World rated drivers to compete in Medan

JAKARTA (JP): World rated rally drivers including Kenneth Ericson of Sweden, Japan's Kenjiro Shinozuka and the Scot Dom Burkley have confirmed their entries in the Medan rally in North Sumatra from June 17 - 19.

Thirty-three drivers so far have registered. "Top national drivers are among those 33 participants already registered," a committee spokesman said.

The rally, the inaugural leg of the Asia-Pacific race, will be split into 28 Special Stages (SS), covering a total stretch of 139.95 kilometers.

Tony Hardianto and navigator Anthony Sarwono, who triumphed in the first series of the national championship rally early last month, will be driving a new Subaru Impreza.

Mitsubishi, which has dominated the domestic scene for the last few years, will have world-rated drivers Shinouzuka and Ericson in their camp along with top local talent. Both men will drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VR-4s.

Shinozuka, a regular participant in the Indonesian rally will be accompanied by navigator Britain's Fred Gocentas. Ericson's partner will be his long time co-driver Staffan Permander.

Ericson is expected to arrive here tomorrow after taking part in the Acropolis Rally which ends in Athens today.

He crashed out of the rally on Monday along with Collin McRae, on Subaru Impreza, who was disqualified for fixing a smashed windshield on the course. Ericson was involved in a separate accident on the course.

Officials disqualified McRae shortly after midnight for "unsporting behavior". He has no right of appeal.

The Automobile and Touring Club of Greece's Board of Stewards has reported the Scot to the Royal Automobile Club and the International Automobile Federation for unsporting conduct.

McRae, who had lost the lead to Subaru teammate Carlos Sainz, deliberately blocked the road for 20 minutes to replace a windscreen he claimed had been smashed by negligent officials.

The Asia-Pacific Rally Championship is the only annual sporting event fully sanctioned by FIA, the world automotive governing body, conducted on a circuit in the region.

After Medan, which is officially called the Bentoel Rally '94, the championship will move to New Zealand from July 28 through 31 for its second leg. Malaysia will host the third from Aug. 13 to 16 before moving to Australia from Sept. 16 to 19.

The 555 Hong Kong - Beijing Rally from Oct. 22 to 28 will be the fifth in the series before the final leg in Thailand, slated for Dec. 2 to 6. (rsl)