McRae beats Eriksson to win Medan Rally<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Scotland's Colin McRae scorched his way to a
\nconvincing victory in the Rally of Indonesia '95, the first round
\nof this year's Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in Medan, North
\nSumatra on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Driving a Subaru Impreza 555, McRae, making his debut in
\nIndonesia, chalked up an impressive win, particularly against the
\nexperienced Kenneth Eriksson of Sweden, champion of last year's
\nevent.<\/p>\n
The Swede, in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III, finished
\nsecond with a time of 4 hours, 57 minutes and 19 seconds.<\/p>\n
Despite a furious final day charge by Eriksson, McRae and co-
\ndriver Derek Ringer finished more than two minutes clear of the
\nfield.<\/p>\n
McRae started day three with his Subaru out in front by some
\ntwo and a half minutes, only to see Eriksson claw back an
\nincredible 42 seconds in the four timed stages of the morning
\nsession.<\/p>\n
Finland's Tommi Makinen, also in a Mitsubishi, was third over
\nthe 500 km (310 mile) route across an often treacherous track
\nthrough rubber and palm plantations in North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
\"We knew it was going to be tough and, if the others had not
\nhad problems, it would have been very, very close,\" McRae said.<\/p>\n
Eriksson cut into McRae's advantage on Sunday morning but hit
\na differential problem, which left his Mitsubishi Lancer stuck in
\nrear-wheel drive for the final three stages.<\/p>\n
The same fate befell Makinen, who was able to hold off New
\nZealander \"Possum\" Bourne to take third place.<\/p>\n
Hutomo Mandala Putra, the son of President Soeharto, showed a
\ngood turn of speed in the final phases, moving to sixth place
\nfrom eighth overnight on Saturday, despite losing time when his
\nSubaru suffered a puncture on stage 24.<\/p>\n
McRae's victory gives him a five-point lead in the Asia-
\nPacific championship standings.<\/p>\n
But in a cool-headed display of driving, the 27-year-old Scot
\nrefused to be intimidated by the Swede's continued challenge,
\nletting him close the gap still further during the first two
\nstages after lunch.<\/p>\n
His plan worked and Eriksson saw his hopes of catching McRae
\nevaporate in the 40 degrees heat when mechanical problems lost
\nhim more than 30 seconds just three stages from the end.<\/p>\n
\"Kenneth hates being beaten, so I knew he'd come out
\nfighting,\" said McRae.<\/p>\n
\"But I had a comfortable lead by the end of day two and could
\nlet him close the gap while I concentrated on getting the car to
\nthe finish line unscathed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Asia-Pacific Championship moves to New Zealand for the
\nnext round, which takes place July 27 to 30 in Auckland. (rsl)<\/p>\n
Selected results<\/p>\n
1. Colin McRae (Subaru) 4:53.05<\/p>\n
2. Kenneth Eriksson (Mitsubishi) 4:55.19<\/p>\n
3. Tommi Makinen (Mitsubishi) 4:57.41<\/p>\n
4. Possum Bourne (Subaru) 5:03.07<\/p>\n
5. Kenjiro Shinozuka (Mitsubishi) 5:17.31<\/p>\n
6. Hutomo MP (Subaru) 5:24.34<\/p>\n
7. Tonny Hardianto (Subaru) 5:26,12<\/p>\n
8. Dandy Rukmana (Ford Escort) 5:29.25<\/p>\n
9. Bambang Hartono (Mitsubishi) 5:30.50
\n 10. Pornsawan Siritwattanakui (Mitsubishi) 5:31.56<\/p>",
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