RI fields 35 drivers in Medan World Rally<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to hold off the domination of marauding
\nworld rally winners, host Indonesia will field 35 of its best
\ndrivers in the Bank Utama World Rally Championships in Medan,
\nNorth Sumatra, from May 10 to May 12.<\/p>\n
Rally organizer official Helmy Sungkar said that among the 35
\nrally drivers headed by Indonesia's top ranking Hutomo Mandala
\nPutra, there will be two female racers, Enny and Aang Ariane.
\n"They will be driving a Mazda Familia 323 and will be competing
\nin the A Group," Helmy said.<\/p>\n
"Though it will be a really tough competition for home
\ndrivers, I'm sure they'll do their best," Helmy added.<\/p>\n
Twenty-seven Special Stages are scheduled in three legs,
\ncovering 461km in a total route of 1,289km looping from Medan and
\naround Lake Toba starting on Friday.<\/p>\n
The three-day rally will start from Merdeka Square in Central
\nMedan at 9 a.m. on Friday before heading east and south for nine
\nstages and finishing at the end of the leg for an overnight stop
\nin Parapat. This first stop at around 7.10 p.m. is located on the
\nshores of Lake Toba after 140km of competitive driving in an
\noverall route for the day of 330km.<\/p>\n
The second leg starts from Parapat at 6 a.m., heading south of
\nLake Toba for seven special stages covering 117km in a 461km
\nroute, before finishing at the lakeside resort of Parapat again
\nat approximately 6.05 p.m.<\/p>\n
The third and final leg starts again from Parapat, heading
\nnorth back towards the North Sumatra capital of Medan for 11
\nspecial stages covering 203km, the longest leg of the rally with
\na total distance of 498km.<\/p>\n
This leg also includes the longest stage of the rally, Paya
\nPinang Mendaris at 31km. This is a combination of two stages used
\nlast year with fast, winding roads through rubber and palm oil
\nplantations, and could be where the rally is decided.<\/p>\n
The survivors are due back at the finish line in Medan at
\naround 7.20 p.m.<\/p>\n
This will be the first time the Rally of Indonesia forms part
\nof the world series after earning a reputation in recent years as
\none of the best rounds in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.<\/p>\n
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman, accompanied
\nby the National Sports Council chief Wismoyo Arismunandar are
\nexpected to officially open the race. (rsl)<\/p>",
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