Bourne-Sircombe put first in Medan

Bourne-Sircombe put first in Medan

JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Possum Bourne of New Zealand
was placed on top of the seeding list issued by FIA, the world
automotive governing body, for the Medan Rally due to start on
Friday in this North Sumatra capital.

Bourne and navigator Roger Freeth, driving under the banner of
the 555 team, won last year's rally in convincing style. However,
Bourne was tragically parted from his long-time partner when they
crashed in a race in Australia, taking the life of Freeth.

FIA, which sanctioned the three-day rally covering a total of
26 Special Stages (SS) and 418.74 kilometers, has drawn Swedish
driver Kenneth Ericksson as second seed behind Bourne. Third seed
is the Japanese Kenjiro Shinozuka, a regular participant in
Indonesian rallies.

Indonesians Ledi Kurnadi from Jakarta and Medan-base driver
Andy Jachmoon were also included in the ranking to decide the
pole position in the starting line. They were placed the top ten
seeds. They were place eighth and ninth respectively.

"We feel great to be included among the seeded drivers," Ledi
said in Medan yesterday, as quoted by Antara.

Bourne, out to defend the President's Cup he won last year,
will be driving a new Subaru Imprezza in the 555 team with
navigator Tony Sircombe.

Bourne's teammate Richard Burns of Britain, also driving a
Subaru Imprezza, was placed fourth. Britain's other drivers,
Alister McRae and Dominic Barkley, were placed fifth and sixth
respectively.

Placed at seventh was Canadian Michel Lieu who will be
accompanied by navigator Ichino Hakaru.

Malaysian Karamjit Singh, who will be making his professional
debut in Medan, will join the fray in a Proton Saga Iswara 4WD.
He was seeded 10th.

Fifty cars have submitted their entry forms to the committee
for the rally, the opening leg of the Asia Pacific Rally.

"Everything is set for the starting of the rally which was
scheduled to be officially opened by State Minister of Youth and
Sports Affairs Hajono Isman and Minister of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunication Joop Ave," committee chairman Bob R.E. Nasution
said (rsl).