Kumar, Ramkumar lead Palembang rally
Kumar, Ramkumar lead Palembang rally
PALEMBANG, South Sumatra (JP): Indians Naren Kumar and Dorairaj Ramkumar of MRF team grabbed the current lead of the Asian Zone Championships at the 2001 Gudang Garam International Rally in Indralaya, South Sumatra, some 30 kilometers south of here on Saturday.
Driving Honda Civic Estilo, Kumar and Ramkumar, who started fourth, took the 12.2-kilometer Special Stage (SS) 1 in 10 minutes and 21 seconds. They extended their lead in the 17.16km SS 2, clocking 12:32 for an aggregate time record of 22:53.
Following in the second position were Malaysians Karamjit Singh and Jagdev Singh driving Proton Satria for India's JK Tyres team. Started second, they timed 10:33 at SS 1 and 12:40 at the SS 2 for an accumulated record of 23:13 or 10 seconds behind the leaders.
Defending champions Hari Singh and Gurinder Singh Mann of JK Tyres team only finished third driving Honda Civic Estilo. They booked 12:50 at the first stage and 12:55 in the second stage, carding a 25-minute result.
Indonesians Sultan P. Djorghi and Prabowo finished first among local drivers driving Timor S515i in two stages. Started eighth, they clocked 11:53 in the first stage and 14:19 in the second stage for an accumulated time of 26 minutes and 12 seconds.
In the National Championships, Chandra Alim and Prihatin Kasiman of Fuchs Chalim team currently led the pack in the N4 category driving Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI timed 10:38 and 12:29 in each stage with an accumulation of 23:07.
Britons Graham Middleton and John Morgan of United Oil Rally team driving Ford Escort Cosworth clocked 10:44 and 12:39 for an accumulated 23:23 result.
In GR 2 category, Budi Ade Utama and Ade Ramadhan of Pennzoil Motorsport team led the pack with a total time of 25:29. Driving Mitsubishi Lancer Gti, they recorded 11:28 in the first stage and 14:01 in the second stage.
Two participants had failed for the scrutineering checkup and had to withdraw. Six cars failed to reach the finals due to various technical problems.
Sunday's race will see eight Special Stages to reach some 150 km of total length. (33/nvn)