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Mike's Japanese Rally Championship debut with Cusco

New Zealand rally driver, Michael Young, is set to continue his international rallying quest as he tackles the 2016 ARK Rally of Toya in Japan with major sponsor Cusco in a new shape Subaru WRX this weekend. The new Subaru, built by Cusco in Japan, is a major opportunity for Young to show his talent on the Japanese Rally Championship circuit before returning to other major international events. “Cusco invited me to come along and of course I had to say yes. Rallying in other countries is somet...

Mike secures podium in challenging conditions

Michael Young has managed to secure third overall at the International Rally of Queensland, the second round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, despite difficult conditions that saw the cancellation of four stages on Sunday afternoon. The 23-year-old from New Zealand battled through the ever-changing slippery conditions, on roads that, even in ideal conditions, are notorious for being tricky to get his podium place behind the two much-faster Skoda Fabia R5’s. At the end of the event, Youn...

Young charges on at Rally Queensland

Mike has finished the first day of the International Rally of Queensland, the second round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), in third overall after eight tough stages through the Imbil forest. With roads significantly varied between slippery and dry, Young and co-driver Malcolm Read had to carefully manage their speed throughout the day, with their Dunlop tyres eventually making the difference to increase their speed. “It was a much better afternoon for us. Changing the tyres on t...

Young hunts down podium in Australia

Rally driver Michael Young will be racing for a podium in his Cusco EZY Racing Subaru at this weekend’s International Rally of Queensland, the second round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), based around Australia’s Sunshine Coast. As the only registered New Zealand driver competing in the APRC against drivers from all around the world, the 23 year-old says his main focus is on the overall APRC championship though admits the Queensland roads are tricky to get right. “We’ll at...

Young shows International Class

Michael Young, the only New Zealander registered in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), finished third overall at the first round of the championship held at the International Rally of Whangarei this weekend, after a committed drive to make up a 14 minute time loss. Following an electrical fault on the start line of the first stage on Friday night, which forced Young and co-driver Malcolm Read to miss the stage and incur the subsequent 14 minute time penalty, the Kiwi duo simply focused ...

Mike looks to repeat history

New Zealand rally driver, Michael Young, is revved up and ready to tackle the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) which starts this weekend at the International Rally of Whangarei in Northland. Fresh from his win at the Quit Forest Rally in Western Australia, Young says he is determined to carry on his history of strong results in the international series which kicks off at his home rally on Friday. “As this is my second full season in a four-wheel-drive car and my fifth year with the Cusc...

Mike makes Western Australia driving debut

New Zealand rally driver Michael Young is set to tackle his first rally event of the year, at the Quit Forest Rally in Western Australia (WA) this weekend, ahead of his 2016 Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) campaign. The 23 year-old originally from the Bay of Plenty, is driving in his first event of the year with WA local and rookie navigator Cameron Tunstall in a Subaru WRX GC8. “I’m really looking forward to the Quit Forest Rally and getting back into a car. It’s going to be great ...

Young’s 2015 Asia Pacific rally success

Young’s 2015 Asia Pacific rally success - second overall APRC drivers championship and winner of APRC Production Cup At 22 years-old Mike Young might still be considered a Junior driver, but 2015 was the New Zealanders fourth full year in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) and after winning a number of FIA titles in two-wheel drive cars, his Japanese based Cusco EZY Racing team decided it was time to promote him to a Group N turbo charged, four-wheel drive Subaru. Young revelled in the...

Guts, grit and glory for Young in China

Mike Young completed a remarkable recovery from a calamitous accident he had on Saturday to finish the runner up in the penultimate leg of Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) here in Longyou, China yesterday. He also finished third on the podium in the overall rally. The 21-year old New Zealander representing Sri Lankan team Ezy Racing coasted home behind undisputed Swedish champion Pontus Tidemand who had already sealed the 2015 APRC title before he arrived here in China having won four out ...

Young prepares to put Cusco EZY Racing ahead in China

Cusco EZY Racing will be entering the Chinese leg of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship 2015 with great hopes of bettering their 2014 success where they achieved their first ever podium finish in the Asia Cup Segment by finishing 2nd in Rally China. The team has been a frequent visitor on the podium since they kicked off their campaign in New Zealand earlier in 2015. Cusco EZY Racing who signed up 3 time Junior Asia Pacific Rally Champion Mike Young who was in his very first year in the senior ...

Title chances back on track

Torrential rain and dangerously slippery roads didn’t stop Mike Young from winning the FIA Asia Cup category and finishing second overall at Rally Hokkaido, based in Obihiro city northern Japan. Young arrived in Japan third in the Asia Pacific Rally championship points and after crashing out on the last round in Malaysia, the first time in two seasons - the young New Zealander was keen to make amends for his Malaysian mistake. As this event was the Cusco EZY Racing Team’s home event, they to...

Young "reset" for Rally Hokkaido

Sri Lankan-owned International team Ezy Racing’s champion driver Mike Young revealed yesterday that his Cusco Subaru Impreza WRX Sti has received a comprehensive overhaul ahead of the crucial Rally Hokkaido here in the Northern-most island of Japan. The 21-year-old New Zealander said so many things were replaced, it could even be termed a brand new car. Ezy Racing’s formidable machine met with a debilitating accident in the previous round in Malaysia just a month ago, but Young said that it ...

