Five drivers quit Palembang rally

JAKARTA (JP): Five leading drivers will not compete in the third leg of the national rally championship series in Palembang, South Sumatra due to start today.

Committee chairman Poedio Oetojo said on Thursday that Chandra Alim, Andi Yachmon, Chepot Hadiwiano, Ricardo Gelael and Faisal Aljufri failed to meet the car registration deadline prior to the two-day race.

"The absentees may adversely affect the toughness of the competition," Poedio was quoted by Antara news agency as saying. However, he believed that the race would not lose its excitement since there are still many big names entering the 700-kilometer rally staged on plantations.

National championship leader Tony Hardianto, Dolly Indra Nasution, Ledi Kurnadi, Hutomo Mandala Putra and his brother in law Indra Rukmana are included in 29 drivers who have ensured their entry. A total of Rp 14 million (US$6,461) in cash prizes and several trophies are at stake in the race.

Governor Ramli Hasan Basri is scheduled to flag off the rally at Bumi Sriwijaya sport hall today.

In the meantime in Serpong, West Java, top women driver Yatie Pirngadie and her navigator Gatut Prabowo will be battling it out for the best team honors against second round winners Gerry Rusanto and R. Setiabudi of East Java in the third leg of the national sprint rally championship on Aug. 12-13.

The race will feature two special stages covering a 12.9km stretch. (amd)