Students to join fuel saving race

Students to join fuel saving race

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian university students will test their
skills in modifying cars to have the lowest fuel consumption in a
770-kilometer race stretching from Jakarta to Surabaya, East
Java.

A total of 22 universities from Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang,
Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Surabaya and Malang have confirmed their
participation in the three-day race, to be flagged off on July 25
at the National Monument park.

Committee chairman, Bintoro T, said yesterday that each team
will drive an Isuzu Panther diesel provided by PT Astra
International. Participants will have to modify the cars' engines
to use less than 50 liters of diesel fuel.

The race will be in two stages. The first leg covers 470
kilometers from Jakarta to Semarang, Central Java, with all
racers expected to make the trip in 12 hours.

Following two hours of rest, the participating teams embark on
their journey to Surabaya. They are given eight hours to complete
the 300 km journey. Once they finish, their cars will undergo
engine screening.

The winning team will bring home a new Isuzu Panther. The
runner-up will bag Rp 10,000,000 (US$4,250) savings account and
each member of the third best team will receive a Rp 600,000
scholarship fund.

Isprajin Brotowibowo of the Ministry of Education and Culture
said that each team deserves a patents right for its modified
car.

Bintoro said that the race will be held regularly every two
years from now. For the next race, the organizers plan to invite
students from outside Java. (yan)