Miserable Malaysia Rally for Young

After showing good pace during shakedown and second fastest on the Rallysafe split-times Mike Young’s Malaysian Rally ended in spectacular fashion, clouting a bank half-way through the first stage. The New Zealander managed to keep his Cusco EZY Racing Subaru Impreza going for a few more kilometres before pulling over to save further damage to the car. Back at the service park in Johor Baru, Young said, "Definitely not the rally we were hoping for, a small mistake but it was enough to end the ...

Kiwi duo take on special Malaysian Rally

Michael Young, the only New Zealander competing in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), is set to tackle the incredibly tough Malaysian Rally, based in Johor Bahru against world-class competitors this weekend. The 22-year-old from Opotiki is ready to continue his fight for the overall APRC Championship but says he knows this rally in particular is one of the toughest on the calendar. “There are so many massive challenges in Malaysia but the extreme heat and temperatures in the car are t...

Young takes top spot in Elite Motorsport Academy

Asia Pacific rally star Michael Young has taken the top spot in the 2015 Elite Motorsport Academy run by Motorsport New Zealand. Selected from 40 applicants, eight of New Zealand's most promising motorsport talents attended the seven-day academy based in Dunedin, where they were trained and tested across a wide range of physical and mental skills. Sessions included sponsorship, media management, nutrition and team building - all skills required for high-performance sports. Winning the Academy me...

Standout result for Young in Australia

Michael Young has secured a highly respectable second overall placing at the third round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), held this weekend at the International Rally of Queensland against world-class rivals. As the only New Zealand team competing in the full APRC season, Young and co-driver Malcolm Read were left flying the Kiwi flag in Australia and both say this result means a lot to them. “This rally has just been fantastic,” said a jovial Young, “we have shown we have th...

Australian challenge for Young

Mike Young, Erin Kelly (former-co-driver) and Malcolm Read...

Young selected in Elite Motorsport Academy

Michael Young, the only driver in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) from New Zealand, has been selected for the 2015 Motorsport New Zealand Elite Motorsport Academy running from 29 June until July 4. Eight young motorsport competitors have been selected from across New Zealand, from different backgrounds and motorsport disciplines including Young and co-driver Malcolm Read. The Motorsport New Zealand Elite Motorsport Academy has run for many years and provided young drivers with the ess...

Mike secures podium in final stage battle

Michael Young, the only New Zealand driver in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) managed to secure third overall on his home event at the International Rally of Whangarei held this weekend, after battling with a former APRC champion until the very last stage. The event also marked Mike’s first rally in a turbo four-wheel-drive car, making the podium place extra special for the 22-year-old, as he came to grips with the new Cusco Racing Subaru Impreza GRB while still battling with Gaurav...

Mike debuts new Subaru Impreza GRB

Michael Young, New Zealand’s only Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) competitor, is set to compete in a turbo four-wheel-drive car for the first time at the International Rally of Whangarei, held this weekend in Northland as he looks to replicate last year’s strong championship finish where he finished second overall. Mike (22) will pilot a Cusco Racing prepared Subaru Impreza GRB at his home event, despite never having driven the car before while also celebrating his fourth year driving...

Michael Young invited to compete in WRC with M-Sport

Media Statement - 4 March 2015 Last years APRC (Asia Pacific Rally Championship) Production Cup winner and overall APRC drivers championship runner-up, 22 year old Mike Young from Opotiki in New Zealand, has received an invitation to join the M-Sport run Drive DMACK Ford Fiesta Trophy in the WRC (World Rally Championship) in 2015. Mike says: "To say I'm excited is an understatement, and while we're totally committed to the APRC this year in a Cusco Subaru Impreza, the dates all work so we're scr...

Mike repeats APRC title trifecta

Mike Young, New Zealand’s only competitor in the 2014 Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), finished second in the APRC overall drivers’ championship and simultaneously wrapped up the prestigious Production Cup title after finishing third overall at the China Rally, held in Longyou over the weekend. Joined by co-driver Malcolm Read, Mike drove his Cusco Racing Proton to the team’s third title this year after already securing the Junior Cup and Two-wheel-drive Cup following their strong s...

China debut for Young amidst APRC title fight

Kiwi rallying duo, Michael Young and Malcolm Read, are set to tackle the difficult Chinese roads in their pursuit for a third 2014 Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) title this weekend at Rally China. The pair, from Opotiki and Hamilton respectively, have never competed in China before but say they’re looking forward to the challenge and are aiming to win the APRC’s Production Cup at the event based around the city of Longyou. Young said: “This is our first time here and it’s a long ...

Michael claims another APRC title in Japan

New Zealand rally driver, Michael Young, managed to wrap up the 2014 two-wheel-drive Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) title plus take the lead in the production cup title at the penultimate APRC round held in Japan over the weekend. Young, joined by co-driver Malcolm Read, said he’s really happy with the result in Japan but adds the final round in China will be incredibly tough as the Kiwi pairing aims to wrap up their third title for the season. “Winning the two-wheel-drive cup here i...

Young aims for APRC trifecta in Japan

The Asia Pacific Rally Championship's (APRC) only New Zealand driver, Michael Young, is chasing down valuable APRC points in Japan this weekend, as he aims to claim three championship titles at the penultimate round in Hokkaido. Young, originally from Opotiki took out three APRC titles last year and speaking from the service park in Obihiro city, said he's working on securing the two-wheel-drive and production cups this year, alongside the junior cup he secured in Malaysia. "It's a bit more abou...