THE playground is set for the 2007 Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) in China.

And it seems the whole village has turned up to watch.

The elderly, children and rally fans braved the dust clouds and the cold for a chance to soak in the choking, dust-filled atmosphere.

Nestled in the heart of pear and tangerine orchards, even the farmers could not resist taking a break from their fruit-picking to see drivers charging out of bumpy corners.

A five-hour drive from Shanghai, the rally in Longyou is the last leg of the championship, where regional and international drivers face off.

Friday's introduction of the drivers saw a turnout of at least 5,000 people.

Having a bird's eye view was that mattered in the crowded area, as young men climbed to the top of scaffoldings while mothers and their bundled-up babies perched themselves on top of government vehicles.

One off-duty telephone serviceman literally held pole position, he had the luxury of watching the super special stage, where drivers compete two by two in a small circuit.

Once the parade of the cars and sexily dressed race queens was over, the loud grunts of the rally cars signalled the start of the race.

By this evening, the drivers and co-drivers would have covered a punishing 700km - about 230km on rugged terrain and another 500km on transport stages (travelling on roads).

SUBARU IN THE LEAD

Poised to win the driver's championship is Subaru driver Cody Crocker from team MotorImage.

Leading with 70 points, the Australian driver just needs to start the race in China to win the championship.

Said Crocker: "It's not over yet. We still want to win the constructor's championship. There's not going to be a lot of pressure on me, but as a team, it would be a great opportunity to aim for the constructor's (championship)."

Crocker's closest rival is MRF Mitsubishi driver Jussi Valimaki.

With 74 points, Subaru leads the constructor's championship battle by only two points, so MRF Mitsubishi is still in with a chance.

It's going to be a tough fight to the end because a small mistake can cause a car to plunge into deep ditches and potentially out of the rally.

Said Mr Lindsay Hegan, 37, one of the team managers for MRF: "Obviously we want to win the constructor's championship too. Whoever wins the races here gets the constructor's title.

"With a little bit of luck, and if Valimaki remains consistent, we may just win it."

The figures mean little to tangerine farmer Zhao Yee, 63.

Wearing a crash helmet and eyeing the cars from the sidelines, he said the rally brings much needed distraction for his family.

Each time a race car storms past spectators, they cheer and get sand-blasted at the same time.

More experienced spectators come armed with hard hats, face masks and even umbrellas to ward of the enveloping dust clouds.

Another resident, Madam Zhing Zhing, 28, said it was a rare opportunity for her 8-year-old son to experience the spirit of racing.

Madam Zhing Zhing, who rode her motorcycle for an hour to get to the rally point, said: "We wouldn't be able to afford going to a circuit in Zhuhai to see the car races. We're lucky that the rallies are conducted nearby."

Getting up close to the villagers is nothing unusual for the participants.

During their reconnaissance of the rally route, the drivers sometimes travel near rural residential areas.

Said Mr Philip Rodgers, team manager for Motor Image: "When we race, we spend a lot of time in the bush. You get a sense of what the people in the country are doing."

But sometimes rallying can get a little too close.

Said Crocker's co-driver, Ben Atkinson: "During our transport or route reconnaissance, we're basically moving around in people's backyards and front doors.

"Recently, we ran into 200 geese being herded on the road. Rallying brings you into close contact with people's lives."

The city square, where the race cars are serviced, has been transformed into a big fair.

Brightly-coloured tents pop out against the grey foggy morning sky.

Residents can't help but to go about their daily chores alongside the sound of engines being warmed up and body work being hammered into place.

Others also eye the opportunity to earn a little more cash in the largely agricultural town.

Every morning, a group of eagle-eyed trishaw riders wait outside hotels where the participants are staying to race them to where their cars are parked.

At one corner, Madam Rong Zhi, 69, washes her clothes while sharing a water pipe with team MRF, who are busy washing dirty car rims.

She said: "It's a once-a-year affair where the city becomes busy and noisy. When the races come (to town), it's good for my daughter's noodle business.

Many passers-by who watch the race cars will eventually eat at her stall when they get hungry."