Driver Ananda gets support from Akbar

Driver Ananda gets support from Akbar

JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives (DPR) speaker Akbar
Tandjung threw his weight behind young racing driver Ananda
Mikola's bid for success in the International Formula 3000 series
in Italy next year.

Akbar also urged Indonesian companies to support Ananda by
sponsoring him. Ananda is one of 30 drivers competing in the
F3000 series from April to September.

Akbar quoted Ananda as saying in a brief meeting on Wednesday
that some 450 million auto racing fans around the globe,
including Indonesia, would watch the F3000 race series either
live or on television.

"He raced for years and now he has joined the F3000; only one
step left before the Formula One series. He is the pride of the
nation as he has proved to be an Indonesian who can steer his
career to an international sports event.

"It means that Indonesia still can produce a world-class
racer, who can bring a positive image of our nation to the world.
We support him and we also ask Indonesian corporations to help
him by sponsorship," Akbar told reporters after meeting with
Ananda and his entourage, including his father Tinton Soeprapto
and his British manager Piers Hunnisett.

It was Ananda's latest visit to top government officials. The
19-year old driver has earlier visited chairman of the National
Sports Council (KONI) Wismoyo Arismunandar and former president
B.J. Habibie.

The round continues although the government has changed. He
has also met with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, the
State Minister of Tourism and Arts Hidayat Jaelani, the State
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela and the
Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar.

All the officials have pledged to support Ananda starting from
his participation in the F3000 rally to Formula 1.

Tinton said that Ananda was seeking recognition to help his
promotion to the international racing elite.

"We are not asking for help in finding sponsorship here. We
want acknowledgment so that people will be certain about Ananda's
quality," he said. (ivy)