rally Zhangye

Dates: 5 – 7 August 2016

Non-APRC competitions run in conjunction: Round 2 of the Chinese Rally Championship

Start of Reconnaissance period: From 0800hrs Wednesday 3 August 2016

Route:

Total distance: 733.38 km

Stage (competitive) distance: 236.36 km

Total number of Stages: 9

Number of different stage venues: 6

Longest stage (name and distance): SS 7 (Hong Wan 1), SS 9 (Hong Wan 2) – 36.81 km

LEG 1

First car due at TC0 0948 hrs Friday 5 August, 2016 (Service Park exit)

Anticipated time of first car into Parc Fermé on Saturday – end of Leg 1: 1708hrs

LEG 2

First car due at TC6E 0700hrs Sunday 7 August 2016 (PF exit)

Anticipated time of first car into final service on Sunday: 1419hrs

Opening Ceremony (if any – time and location): From 2000hrs Thursay 4 August 2016, Binhu Square, Zhangye

Service Park location(s): Leg 1 – Wetland Park

Leg 2 – Wetland Park

Shakedown location: 1530hrs – 1700hrs, Thursday 4 August 2016

Asia Pacific Rally Championship for Drivers – points table after Round 2 – Rally of Queensland

DRIVER CO-DRIVER TEAM VEHICLE POINTS

1 Gaurav GILL Glen MACNEALL Team MRF Skoda Fabia R5 77

2 Fabian KREIM Frank CHRISTIAN Team MRF Skoda Fabia R5 61

3 Michael YOUNG Malcolm READ Cusco Racing Subaru Impreza WRX 50

4 Sanjay TAKALE Noriko TAKESHITA Cusco Racing Subaru Impreza WRX 20

FIA Asia Pacific Rally Cup powered by Würth – Leading drivers’ points table after Round 2 – Rally of Queensland

DRIVER COUNTRY VEHICLE POINTS

1 Gaurav GILL IND Skoda Fabia R5 77

2 Fabian KREIM DEU Skoda Fabia R5 61

3 Michael YOUNG NZL Subaru Impreza WRX 50

4 Makoto KAWAHARA JPN Mitsubishi Evo VIII 20

5 Nathan QUINN AUS Mitsubishi Evo IX 19

6 Atsushi MASUMURA JPN Mitsubishi Evo X 17

7 Fuyuhiko TAKAHASHI JPN Subaru Impreza WRX 10