Sweden's Eriksson wins Petronas Rally Malaysia

JAKARTA (JP): Kenneth Eriksson of Sweden, driving a Subaru Imprezza, clocked 2 hours 25 minutes 33 seconds yesterday to win the Petronas Rally Malaysia. The event's fate is now in the balance however after the cancellation of 13 special stages.

Second to Eriksson was Richard Burns of England in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III in 2:26:50, followed by his Mitsubishi teammate Kenjiro Shinozuka six minutes 34 seconds further back. In fourth position was Possum Bourne of New Zealand, who competed under the banner of Indonesia's Goro team. Bourne was 10 minutes 41 seconds behind Shinozuka.

Eriksson and some other rallyists expressed disappointment over the cancellation. "I could not help feeling sorry as so many special stages had to be called off," Eriksson said.

One special stage was canceled during the rally's first leg on Saturday, nine during the second leg on Sunday and three during the third and final leg yesterday.

The canceled special stages, which were regarded as exciting challenges by rallysts but were dubbed "too dangerous" by the organizers, were not the only factor which scarred the Malaysian rally. The world automobile body FIA, which sanctions the rally, yesterday called the rally not worth holding because there were too few marshals to guard the route. To add insult to injury, FIA also fined the organizers US$20,000 because a zero car hit Eriksson's car a few minutes after the start of the 10th special stage. Eriksson's car had just started when the zero car suddenly turned in the opposite direction.

FIA's safety officer Garry Conelly said he regretted the incidents which marred the rally, which also served as the third round of the Asia-Pacific rally championship, but could not say what punishment the rally would receive from FIA. Conelly said that the fate of the Malaysian rally would be decided in a FIA meeting later this year.

Possum and his co-driver Craig Vincent, the surviving members of the Goro team in the Malaysian rally, said they and their failed teammate Hutomo Mandala Putra who crashed into a palm oil tree in the rally's first leg would take part in a New Zealand rally next month and in an Australian rally in September. (arf)

Results: 1. Kenneth Eriksson/S. Permeander (Subaru) 2:25:33 2. Richard Burns/Rober Reid (Mitsubishi) 2:26:50 3. Kenjiro Shinozuka/Fred Gocentas (Mitsubishi) 2:33:24 4. Possum Bourne/Craig Vincent (Subaru) 2:33:29 5. Tolley Challis/S. Vanderbyl (Mitsubishi) 2:36:14