Leader Rifat revved up for Medan Rally<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>\n
Gudang Garam Rally Championship leader Rifat Sungkar is
\nrelishing the challenge of the notoriously tricky Medan Rally
\ncourse as rallying returns to the North Sumatra capital for the
\nfirst time in five years.<\/p>\n
\"The course is good and very challenging with its treacherous
\nturns and winding sections. The dirt road is very slippery. It's
\nlike driving on snow without tread tires,\" Rifat, who raced here
\nin 1997 and 2000, said during a media conference in downtown
\nMedan on Friday.<\/p>\n
The Medan Rally, the second stop of the championship, will
\nstart on Saturday, with 46 participants set to tackle the
\ntreacherous routes split over 13 special stages (SS) totaling
\n155.7 kilometers.<\/p>\n
Rifat is atop the standings with 20 points after winning the
\nopening leg in Lampung in April. Younger brother Rizal Sungkar is
\nin second with 16 points, with last year's winner Hery Agung
\nthree points behind him.<\/p>\n
Rifat, 28, will be at the wheel with Muhammad Herkusumah, who
\nis taking over navigating duties from the unavailable Karel
\nHarilatu.<\/p>\n
However, Rifat has yet to win in Medan. When he made his debut
\nin 1997, when the rally was known as the World Racing
\nChampionship, he crashed early.<\/p>\n
He returned for the 2000 Asia Pacific Rally only to exit in
\nthe early stages after a collision with another car.<\/p>\n
\"I guess I am better prepared this time around. It just needs
\na few finishing touches to my preparation,\" Rifat said.<\/p>\n
The Pertamina Rally Team driver believes Muhammad will be an
\ninvaluable help in navigating the hazardous route.<\/p>\n
Veteran driver Chandra Alim, who skipped the opening rally,
\nacknowledged the Medan rally's tough course, something he
\nexperienced first hand in past rallies.<\/p>\n
He believes he know what it will take to handle the course.<\/p>\n
\"I made a good run during the 1996 race. That's when I managed
\nto restrain myself from excessive speeding. This time I will try
\nto be patient as I was in 1996,\" the Fuchs Chalim Rally Team
\ndriver said.<\/p>\n
The race will start at 7 a.m. in Tebing Tinggi, about 40
\nkilometers southeast of Medan. Participants, including 22 local
\ndrivers, open their challenge on seven SS, followed with another
\nsix on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The third leg will take place in Makassar in September, with
\nthe final race in December in West Java.<\/p>\n
The Makassar event will also be included in the Asia Pacific
\nRally series, which, according to race director Jeffrey JP, will
\nbe the first step in efforts to bring back the World Rally
\nChampionship to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The last international rally was the Asia Pacific Rally in
\nMedan five years ago.<\/p>\n
\"We are looking to invite the (sport's governing body) FIA to
\ninspect the location in the hope they will once again trust us to
\nstage a world series,\" Jeffrey said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/leader-rifat-revved-up-for-medan-rally-1447893297",
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