RI fields 35 drivers in Medan World Rally
RI fields 35 drivers in Medan World Rally
JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to hold off the domination of marauding
world rally winners, host Indonesia will field 35 of its best
drivers in the Bank Utama World Rally Championships in Medan,
North Sumatra, from May 10 to May 12.
Rally organizer official Helmy Sungkar said that among the 35
rally drivers headed by Indonesia's top ranking Hutomo Mandala
Putra, there will be two female racers, Enny and Aang Ariane.
"They will be driving a Mazda Familia 323 and will be competing
in the A Group," Helmy said.
"Though it will be a really tough competition for home
drivers, I'm sure they'll do their best," Helmy added.
Twenty-seven Special Stages are scheduled in three legs,
covering 461km in a total route of 1,289km looping from Medan and
around Lake Toba starting on Friday.
The three-day rally will start from Merdeka Square in Central
Medan at 9 a.m. on Friday before heading east and south for nine
stages and finishing at the end of the leg for an overnight stop
in Parapat. This first stop at around 7.10 p.m. is located on the
shores of Lake Toba after 140km of competitive driving in an
overall route for the day of 330km.
The second leg starts from Parapat at 6 a.m., heading south of
Lake Toba for seven special stages covering 117km in a 461km
route, before finishing at the lakeside resort of Parapat again
at approximately 6.05 p.m.
The third and final leg starts again from Parapat, heading
north back towards the North Sumatra capital of Medan for 11
special stages covering 203km, the longest leg of the rally with
a total distance of 498km.
This leg also includes the longest stage of the rally, Paya
Pinang Mendaris at 31km. This is a combination of two stages used
last year with fast, winding roads through rubber and palm oil
plantations, and could be where the rally is decided.
The survivors are due back at the finish line in Medan at
around 7.20 p.m.
This will be the first time the Rally of Indonesia forms part
of the world series after earning a reputation in recent years as
one of the best rounds in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman, accompanied
by the National Sports Council chief Wismoyo Arismunandar are
expected to officially open the race. (rsl)