Star Mild team ready for national drag race

JAKARTA (JP): The Star Mild team drivers are set to capture their third national drag race title at Sentul, near Bogor this afternoon.

Robert J. Paul of Canada, in a BMW M3, will lead the team. Ronny Hermawan, in a Ford RS200, is the team's second driver.

"We are ready for the race in Sentul. Our cars have arrived here safely from Manado so we have time to make some adjustments to our cars," Ronny said Thursday.

Paul's and Ronny's cars arrived here Wednesday from Manado after both of them competed in the Manado event on Sept. 16 and the Bali event on Sept. 2. The last two races were won by the Star Mild team.

Paul, a Canadian consultant who resides in Jakarta, leads the national drag race rankings with 84 points. Donnie Hermawan is in second place with 57 points, and Ronny is in third place with 42 points.

If Paul wins the Sentul race -- contested throughout the night --, not only will his points increase but it will be difficult for local riders to catch up to him.

The battle for second spot is expected to be a fight between Donnie, Ronny, Pare Soemoele, Dolly Indra Nasution and Widiaztama.

The national drag race in Sentul is number six in the series. The first was in Batam.

Lucky Strike is the sole national drag race sponsor.

Lolana J. Moenek, the organizer said Thursday that the drag race was expected to attract many spectators.

"We expect some 70,000 people will watch the one-day race. Lucky Strike will continue to give support to future national drag races," Lolana said.

About 68 of the 92 local rally drivers and their navigators have confirmed their participation in the BSD Sprint Rally at Bumi Serpong Damai, Tangerang tomorrow.

Organizer Helmy Sungkar said yesterday that there was a possibility that more drivers would register for the one-day rally.

This year's rally will be at Tachno Park circuit and will be the eighth held by the West Java Indonesian Motor Association.

The drivers will compete in two special stages covering a total distance of 11.5 kilometers.

Among the local drivers in the BSD Rally will be Reza Pribadi, Dandy Rukmana, Roy Nirwan, Danny Rukmana, Irvan Gading Raldy, Rifat Sungkar, Akbar Hadianto, Agus Budianto, Eka Djanaka, M. Bintang and Nieko Yudha Messa.

Rifat, Akbar, Agus, Nieko and Eka are among the local drivers who took part in the Gudang Garam World Rally Championship on Sept. 21.

Carlos Sainz with co-driver Luis Moya in a Ford Escort won the Medan rally. (lnt)