Shah Alam, Malaysia - Wednesday December 21st., 2005 ... The inaugural Southeast Asia Rally Challenge ("SEArally") ended this past weekend in Pakchong, Thailand. SR Motorsport was represented by New Zealand drivers Dermott Malley and Brian Green, plus Malaysia-resident James Russell, all driving Subaru Impreza STis.

Dermott, who was partnered by experienced Malaysian co-driver Jagdev Singh, entered the rally with a mathematical chance of winning the series. Brian, accompanied by regular Kiwi co-driver Fleur Pedersen, had a chance to finish second, but was anyway sure of a podium placing. Meanwhile rookie James, who opted for the local knowledge of a Thai co-driver, Choopong Chaiwan, was hoping to improve on his sixth placing.

As luck would have it though, Dermott, who was already handicapped by missing Round 1, suffered a terminal gearbox failure in Leg 2. He was already complaining of a lack of power, and was placed fifth at the time, so the series win would have needed Malaysia's Saladin Mazlan and Arish Qutb to fail to finish. Saladin and Arish though drove a strong rally to take a comfortable win to seal the SEArally Challenge first overall placing.

Dermott's exit left second place up for grabs, and Brian increased his pace in Leg 2, to finish second in the rally. This left him tied on points with Dermott, but he had to settle for third in the series, thanks to Dermott's win in Round 3. With Dermott having switched co-drivers during the year, Fleur Pedersen was assured second overall in the co-driver's placings.

SR Motorsport was very happy with the result, as points scored by all three drivers during the year, ensured them the Team Trophy. Equally pleasing was the performance and speed of eighteen year-old James Russell, who really turned up the heat in Leg 2, to finish third overall in Round 6, and fourth in the Championship. As Team Manager Paul Russell noted at the finish "As James' father my comments may be a little biased, but everyone who has watched this event has told me James has improved dramatically during the year, and is now showing his true potential."

"All our cars look very similar from the outside" he continued "but, they are not all the same under the skin. James always gets the hand-me-downs, and has a standard engine with no modified ECU, fairly standard suspension, and harder tires... not to mention the fact the car was finished only a few days ago and James had never driven it in competition. To think that he was able to compete on level terms with much-modified and much newer machinery, is really impressive" he concluded.

The rally was an enjoyable experience for all crews, as the weather was dry, sunny and cool throughout the event. Held in the picturesque and hilly countryside of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, the event offered a variety of stage-types and surfaces to challenge the twenty-one starters. Certainly everyone at SR Motorsport is hoping the event will be included in next year's SEArally Challenge, and is looking forward to returning.

Now, with the Malaysian and SEArally seasons concluded, the team is taking a needed break, and beginning to make plans for 2006. But at the same time will look back with much satisfaction on the successes achieved in both series during 2005.