Cody Crocker has kick-started his APRC title defence in the best possible manner, grabbing maximum points at Rally Whangarei over the weekend. Second overall, behind local Kiwi driver Hayden Paddon, the result vaults Crocker to the top of the APRC standings on 16 points, just one clear of Finlands Jussi Valimaki.

After the event, Crocker announced he has signed a two year deal to drive for the Singapore-based Motor Image team, a 12-month extension to what many expected to be a single-year deal. That raises some questions over whether Crocker will rejoin Les Walkden next year, with the Tasmanian team planning an assult on the PWRC for 2008.

A full wrap up of Rally Whangarei can be heard on the next APRC Live podcast, available for download from APRCLIVE.COM tomorrow.