Malang students win fuel-saving rally

JAKARTA (JP): Students from Brawijaya University won the Laga Pantura 50 fuel-saving rally which finished in Surabaya, East Surabaya on Saturday.

Anwar Andi Rakhman and Fajar Alam Yudha from the Malang-based university in East Java took home an Isuzu Panther van, the same make of car used for the rally, and Rp 10 million in bank savings.

Both Anwar and Fajar finished the three-day rally in 18 hours, seven minutes and eight seconds in their modified car which consumed only 25.24 liters of diesel after penalties.

Widya Aryadi and Winanda Fariyanto from Semarang, Central Java Diponegoro University clocked the fastest time of 16:19.53 but they needed 0.97 liters more diesel fuel than their Brawijaya University opponents. The Central Javanese had to settle for second place.

Arief Dharmawan and Afandi Edi Widyatmaka of the Brawijaya Polytechnics, also in Malang, finished third with 18:26.01 and consumed 28.54 liters.

During the rally, 22 teams from Java selected by the organizers were provided with 50 liters of fuel for the 770 kilometers of drive along Java's northern coast from Jakarta to Surabaya.

The three-day rally was flagged off by Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro in National Monument square here on Thursday.

The organizers of the biennial rally also provided all participants with cars.

The next rally will include teams from outside Java, organizers said. (yan)