Medan community greets world rally c'ship<\/p>\n
MEDAN (JP): Locals welcomed the world rally championships
\nwhich will start here in this North Sumatra city today.<\/p>\n
\"The community are enthusiastic and proud that Medan will hold
\na rally of world caliber. They now understand what rally means,\"
\nregional government spokesman Sofyan Nasution told The Jakarta
\nPost yesterday.<\/p>\n
Sofyan further said that the regional government had chipped
\nin to help make the rally a success.<\/p>\n
\"The regional government will help provide all the rally
\ndrivers' facilities.\"<\/p>\n
The North Sumatra government threw a party for the rally teams
\nWednesday night which was highlighted by music from well-known
\nsingers.<\/p>\n
Basjrul Kamal of the provincial tourism department said that
\nthere were more tourists in Medan because of the rally.<\/p>\n
\"The number of foreign visitors has increased drastically
\nbecause of the rally. Twenty star-rated hotels are fully booked,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Rain is still expected to hit the South Sumatra. Medan's
\nmeteorology and geophysics office predicts rain will strike the
\ntrack.<\/p>\n
Smoke from burned forest has also become a problem for Medan.
\nBut it is hoped that the rain shower will wipe out the smoke.<\/p>\n
The Gudang Garam World Rally Championships will see local and
\nworld class drivers battle for top honors.<\/p>\n
Among the world class drivers are Tommi Makinen of Finland,
\nCarlos Sainz (Spain), Colin McRae (England), Richard Burns
\n(England), Kenneth Eriksson (Scotland), Juha Kakunen (Finland),
\nDidier Auriol (France), Erwin Weber (Germany), Neal Bates
\n(Australia), Wayne Bell (Australia), Yoshihiro Kataoka (Japan)
\nand Karamit Singh (Malaysia). They have all confirmed their
\nparticipation in the three-day rally.<\/p>\n
Sainz won last year in Medan on May 12. He finished second
\nbehind Makinen in the world rally championships in Finland.<\/p>\n
Local drivers include Tonny Hardianto, Hutomo Mandala Putra,
\nRicardo Gelael, Bambang Hartono and Arief Indiarto.<\/p>\n
The drivers will race 402.47 kilometers in 22 stages. The 22
\nstages will be divided into three legs.<\/p>\n
Leg one, today, will cover a stretch of 137.72 kilometers and
\nrun over eight stages.<\/p>\n
Leg two, scheduled for tomorrow will take the racers over
\n149.07 kilometers and eight stages before stopping for the second
\nnight at beautiful Lake Toba.<\/p>\n
The third and final leg, on Sunday, will take the drivers
\n115.68 kilometers, through six stages, back to the finishing line
\nin Medan's Merdeka Square.<\/p>\n
The world class rally drivers and their teams have booked
\n1,200 hotel rooms.<\/p>\n
An exhibition of the latest Indonesian cars, and racing cars
\nused by top world class racers is being held in Merdeka Square.
\nIt ends today. (21\/lnt)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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