Motor rally: Quest to land WRC round begins
NST, 18/3/2008

AN improved campaign of six rounds and another cry for help from reigning champion Karamjit Singh are among efforts to spark a continued revival of the Felda Malaysian Rally Championship (MRC).

Launched by Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) chairman Tunku Datuk Mudzaffar Tunku Mustapha on Sunday night, the new season flags off in Bahau, Negri Sembilan next weekend fuelled by renewed vigour.

Organisers Wheel Sport Management (WSM) boldly signalled this year as the start of their quest to land a round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) by 2010.

"With the support that we're getting now it should be sufficient to develop the local rounds further and maintain the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) round," said WSM chief executive officer Tengku Shaharin Abu Bakar Tengku Suleiman.

"The local rounds this year will be improved and we'll be trying to create a carnival atmosphere at each venue to get more people interested. The next step is to move in for the WRC."

The big target would require a whopping RM30 million, but it is something that WSM feel will work out if it becomes a national agenda.

On the ground currently WSM and the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) will be working towards improving the development base, for which programmes will be announced soon.

At the top of the line, the 46-year-old Karamjit continues to seek a platform to return to competition on the international stage, this time hoping national car manufacturer Proton provides him with the required support.

"I know that Proton are developing a Satria Neo for the new Super 2000 (S2000) class of the WRC. I'm sure it would need to do some testing to develop the car first," said Karamjit.

"I hope to meet Proton soon to discuss whether I can test this car in the APRC rounds for that purpose."

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