Rain may disrupt world rally c'ship<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Heavy rain may disrupt the Gudang
\nGaram World Rally Championship due to start on Friday.<\/p>\n
Rain in Medan on Sunday and Monday caused slippery road
\nconditions in the city.<\/p>\n
Some of the Special Stages along the 1,289km route from the
\ncapital to Lake Toba may become slippery and muddy if it rains.<\/p>\n
However, the muddy roads will not affect the drivers but will
\nforce them to perform their best.<\/p>\n
Indrajit Sardjono, the organizers chairman, told a press
\nconference here yesterday that some drivers have complained about
\nthe rain.<\/p>\n
Didier Auriol of France complained about the different
\ncharacter of each stage which needed special skills to
\nanticipate.<\/p>\n
But Indrajit said the conditions would give local drivers a
\ngreater chance against the foreigners.<\/p>\n
"Auriol said all the tracks were 100 percent completed and
\nready for the world championships," Indrajit said.<\/p>\n
The nation's best hope Hutomo Mandala Putra, who is expected
\nto compete against the French driver, was involved in a minor
\ntraffic accident in Marihat, Pematang Siantar during a training
\nsession Monday.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto's son Hutomo, also called Tommy, will go
\nahead as planned to compete in the championship.<\/p>\n
"His car was slightly damaged," Indrajit said, adding that
\naccidents were common during championships and training sessions.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's Dolly Indra Nasution has pulled out of the
\nchampionship, in which 69 drivers will compete, because his
\nmachine is not ready. A Malaysian has also withdrawn for unknown
\nreasons. (21\/afs\/yan)<\/p>",
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