Kalimantan to offer offroaders challenge
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Local and foreign four-wheel-drive enthusiasts will get an opportunity to take on the wilderness of rain forest-blanketed Kalimantan when they take part in the inaugural Diplomat Challenge of Indonesia.
The organizers announced that the number of entries would be restricted to 50 cars in the event that is scheduled to take place from Dec. 8 to Dec. 18.
Syamsir Alam, challenge technical chief, said that six of the foreign entries would be allocated automatically for offroad winners either in Europe and Asia.
"We are still sorting out the shortlist of the champions to be invited to the event," Syamsir said here on Wednesday.
Foreign participants are expected to come from Australia, Britain, Brunei, China, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Spain, Thailand and the United States.
"We are keen to make the event a showcase for Indonesia to offroad enthusiasts worldwide," Syamsir said.
Justinus Sjahlim, an experienced Indonesian offroader, said the challenge would be a tough and spectacular 800-kilometer trip from Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan to Muara Teweh, Central Kalimantan, and onto Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.
The route will incorporate 15 special competition stages.
"We will be challenged to overcome what is often a difficult and hazardous track. Our teams will also be tested during the event," said Justinus, who participated in the International Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, last month.
Some local offroaders will have to go through qualifying events to win places in the challenge. Others can expect inclusion on wildcards.
The organizers have planned three qualifying events as part of the Road to the DCI 2005; in Yogyakarta from May 20-22; Makassar July 1-3 and Malang (East Java) Dec. Aug. 26-28.
"The pre-events take only two days compared to 10 days for the main event, but the stages will be made as difficult as in the main event so that we have strong qualifiers," Syamsir said.
The top three finishers in each qualifier will gain entry into the challenge.