Arai aims to capitalise on Japan experience

Toshi Arai plans to make the most of the experience he has gained competing in his native Japan as he bids for IRC Production Cup title glory on the Cyprus Rally.

The Subaru Impreza R4 STI driver, who heads the Production category by 4.9s following tonight’s LTV Super Special Stage in Pafos, says he has considerable knowledge of loose-surface events through rallying in his homeland.

“In Japan the rallies are always like this because we cannot get long gravel roads so sometimes we have Tarmac and then gravel,” said Arai. “In some places it’s difficult but much more rallies will be like this in the future.”

Arai says it will be a busy two days for he and Australian co-driver Dale Moscatt: “We will try to change the suspension settings after each stage because we have much more hard suspension for the Tarmac but much more softer for the gravel.”

In terms of a target position, Arai added: “First we have to finish the rally and get a good result. We have a good [Yokohama] tyre so we try to beat some S2000 cars.”