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)