Star Mild team set to win race

JAKARTA (JP): The Star Mild team is set to win another victory when the national drag race resumes at Sentul, near Bogor, this Saturday.

The team of Robert J. Paul of Canada and Indonesia's Ronny Hermawan won two races in Bali and Manado. The Bali race was held Sept. 2 while the Manado event was held Sept. 16.

"We are ready for the race in Sentul. We hope our cars arrive soon," Ronny said Sunday.

Paul and Ronny's cars are being shipped from Manado and are expected to arrive in time for the race in Sentul.

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

The Sentul race is the sixth in the national drag race series.

During the race in Manado, the fifth in the series, Donnie's car slipped and hit the security fence, injuring a number of spectators. His red VW Beetle was also damaged.

"I don't know where my car is. I was told that it was on the ship. If my car arrives in Tanjung Priok on Monday (yesterday) or Tuesday, I will have to take it straight to the service station. I must appear in Sentul to collect my points to be as close as Paul's," Donnie said.

If Paul wins the Sentul race, not only will his points increase but it will be difficult for local racers 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.

But Juliwati from the Star Mild team said she hoped the team could overcome its challengers.

"We hope that Robert and Ronnie can win the Sentul race and increase their points," Juliwati said. (lnt)