Journalists to descend on Medan Rally

JAKARTA (JP): Over 150 local and foreign sportswriters are expected to cover this year's main event in the autosports world - Bentoel Rally Indonesia '94 - to be staged in Medan, North Sumatra for June 17 to 19.

The rally, which attracts many world beaters, serves as the opening leg of the Asia-Pacific rally circuit scheduled for Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Hong Kong and China.

Journalists covering the rally will have no problem transmitting their reports because the organizers are preparing a large number of domestic and international telephone lines, committee spokesman Helmy Sungkar said yesterday.

"Numerous computers will also be made available to journalists," Helmy added.

More challenging

The rally will run around palm oil and rubber plantations outside the North Sumatra capital, mostly on hardened gravel roads, which according to a leading rally navigator has become more challenging with the introduction of new tracks.

"I found it more challenging because bending and winding tracks are available of this year," Faryd Sungkar said. Faryd will team with Dolly Indra Nasution on a brand new Ford Escort.

He said the Ford team will field four cars with the other three to race in Group N event.

"I think there will be close battle between Subaru, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Ford," Faryd added.

Mitsubishi, with world-class drivers Kenneth Ericksson of Sweden and Kenjiro Shinozuka of Japan, the Subaru 555 team and Toyota with the well-placed Hutomo Mandala Putra behind the wheel, are the cars to watch, said Faryd. He and Dolly tomorrow will travel to Medan to make their second inspection of the tracks.

"I hope we can challenge the world class drivers next week," Faryd said.(rsl)