information supplied by: Toyota South Africa - Rally 26 August 2011

Castrol Team Toyota off to a good start in Garden Route Rally

 
Castrol Team Toyota’s Johnny Gemmell/Drew Sturrock and Leeroy Poulter/Elvene Coetzee got off to a good start in the inaugural Garden Route Rally in the George/Knysna area on Friday, completing the first day of the two-day event in provisional second and fourth places respectively.
 
Gemmell and Scottish co-driver Sturrock (S2000 Toyota Auris) completed the day’s four stages covering 62,95 km between George and Knysna in a time of 48 min, 42 minutes behind the day’s provisional winners Mark Cronje and Robin Houghton (S2000 Ford Fiesta).  Third were defending national rally champions Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson (S2000 VW Polo), 1 min 34 sec behind the winners, followed by Poulter and Coetzee in the second S2000 Castrol Toyota Auris a further 13 seconds in arrears.
 
Soft rain fell throughout most of the day’s racing, making the gravel roads slippery and treacherous in places.  After a cautious start in the opening 3,74-km stage, in which he finished fifth, Gemmell, running fourth on the road, found his rhythm and moved into second place by the end of the 22,13-km second stage in the Karatara forests.
 
Poulter, who was finding the condition of the roads a lot rougher and more challenging after starting in 11^th position, ran as high as third until the final stage, when he dropped back a place.
 
“We’re happy to have both cars safely parked in the overnight holding area in Knysna,” said team principal Glyn Hall.  “It’s been a difficult day with the rain and slippery road conditions and both drivers have done well to keep their cars on the road and up front.
 
“With Johnny starting second on the road and Leeroy fourth, we’re in a position to push tomorrow for a win and hopefully two podium positions.  With just two rounds remaining after this weekend, we need to score as many championship points as we can tomorrow.”     
 
Saturday’s action consists of five gravel stages, most in the forests, with the finish back at Knysna in the early afternoon.
 
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