Auto rally organizers eye world class status<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's success in organizing the recently
\nconcluded Asia-Pacific auto rally championship's first round in
\nMedan, North Sumatra, may put Indonesia closer to world rally
\nchampionship status.<\/p>\n
In his letter to the Indonesian Automotive Association (IMI),
\nteam director John Spiller of the 555 Subaru World Rally Team
\njokingly noted that it would be "a miscarriage of justice" if
\nIndonesia does not have the status by 1997.<\/p>\n
Its only a few days since the Medan rally concluded on July 9,
\nand already the association has received many letters of
\ncompliments on how it organized the regional event. The letters,
\nnone of which fail to mention the word "excellent", come from the
\nheads of participating teams and individual participants. Most
\nparticipants came to Medan at their own expense. Some letters
\nalso offered suggestions and help.<\/p>\n
Indrajit Sardjono, who heads the association's motorsport
\ndepartment, said that Indonesia, which has held the annual
\nchampionship since 1989, has managed to collect higher evaluation
\npoints year by year.<\/p>\n
"Last year we scored 181.5 on a scale of 200," Indrajit told
\nreporters yesterday. Every year the World Automobile Body, FIA,
\nevaluates Indonesia's performance in hosting the championship.<\/p>\n
No Asian country or city has, to date, gained FIA's world
\nchampionship status. Countries or cities with championship status
\nare mostly located in Europe and North America. Some sites
\ninclude: England, Monte Carlo, Greece (Acropolis Rally),
\nPortugal, Argentina, San Remo.<\/p>\n
"World championship status should sooner or later be given to
\nAsia. Isn't Asia part of the world?" Indrajit added.<\/p>\n
Subject to FIA's evaluation are, among others, rally
\nadministration and organization, safety and security measures and
\ninfrastructure and facilities within the hosting city.<\/p>\n
"Though perhaps not yet the best, the way we maintain safety
\nduring the Medan rally is better than, say, Corsica or Monte
\nCarlo, where spectators are quite free to expose themselves to
\ndangerous areas," Indrajit said. He added that during the Medan
\nrally, the areas bordering both the inside and outside dangerous
\nzones of the track were always kept clear of spectators.<\/p>\n
Despite Indonesia's excellent performance as a host, however,
\nIndonesian drivers finished poorly compared to their world-class
\ncounterparts. But Indrajit said that "FIA has entrusted us to
\nhost the championship not because of our drivers' performance.
\nThey know that we are very serious in doing our best."<\/p>\n
"We have worked hard, very hard to make the championship a
\nsuccess. So far, we need 362 days to prepare the three-day annual
\nevent," he added. (arf)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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