Nobuhiro sure he'll be in top 10 at Medan rally

JAKARTA (JP): Undaunted by the task of challenging `goliaths' in the Bentoel Rally Indonesia, Japan's Tajima Nobuhiro is convinced he will fare well at the June 17 event.

Driving a less-powerful Suzuki Cultus GTi with a 1.3 liter engine into the fray with cars like the Subaru Imprezza, Toyota Celica, Ford Escort and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, the 44-year- old driver dubbed the 'Monster' said: "I still can manage to finish among the best 10."

"I think while my car is lighter in weight, though less powerful than those of my opponents, I still have a chance to finish among the best ten," Nobuhiro said on Wednesday. This will be his first entry in the Indonesian rally and he will battle in Group A with navigator Australian Ian Steward.

After Medan Nobuhiro will join the Rothman Rally in New Zealand (July 28 -31) the second stop of the Asia Pacific Rally circuit which is made up of six legs. He plans to take part in all the rallies on the circuit which ends with the Hong Kong to Beijing Rally on Oct. 22.

Approximately 50 cars have submitted entry forms, including the lone female driver Yati Pirngadi of Jakarta. She will be driving a Mitsubishi Gallant VR 4 in the Group N-4 event as a private entry.

Another private entrance driving a Mitsubishi is the country's finest driver, Chandra Alim and navigator Sebastian. They will race under the banner of the ABS Safe Guard team. Chandra will use the car previously driven by the Australian Ross Dunkerton, who won the 1992 rally also held in Medan.

Possum Bourne of New Zealand, who won last year in a Subaru, is among the top world drivers who have confirmed their entry.

Bourne and navigator Tony Sircombe will be driving a Subaru Imprezza for the 555 team.

Other foreign drivers include Kenneth Erickson of Sweden, Kenjiro Shinozuka - a close friend of Nobuhiro since childhood - the Brits Richard Burns and Jimmy McRae and drivers from Malaysia and Canada. (rsl)