The road to Medan will vex the best
The road to Medan will vex the best
JAKARTA (JP): The battle for the top honor in the Rally of
Indonesia '95 is reaching its peak as world class drivers fully
backed-up by their giant car producers re-affirmed their
confidence in making the event their victory.
Famed for its turquoise seas, blue skies and the warm welcome
of its people, Indonesia plays host to the first round of the
Asia-Pacific Rally Championships.
Drivers and co-drivers, however, will have little chance to
sample the delights of the country, as they plunge deep into the
Sumatra countryside to hurtle over narrow, bumpy tracks at high
speed in their race for victory.
Indonesia holds many happy memories for those who eloquently
managed to claim themselves champions after such a grueling race
lasting no less than three days.
It was in this event here that Mitsubishi impressively won the
race from 1989 until 1992 before Possum Bourne, on a 555 Subaru
Impressa, stopped the marauding Team Mitsubishi Ralliart in 1993.
It was Kenneth Eriksson that scored a memorable victory of his
debut in Indonesia last year, in the Lancer Evolution II. Now,
for this week's race, armed with the latest Evolution III
version, he is confident of a competitive performance.
Other teammates joining Eriksson are veteran Kenziro Shinozuka
and Tommie Makanen.
The 555 Subaru World Rally Team needs to strive extra hard in
its bid to reclaim the title.
New Zealand's Bourne, first in position for last year's Asia-
Pacific Rally, after beating the opponents merely by one point.
He has predicted the July 7 to 9 race will be more heated up.
Ford Team is also showing a major interest, for the first
time, in winning the Asia-Pacific Championship. The team will be
headed by Finnish legendary rally driver Arie Vatanen, known as
the Desert Lion. He will be accompanied by mother of two
children, navigator Fabrizia Pons of Turin.
The constructor of world Championships, Toyota, is not
participating in the Medan rally, but has confirmed for New
Zealand (July 27-30) and Australia (Sept. 16-18) series. The
other countries to host the Asia-Pacific Championship are
Malaysia (Aug. 12-14), Hong Kong and China (Oct. 14-20) and
Thailand (Dec. 2 - 4). (rsl)