Indonesia Rally moved from July to next May

Indonesia Rally moved from July to next May

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesia Rally will be moved from July to
May next year to make way for a world championship race in
Argentina, organizers say.

Indrajit Sardjono, chairman of the Indonesia Rally Foundation,
announced on Wednesday the annual rally championship in Medan,
North Sumatra will be held between May 10 and 12.

"The 1996 rally in Medan would compete with the Argentinean
Rally if we stick to the original schedule. It could bar world-
class drivers from entering the race here," Indrajit explained.

The Argentinean Rally, which is included in the world
championship's calendar, will take place early in July next year.
The Indonesian Rally traditionally falls on these days.

Eventual champion Collin McRae of Scotland and his major rival
Tommi Makkinen of Finland were among world's prominent drivers
who raced in Medan last month.

Indrajit also confirmed that the three-day event in Medan will
serve as the second round of the six-leg Asia Pacific
Championship series after Rally of Thailand in March 2 to 4. The
Indonesia Rally opened the Asia Pacific series in the last three
years.

Indrajit said that the organizers had set earlier preparations
for the championship next year. "Our fate will be decided next
year, whether we win our bid for hosting a world championship
round in 1997 or not," Indrajit said.

A number of route changes will be made for next year's race.
All drivers will tackle three new stages in a tea plantation in
Simalungun and in a pine forest near Aek Nauli. They also stay
one day longer at Parapat, a tourist resort near Lake Toba.

The overall schedule for the Asia Pacific rally championship
series next year will change, with the Malaysian Rally serving as
the third leg from June 12 to 14. The series will then move to
New Zealand from July 26 to 30, Australia between Sept. 13 and 16
before the final race from Hong Kong to Beijing between Oct. 19
and 25. (amd)