PRESS RELEASE

SALADIN WINS MRC ROUND 3

16th August, Kota Tinggi – Saladin Mazlan of the Felda Rally Team won the third Round of the Malaysian Rally Championship 2009 (MRC) here today in 3hr 39min 01sec.

The MRC was run concurrently with the FIA APRC MALAYSIAN RALLY 2009 (MR9).

Saladin started the day in the lead and drove a comfortable race to finish 2min 47sec ahead of Gunaseelan Rajoo of the GSR Pennzoil Racing Team. His Felda team mate Rozali Abdullah finished third in 3hr 47min 58sec. The win meant Saladin took home the trophies for both the 4WD and the P12 categories.

“We were fortunate to get a good lead over Guna yesterday because our rear disc broke in the second last SS today and we had to cruise to the end,” said Saladin. “We have learnt a lot and have improved the car in the last two events, so now the car is very strong. The Pennzoil team had better watch out from now on!” he laughed.

Guna said he tried to catch Saladin in the last few Stages but the gap was too wide. “We pushed harder towards the end but our focus was really to ensure we finished the rally and score points for the team,” he said.

First in the 2WD, P10 and Junior categories was privateer Faidzal Alang in 4hr 14min 18sec.

Faidzal said he lost his confidence at the end of Leg One and it carried into the early Stages of Leg Two but he managed to pick up his spirits and his pace again and finished on top. “This was the toughest rally I have ever competed in. It was a true Malaysian rally with the rain, slippery tricky stages and heat. It was very tiring and I found it difficult to keep my concentration. I am very, very happy that I finished so well,” he said.

Second place went to Hong Kong driver Clayton Check Kai Liang who also finished first in the P11 category.

Azmir Yusri Yusoff of the Felda Rally Team finished third and second in the Junior category.

The N4 trophy was awarded to Indian driver Arjun Rao who finished a strong fourth amongst the 4WDs.

The competitors completed sixteen Special Stages over 227.70kms in the oil-palm plantations of Kota Tinggi.