Leader Rifat revved up for Medan Rally

Leader Rifat revved up for Medan Rally

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

Gudang Garam Rally Championship leader Rifat Sungkar is
relishing the challenge of the notoriously tricky Medan Rally
course as rallying returns to the North Sumatra capital for the
first time in five years.

"The course is good and very challenging with its treacherous
turns and winding sections. The dirt road is very slippery. It's
like driving on snow without tread tires," Rifat, who raced here
in 1997 and 2000, said during a media conference in downtown
Medan on Friday.

The Medan Rally, the second stop of the championship, will
start on Saturday, with 46 participants set to tackle the
treacherous routes split over 13 special stages (SS) totaling
155.7 kilometers.

Rifat is atop the standings with 20 points after winning the
opening leg in Lampung in April. Younger brother Rizal Sungkar is
in second with 16 points, with last year's winner Hery Agung
three points behind him.

Rifat, 28, will be at the wheel with Muhammad Herkusumah, who
is taking over navigating duties from the unavailable Karel
Harilatu.

However, Rifat has yet to win in Medan. When he made his debut
in 1997, when the rally was known as the World Racing
Championship, he crashed early.

He returned for the 2000 Asia Pacific Rally only to exit in
the early stages after a collision with another car.

"I guess I am better prepared this time around. It just needs
a few finishing touches to my preparation," Rifat said.

The Pertamina Rally Team driver believes Muhammad will be an
invaluable help in navigating the hazardous route.

Veteran driver Chandra Alim, who skipped the opening rally,
acknowledged the Medan rally's tough course, something he
experienced first hand in past rallies.

He believes he know what it will take to handle the course.

"I made a good run during the 1996 race. That's when I managed
to restrain myself from excessive speeding. This time I will try
to be patient as I was in 1996," the Fuchs Chalim Rally Team
driver said.

The race will start at 7 a.m. in Tebing Tinggi, about 40
kilometers southeast of Medan. Participants, including 22 local
drivers, open their challenge on seven SS, followed with another
six on Sunday.

The third leg will take place in Makassar in September, with
the final race in December in West Java.

The Makassar event will also be included in the Asia Pacific
Rally series, which, according to race director Jeffrey JP, will
be the first step in efforts to bring back the World Rally
Championship to Indonesia.

The last international rally was the Asia Pacific Rally in
Medan five years ago.

"We are looking to invite the (sport's governing body) FIA to
inspect the location in the hope they will once again trust us to
stage a world series," Jeffrey said.