Sweden's Eriksson wins Petronas Rally Malaysia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Kenneth Eriksson of Sweden, driving a Subaru
\nImprezza, clocked 2 hours 25 minutes 33 seconds yesterday to win
\nthe Petronas Rally Malaysia. The event's fate is now in the
\nbalance however after the cancellation of 13 special stages.<\/p>\n
Second to Eriksson was Richard Burns of England in a
\nMitsubishi Lancer Evolution III in 2:26:50, followed by his
\nMitsubishi teammate Kenjiro Shinozuka six minutes 34 seconds
\nfurther back. In fourth position was Possum Bourne of New
\nZealand, who competed under the banner of Indonesia's Goro team.
\nBourne was 10 minutes 41 seconds behind Shinozuka.<\/p>\n
Eriksson and some other rallyists expressed disappointment
\nover the cancellation. \"I could not help feeling sorry as so many
\nspecial stages had to be called off,\" Eriksson said.<\/p>\n
One special stage was canceled during the rally's first leg on
\nSaturday, nine during the second leg on Sunday and three during
\nthe third and final leg yesterday.<\/p>\n
The canceled special stages, which were regarded as exciting
\nchallenges by rallysts but were dubbed \"too dangerous\" by the
\norganizers, were not the only factor which scarred the Malaysian
\nrally. The world automobile body FIA, which sanctions the rally,
\nyesterday called the rally not worth holding because there were
\ntoo few marshals to guard the route. To add insult to injury, FIA
\nalso fined the organizers US$20,000 because a zero car hit
\nEriksson's car a few minutes after the start of the 10th special
\nstage. Eriksson's car had just started when the zero car suddenly
\nturned in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n
FIA's safety officer Garry Conelly said he regretted the
\nincidents which marred the rally, which also served as the third
\nround of the Asia-Pacific rally championship, but could not say
\nwhat punishment the rally would receive from FIA. Conelly said
\nthat the fate of the Malaysian rally would be decided in a FIA
\nmeeting later this year.<\/p>\n
Possum and his co-driver Craig Vincent, the surviving members
\nof the Goro team in the Malaysian rally, said they and their
\nfailed teammate Hutomo Mandala Putra who crashed into a palm oil
\ntree in the rally's first leg would take part in a New Zealand
\nrally next month and in an Australian rally in September. (arf)<\/p>\n
Results:
\n 1. Kenneth Eriksson\/S. Permeander (Subaru) 2:25:33
\n 2. Richard Burns\/Rober Reid (Mitsubishi) 2:26:50
\n 3. Kenjiro Shinozuka\/Fred Gocentas (Mitsubishi) 2:33:24
\n 4. Possum Bourne\/Craig Vincent (Subaru) 2:33:29
\n 5. Tolley Challis\/S. Vanderbyl (Mitsubishi) 2:36:14<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/swedens-eriksson-wins-petronas-rally-malaysia-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}