Champion Bourne set to regain Rally title<\/p>\n
By Dwiatmanta<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Defending champion Possum Bourne is
\npoised to pay tribute to his long-time partner, the late Rodger
\nFreeth, by winning the 1994 Indonesia Rally championship, the
\nfirst leg of the Asia Pacific championship series, which starts
\ntomorrow.<\/p>\n
\"I will carry on triumphing in this tough race as I did with
\nRodger, although it is going to be difficult,\" the 38-year-old
\nNew Zealander, who will drive a new Subaru Impreza 555, said in a
\npress meeting yesterday.<\/p>\n
Bourne said he was physically and mentally ready for the
\nthree-day race through the North Sumatra plantations.<\/p>\n
A winning partnership with Freeth here last year was Bourne's
\nlast sweet memory he shared with his co-driver during their six-
\nyear liaison. An accident during the Telecom Rally of Australia,
\nthe fourth leg of the region's annual championships, in October
\nlast year killed Freeth and injured Bourne. He, however, bounced
\nback from his shocking experience to win the last stop in
\nThailand with fellow New Zealander Tony Sircombe for the Asia
\nPacific series title.<\/p>\n
\"It was a tragic moment for me and my team,\" the reigning
\nchampion said.<\/p>\n
\"I had only few choices to pick Rodger's substitute, but I
\nfind Tony is a reliable and experienced partner to work with,\"
\nBourne said of his current navigator.<\/p>\n
The pair has made route reconnaissance five times in each
\nspecial stage within the last nine days before starting the race.
\nBourne labeled the ninth special stage at Tanah Besih the
\n\"survival one\" for its twisting route. The 18.26-kilometer stage
\nwill force drivers to travel around some small blocks of rubber.<\/p>\n
The Subaru team will also bank on the solid teamwork of
\nchampionship debutantes Richard Burns and Robert Reid in their
\ntitle defense campaign.<\/p>\n
Team manager John Firelli expressed guarded optimism that the
\nBriton Burns, who showed maturity beyond his years with four
\nsuccessive victories in the British Open Rally championship last
\nyear, deserves to take the glory here.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot wait to get behind the wheel in Indonesia,\" said
\nBurns who finished second on the last series of the six-round
\nAsia Pacific rally in Thailand last year.<\/p>\n
High temperature and humidity will be the most serious
\nchallenge for the 50 competing drivers. Bourne admitted the
\nclimate was such a trouble that he has to drink up to at least
\nsix liters of water to avoid dehydration.<\/p>\n
He also said that the different terrain for the race would
\npose another threat to his title defense.<\/p>\n
\"I find Kenneth Eriksson the opposing driver to watch,\" Bourne
\nsaid of his Swedish competitor. Eriksson will don a Mitsubishi
\nracing suit.<\/p>\n
The annual event will cover a total distance of 1,137
\nkilometers, including 26 special stages covering 418.74
\nkilometers. A major change of the route have been made by the
\norganizers this year. \"We changed 80 percent of routes we used
\nlast year,\" Indrajit Sartono of the Indonesian Motor Association
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
All 50 drivers have arrived here for the three-day race. They
\nwill undergo scrutiny today. Minister of Tourism Joop Ave is
\nscheduled to wave the checkered flag tomorrow.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/champion-bourne-set-to-regain-rally-title-1447893297",
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