Timor Rally a test before world rally

Timor Rally a test before world rally

JAKARTA (JP): The Timor National Rally Championship in Medan
in late March will be a testing ground for Indonesian drivers
racing in the world rally championship at the same spot two
months later.

Chairman of the Indonesian Autosports Association, Bob R.E.
Nasution, announced on Thursday that "the event is the right
arena for national rally drivers preparing for the world rally
because most of the special stages will be the same as those used
for the world championship."

The Timor rally, to be held on March 30 and March 31, will
feature 17 special stages running through plantations outside
Medan, the capital of North Sumatra. The rally will be split into
two legs for a total of 553.42 kilometers, including the special
292.84 km stage starting in Medan and heading southeast to the
small town of Prapat.

The world rally will take the same route except for two
special stages near Tarutung, south of Lake Toba, according to
rally director Poedio Oetojo. The Timor rally will not include
the two special stages because they are too far from Prapat,
Poedio said.

"But local drivers who wish to try the world rally route are
welcome to hit the two additional stages after or before the
race," he added.

Four teams had signed up for the rally by Thursday. They are
Hyundai, Ford, Mitsubishi and Timor Putra Nasional, which will be
the rally's lead sponsor. The Timor team has announced that it
will use 1,500cc sedans and 2,000cc jeeps made in South Korea.
(arf)