Canadian Paul wins Indonesian drag race

Canadian Paul wins Indonesian drag race

JAKARTA (JP): Canadian Robert Paul of the Star Mild team won
the fifth leg of the national drag race in Manado, North Sulawesi
on Sunday.

Before a crowd of 20,000 people, Paul in his BMW M3, clocked
12 minutes 50 seconds. This score was below the time of 12:250
created by Dolly Indra Nasution in the first leg in Batam.

The Manado race was opened by North Sulawesi governor E.E.
Mangindaan and was at the Boulevard circuit near the Manado
beach.

The race was held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of North
Sulawesi province and was participated in by 86 racers. Paul was
the only foreign racer in the fray.

Donnie Pangemanan came in second place after his VW Beattle
crashed into security fence 80 meters from the starting line.

Donnie suffered slight injuries when the fence fell on him.
"When I was just about to switch into second gear, my car
suddenly slid to the left of the sandy road. Luckily nothing
serious happened," Donnie said.

Paul now leads the pole position with 84 points. Paul is a
consultant who resides in Jakarta.

Ronnie Hermawan, also of the Star Mild team, was in third
place with a time of 13:340. Ronnie scored 42 points.

Fourth and fifth places went to Pare Soemoele (35) and Dolly
(32).

Paul regretted Donnie's tragedy. "It's a pity that Donnie
could not continue the race. If he had, the race would certainly
have been exciting."

There are eight legs in the National Drag Race. The first was
in Batam and the final leg will be hosted by Sentul, near Bogor
in mid October. (lnt)