Isuzu's Lohitt Urs wins Malaysian 4x4 Championship

India’s Lohitt V. Urs was crowned the 2009 AAM Malaysian 4x4 Rally Championship when he drove his trusty Isuzu D-Max to a well-deserved victory in the final event in Temerloh, Pahang last weekend. Securing his third win this season with a determined drive throughout the weekend’s three slippery and treacherous Special Stages, Lohitt (who came all the way from Mysore to compete) battled first with championship contender Chong Wee Siang in an equally powerful D-Max before a snapped driveshaft threatened to end his winning streak in his debut season on Malaysian soil.
 
Equally delighted were his sponsors Isuzu Malaysia as CEO Takashi Hata congratulated the new champion for his impressive drives this season. “Lohitt did us proud by proving the capabilities of the D-Max, winning three out of the four rounds. He drove with remarkable skill and determination and he proved once again that Isuzu has the performance and durability to deliver the goods when needed,” said Mr. Hata.
 
“This year’s AAM Malaysian 4x4 Rally Championship has been very challenging as all four rounds placed their own demands on man and machine, with conditions ranging from rough and narrow tracks to high-speed and bumpy forest roads. I am glad that the top drivers chose to compete using the Isuzu D-Max as it is the very best machine for all demanding conditions,” he added. 
 

Despite having a leading with championship points going into the final round, Lohitt knew that defending champion William Mei and newcomer Chong Wee Siang - who were just 10 and 11 points behind, respectively - were piloting equally powerful vehicles. With 15 points available to the winner, Lohitt could not take for granted that the title was his for the taking.
 
As rain fell incessantly before the start of the event, the tracks became extremely slick through the forest complex of Hutan Kemasul and Chong threw down the gauntlet by setting the fastest time through the stage, beating Lohitt by 24 seconds despite having gone off the road once.
 
First-timer to Malaysian rallies Anil Wadia of India was well on the pace in third overall driving a D-Max for the first time and reveling in the muddy conditions. Less happy was Mei who was more cautious on the slimy forest roads and was down in sixth position.
 
SS2 was the turning point of the championship as Chong clipped a tree stump in his efforts to catch Lohitt and suffered a puncture. He had to stop and change the flat tyre, losing him 13 minutes and dropping him out of contention. Lohitt also faced an unusual driveshaft snap in the same stage but only lost less than a minute to Lim’s Mitsubishi Triton.
 
Despite having his only title rivals leave the title race, Lohitt still did not take things easy. He held a slender 32-second lead over the Mitsubishi rival and worked hard all the way to the finish.
 
The last stage was run in the more 'traditional’ oil palm plantation near Kerdau and the expected challenge from the Triton did not materialize. Lohitt blasted through the 32-km stage to win by a margin of 54 seconds and with it, record his first hattrick of international rally wins and his first international rally title. 
 

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Mei conceded the championship title and was magnanimous with praise of the new champion’s abilities. “Lohitt drove very well this year. He knew when he could push his D-Max hard and held back when necessary. He is a deserving champion and I am glad that he has helped Isuzu retain the trophy,” said the veteran rally driver.
 
Product Development Manager of Isuzu Malaysia Wan Zaqi Zacary paid tribute to the drivers and their cars that had raised the level of competition in this year’s championship. “The standard of competition has definitely moved up a significant notch this year. The standard of driving and performance has increased and it is all for the good of the sport and spectators alike.”
 
Overall Results
1. Lohitt V. Urs | Isuzu D-Max - 1:49.54
2. Lim Seng Hai | Mitsubishi Triton -1:50.48
3. Anil Wadia | Isuzu D-Max  -1:59.30
4. Chong Wee Siang | Isuzu D-Max - 2:07.56
5. William Mei | Isuzu D-Max - 2:20.31