Bourne-Sircombe put first in Medan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Possum Bourne of New Zealand
\nwas placed on top of the seeding list issued by FIA, the world
\nautomotive governing body, for the Medan Rally due to start on
\nFriday in this North Sumatra capital.<\/p>\n
Bourne and navigator Roger Freeth, driving under the banner of
\nthe 555 team, won last year's rally in convincing style. However,
\nBourne was tragically parted from his long-time partner when they
\ncrashed in a race in Australia, taking the life of Freeth.<\/p>\n
FIA, which sanctioned the three-day rally covering a total of
\n26 Special Stages (SS) and 418.74 kilometers, has drawn Swedish
\ndriver Kenneth Ericksson as second seed behind Bourne. Third seed
\nis the Japanese Kenjiro Shinozuka, a regular participant in
\nIndonesian rallies.<\/p>\n
Indonesians Ledi Kurnadi from Jakarta and Medan-base driver
\nAndy Jachmoon were also included in the ranking to decide the
\npole position in the starting line. They were placed the top ten
\nseeds. They were place eighth and ninth respectively.<\/p>\n
\"We feel great to be included among the seeded drivers,\" Ledi
\nsaid in Medan yesterday, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Bourne, out to defend the President's Cup he won last year,
\nwill be driving a new Subaru Imprezza in the 555 team with
\nnavigator Tony Sircombe.<\/p>\n
Bourne's teammate Richard Burns of Britain, also driving a
\nSubaru Imprezza, was placed fourth. Britain's other drivers,
\nAlister McRae and Dominic Barkley, were placed fifth and sixth
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
Placed at seventh was Canadian Michel Lieu who will be
\naccompanied by navigator Ichino Hakaru.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Karamjit Singh, who will be making his professional
\ndebut in Medan, will join the fray in a Proton Saga Iswara 4WD.
\nHe was seeded 10th.<\/p>\n
Fifty cars have submitted their entry forms to the committee
\nfor the rally, the opening leg of the Asia Pacific Rally.<\/p>\n
\"Everything is set for the starting of the rally which was
\nscheduled to be officially opened by State Minister of Youth and
\nSports Affairs Hajono Isman and Minister of Tourism, Post and
\nTelecommunication Joop Ave,\" committee chairman Bob R.E. Nasution
\nsaid (rsl).<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bourne-sircombe-put-first-in-medan-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}