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)