Local drivers stage down-hearted battle

Local drivers stage down-hearted battle

JAKARTA (JP): Leading national drivers have opted to keep
themselves away from a possible world-class battle during the
Indonesia Rally championships in Medan, North Sumatra next month.

"I just want to do my best as far as I can. It will be great
if I manage to finish among the top ten," national champion Tony
Hardianto told a press conference Thursday night.

"I will take on top class drivers who dedicate all their lives
to the racing sport. They must have better preparations than our
drivers who find this adventurous sport a kind of hobby," Tony
added.

Tony displayed his skills when he finished fourth behind
Japan's Kenjiro Shinozuka last year.

A record 51 drivers from 18 countries have confirmed their
entry at the July 7-9 annual race which also serves as the
opening leg of the Asia Pacific Championships series. Tony will
lead the local challenge against 19 foreign drivers who include
seasoned world championship regulars.

Scot Collin McRae and Finland's Tomi Makkinen are making their
debut on the bumpy, winding tarmac road along palm oil and rubber
plantations in North Sumatra. Defending champion Kenneth Eriksson
of Sweden, former winner Possum Bourne of New Zealand and
Finland's illustrious driver Ari Vatanen will add to the suspense
of the rally.

Asian drivers from Japan, India, Malaysia, South Korea, China,
Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei also line the participants list.
Members of the first family, Hutomo Mandala Putra, Indra Rukmana
and his son Dandy Rukmana will be other noted drivers to watch.

Former national champion Dolly Indra Nasution shared his
worries with Tony. "They are big names. It's going to be such a
struggle out there that finishing tenth remains praiseworthy,"
Dolly, the 1991 national number one, said.

Competitors of the three-day race will have to complete 27
special stages covering a stretch of 461.32 kilometers.

Starting from the Merdeka square, Medan, the participating
drivers will take on the first eight special stages from Medan to
Tebing Tinggi. They have to survive the longest track on the
second day from Medan to Parapat, before spending the night at
the country's most famous lake, Toba.

The final nine stages will start from Lake Toba and finish at
the Merdeka square.

The organizers have dropped one stage out of the scheduled 27
due to technical reasons. The straight track of the ninth stage
at Rambong Sialang is considered too dangerous for drivers,
technical commission official Indrajit Sardjono said. (amd)