Mike aims to win for EZY Racing in Australia 

The Dynamic Duo, Young (left) and Read to take on Queensland ​

Young kicking up a dust storm at the recently concluded International

Queensland, Australia: EZY Racer Mike Young, whose hopes for an ‘upset victory’ in New Zealand was shattered by a 14 minute penalty on the opening day, plans to set his eyes firmly on the top step of the podium at the Australian Leg of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship which will be flagged off this weekend in the Sunshine Coast, Australia. 

Hosting the second round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, Queensland’s only international motorsport event will see 40 competitors tackling 240 kilometres of challenging gravel stages. It is the second round based in the Pacific region and will see crews battle it out over 16 closed special stages.

The 23-year-old who is classified to be faster than his car, plans to attack from the outset in Australia where the terrain will be similar to the ones found in New Zealand earlier on. Young who is also the youngest driver in Asia Pacific’s Premier Motor Racing event, had a phenomenal drive in the opening round in New Zealand when he made a strong come back after being placed last on day one to finish third overall.

Sri Lankan based EZY Racing who are in just their 3rd year of International Motor Racing, are optimistic about their chances in Australia, where they have fond memories of having finished 2nd last year. 

“This is definitely a terrain that Mike (Young) has a fondness towards and it suits his style of driving immensely. Compared to last year, we have a much stronger, lighter and faster car and a very confident Mike who had a brilliant drive in New Zealand where we could have potentially won if not for a penalty,” said the Founder and CEO of EZY Racing, Shafraz Hamzadeen. 

Young who is in his 6th season of International Rallying out of which 4 were as a Junior Rally Driver, showed he will be the defending APRC Champions’ (MRF Skoda Team) strongest rival in the  second round in Australia, after claiming several stage wins aboard his Cusco EZY Racing Subaru during his home event.

“We’ll attack this rally the same as the others. Malcolm (Read, co-driver) and I will start off nice and easy with a clean run and then build up our pace. I know how devastating the roads can be and how easily you can get caught out, so you need to drive with a level head,” said Young. With 2013 APRC Champion Gaurav Gill looking a firm favourite to win the Rally, another challenge for Young is APRC newcomer and star German driver, Fabian Kriem, who Young says will be his biggest rival, and is driving a brand new Skoda Fabia R5. 

EZY Racing’s Japan based Performance Partner Cusco have not planned to do any major upgrades for the Australian rounds as the terrains between New Zealand and Australia are quite similar. Cusco however will be looking to do a few set up changes as the weekend unfolds to help Young get the ultimate performance in the Cusco EZY Racing Subaru, which is much heavier than its main competitors. 

Cusco EZY Racing who won the Production Cup Championship in 2015 are lined against the purpose built MRF Skodas, which are around 200kg lighter and faster than the Standard Subaru WRX driven by Young. 

“We are quite encouraged by the pace demonstrated by Mike in New Zealand. There was bit of pre-season preparation that went in, which resulted in him driving at a newer level. There is only so much the driver could do as the legal restrictions imposed on the modification of our car which is competing in the production cup, gives him a distinct disadvantage when he competes against the MRF drivers. We have no choice but to bring our A-game from the very first stage and hope that we could force the MRF cars to make a mistake or two, which we plan to capitalise on,” said Hamzadeen. 

With the Sunshine Coast promising to stay true to its name on Saturday, the rally is expected to be fast and suitable to the MRF Skoda team. However, the rain that is forecasted for Sunday could potentially provide the Cusco EZY Racing team an opportunity to fight back as this would slow down the rally with soggy underground conditions.