EXCITING
TIMES AHEAD FOR MALAYSIAN RALLY 2011
JOHOR
BAHRU - The days ahead at the Malaysian Rally 2011 which kick starts
in Johor Bahru on Friday, look exciting.
A crowd
of big names in rallying are gathered for the opening leg of the
Asia Pacific Rallying Championship (APRC) and also the first round
of the Malaysian Championship.
There
is Australia's Cody Crocker, the four time APRC overall winner driving
under the GSR Pennzoil Team in a Subaru Impreza.
There
is Katsu Taguchi of Japan, the defending champion of the Malaysian
leg of the APRC in his Mitsubishi Evo XI and there is the pride
of Proton, the Malaysia car manufacturer, represented by Alister
MacRae in the Proton Neo 2000.
Muhammad
Rafiq Udhaya, the defending Malaysian Rally champion in his Subaru
Impreza is just as eager to defend his title and so is Karamjit
Singh in a new Mitsubishi Evo , who is ready to make up for his
loss last season.
The
action starts on Friday with a Special Stage Race over a 2.5km purpose
built track at the Plaza Angsana before the real race begins at
the Tai Tak Estate in Kota Tinggi over the weekend.
"We
did a trial run over the circuit at the Tai Tak Estate and it is
a challenging one. I just cannot wait for the race to begin. "Rallying
is full of surprises and challenges. You never know what lies ahead
and lies next," said Karamjit of the GSR Pennzoil team who
finished second last season.
The
threat of Saladin Mazlan who is making a return to rallying after
a one-year absence, is seen as a challenge Muhammad Rafiq and Karamjit
cannot ignore.
Saladin
came in second to Karamjit overall in the 2009 season in a Proton
Satria but sponsorship issue and his love for polo has prompted
him to take a break last year.
"But
watch out for him. He is a talented driver," said his GSR Pennzoil
Team leader Gunaseelan Rajoo.
A total
of 35 entries from nine countries including China, India, Australia
and New Zealand, making it one of the largest gatherings of rally
entries in Malaysian soil, confirmed for the championship.
ends.
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