Sweden's Eriksson wins Petronas Rally Malaysia
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