Star Mild wants Manado drag win

JAKARTA (JP): The Star Mild team hopes to win the fifth leg of the national drag race in Manado, North Sulawesi on Sept. 14.

"I am confident that our racers of the Star Mild team could win the Manado race," Tim McKinlay, from the Star Mild team, said Sunday.

The drag race in Manado will be at the Boulevard circuit, in the heart of the North Sulawesi provincial capital.

Robert Paul is leading the pole position with 64 points, since winning the fourth leg of the national race in Bali.

He is followed by Donnie Pangemanan (57), Pare Soelmoele (35), Dolly Indra Nasution (32), Ronnie Hermawan (32) and Wie Sie Rianto (27).

Paul, a Canadian consultant, and Ronnie Hermawan are members of the Star Mild team.

Asked about their chances of winning the Manado race, Paul said he wanted to repeat his victory in Bali.

"I certainly want to win the race in Manado and if possible win the other drag races."

There are eight legs in the National Drag Race.

Manado race organizer Devy Mangindaan said Sunday that the entrants would compete for cash prizes and the Governor EE Mangindaan Cup.

"Top racers have already registered their names, including local racers from Medan, Surabaya, Semarang and Manado," Devy, the governor's daughter, said.

Governor EE Mangindaan is scheduled to open the race.

National racer John Agus Brata won the fourth leg of the Gudang Garam Mesran Gokart Race at the Sentul circuit near Bogor on Sunday.

Top spot

Brata, of the Jakarta Theater club, grabbed 20 points to take over the top spot from Michael Ali who had the highest points until the third leg.

Michael did not race Sunday.

Arya Setyaki of the Viradi Karting club did not add any points in the fourth leg and is in third place with 31 points.

With Sunday's victory, Brata leads the preliminary rankings with a total of 55 points.

Michael is second on 52 points.

The remaining three legs will be held in Yogyakarta, Oct. 4 and Oct. 5; Sentul, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2; and the grand final in Denpasar, Dec. 13 and Dec. 14.

Arie Imam Mufti of the Tanada team won the Intercontinental A class with 20 points.

Dennis P. Soemarno of Djakarta Theater and Satrio Hermanto of Panutan Racing are in second and third places with 15 points and 20 points respectively.

In the Intercontinental C class, Pramono Hardi of the Aksara team won with 20 points.

Second place went to Adi Saksono of the Polo Racing team with 15 points. Eris Mahpud was in third with 12 points.

The free for all gokart race, in which 16 racers participated, was won by Dimas Danindro. Dennis and Moreno Soeprapto came second and third respectively. (lnt)