Ananda's management denies failure

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian racing driver Ananda Mikola's management and family denied allegations that he has so far failed to achieve success and is just wasting funds issued by the Indonesian Automotive Foundation (YOI).

"It's not true that Ananda has failed. There's no other Indonesian or even Asian racing driver in the Formula 3000 series. Ananda has made considerable achievements since joining Formula-3 in 1997," his father Tinton Suprapto emotionally told a media conference.

"I have to admit that it is very expensive being involved in motor racing. But I must emphasize again that Ananda's involvement is not without achievement."

The local media had been reporting that Ananda used YOI's funds amounting to some Rp 15 billion (US$1.39 million) to Rp 20 billion and wasted it by not managing to secure any achievement.

"Based on an agreement signed by YOI and Ananda's party in December 1998, the foundation had approved to finance Ananda's racing activities until he reached Formula One (F1). Up until June 2000, we had only received some Rp 10 billion when YOI suddenly experienced financial problems. I did not take it as a serious matter and found another sponsor, Gunawan Tjandra (president of Ananda Mikola's management)," Tinton said.

"The agreement did not state a specific time limit on when we should repay the money and only stated once Ananda races in F1."

Gunawan said the management had no obligation to return the fund to the foundation.

"The management has never borrowed any money from YOI thus we have no obligation to pay it back. But it would be a different matter if Ananda had the initiative to do so," he said.

The Indonesian Motorsports Association chairman, Bob RE Nasution said that YOI had spent a total of Rp 25 billion. Half of it to finance Ananda and another to be invested in PT Putra Petra Utama, owned by driver Candra Alim.

Nasution said YOI would take the risk if Ananda failed to compete in F1.

"What else can I say? That's the risk we have to be willing to take if we want to see our athletes perform at international events," he was quoted by Kompas as saying.

As for Candra, he claimed that he has been paying back his debts, which are worth a total of $1.167 million. He offered his 5,000-square-meter plot of land in Grogol, West Jakarta, as a guarantee for his debts.

Tinton urged all parties to throw their weight behind supporting Ananda's career.

"Now, we really need more support so Ananda can start racing in F1 as soon as possible. Once he reaches F1, we can return FOI's money."

Ananda joined the Astromega team for the 2001 season.

He finished 17th at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil, last week after starting the race in 25th position. He will next race at Imola, Italy on April 15.

"Why can't we act like Malaysia where state-owned petroleum Petronas owns an F1 team with Sauber? Malaysia also does not have a local hero yet," he said. (nvn)