Indonesia included in the FIA world rally event
Indonesia included in the FIA world rally event
JAKARTA (JP): Years of untiring efforts have finally paid off for Indonesia, which will now be included in the FIA world series calender of events.
The Paris-based Federation Internationale d'Autosport (FIA), the world governing body of auto sports, has decided that 1996's calender of events will feature eight world rally series and six Asia-Pacific rally series.
The International Swedish Rally in February will mark the opening of this season speed rally to be followed by the world's most grueling race, the Safari Rally.
Indonesia will get its third rally in the series from May 10 to 12, to be staged in Medan, North Sumatra.
"After years of trying, the FIA agreement was signed in a technical meeting in Perth, Australia, last September," said Indrajit Sarjono of the Indonesian Autosport Organization yesterday. Indrajit represented Indonesia in the Perth meeting.
FIA was at first reluctant to agree to Indonesia's request, saying: "The availability of sufficient infrastructure and accommodations is worrying. But after I presented an English newspaper clipping (from The Jakarta Post), which reported that new hotels will be ready by December, the FIA officials voted and agreed to include Indonesia on the agenda of events," Indrajit said, thanking the paper for its help in Indonesia's struggle to host a world rally championship.
Last October in Paris, the FIA reaffirmed the decision made earlier in Perth, which includes Indonesia in the 1997 rally calender of events.
FIA officials will visit Medan in January to inspect the routes. The rally will be staged around palm oil estates and rubber plantations and around Lake Toba in North Sumatra, which has been the site for local and Asia-Pacific rallies over the last seven years.
"FIA officials will also hold a seminar for Asian rally officials from Jan. 10 to Jan. 11 next year," IMI chief Bob R.E. Nasution said.
The Medan rally will also be part of the Asia-Pacific Rally's second series after the Thailand Rally, which marks the opening season of the region's event.
The Medan rally is scheduled to be contested over a stretch of 1,289.4 kilometers. (rsl)