Gudang Garam Kart Races to start on Saturday

Gudang Garam Kart Races to start on Saturday

JAKARTA (JP): The first of five scheduled Gudang Garam Kart
Races is to be staged on Saturday at the Sentul International
Karting Circuit.

The two-day race, in which more than 80 drivers are due to
compete, will feature three categories, Formula A, junior
Intercontinental A and clubmen Intercontinental C.

Helmy Sungkar, chairman of the organizing committee, said that
Saturday's race is also the fourth event in the National
Championships series and the second in the Sentul Karting Series.

Firhan Ali, last year's champion, expressed his hope that many
people will become interested in kart racing.

"In Europe, more than 100 drivers take part in each race. But
here, only 20 participate. I hope that through wide publicity,
more people will become interested in karting," the 18-year-old
racer said.

"I really want to renew my own record," Firhan said.

Helmy said that the second leg of the series will be in
September, the third in October, the fourth in November and the
final one in December. All the races will be staged at Sentul.

He also said that the organizer plans to stage special races,
called gear-box domestic categories, which are expected to be
participated in by college students.

"The categories need special maintenance skills from the
participants so they can take care of there own karts," he said.

Helmy said that the organizer also plans to stage a special
race for high school and college students.

"It's one of the ways to popularize karting in the country,"
he said.

The free-of-charge race is expected to attract about 4,000
spectators to the 1.27km circuit. (yan)