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)