Indian drivers win Palembang Rally
Indian drivers win Palembang Rally
PALEMBANG, South Sumatra (JP): Indians VR Naren Kumar and
Dorairaj Ramkumar, driving under the banner of MRF team, grabbed
the 2001 Gudang Garam International Rally title after finishing
first with a time of one hour 36 minutes and 45 seconds in
Indralaya, some 30 kilometers south of here, on Sunday.
In the second series of the Asian Championships, Kumar and
Ramkumar -- who also grabbed the title in the first leg in
Coimbatore, India -- drove Honda Civic Estilo to collect a total
of 20 points.
"I can't take it for granted although I won the first two
legs. I just want to concentrate and take one race at a time,"
Kumar told a post-rally conference.
"The track here is much more difficult especially when it
rains."
Kumar and Ramkumar finished first in the first, second and
three Special Stages in 10:21, 12:32, and 10:34 respectively to
help them speed up to the finish line. They had two minutes and
14 seconds ahead of runner up Malaysians Karamjit Singh and
Jagdev Singh.
The Singhs, who drove Proton Satria for Indian team of JK
Tires, finished second in 1:38:59. They also finished second in
the first serie.
The runners-up made their fastest time at the last five stages
in 12:10, 14:23, 9:43, 11:53 and 13:53 respectively to give them
a surplus of 2:31 to the defending champion.
"The stages were dry as we expected so we could drive as fast
as possible. It will be very dangerous if it rained because the
roads would have been very slippery," said Jagdev.
"We decided to use dry tires because it did not rain today."
Defending champion Hari Singh and Gurinder Singh Mann of the
MRF, also driving Proton Satria, only finished third in 1:41:30.
"It's a different story this year because I have to adjust
myself with the Proton car. Besides, I must also compete with
teammates the Singhs," said Hari, who finished third in the first
serie.
Indonesians Yama Sarwono and Sugianto Gondokusumo finished
fourth 1:50:48 to grab the national championships title. Indra
Prasetyo and A. Faizal finished second with 1:52:06.
Nine participants failed to finish on Sunday due to technical
problems leaving only 20 cars made it through the finish line
from a total of 35 participants.
"Luckily, there were no accidents happened to the drivers. The
problems were mainly technical such as overheated engines,"
organizer Helmy Sungkar told The Jakarta Post.
"It is usual in short races where participants tend to fight
all-out. They would save their energy if the race was longer."
(33/nvn)