High Attrition Rate on First Day of Felda Rally
Kuantan, Pahang, 3rd November, 2007 – There were plenty of casualties on the first day of Round 4 of the FELDA-AAM Malaysian Rally Championship 2007 (FAMRC) today.
Muhammad Siraj Abdul and co-driver Palanny Nadarajan had the fright of their lives when their Proton Satria Neo flipped onto its roof. The powerful Neo skidded off track on what was the most slippery surface in the longest and challenging Special Stage, SS2. Luckily neither was injured.
Ahmad Shafie Jalil in his Proton Wira and Japanese competitor Takeshi Azuma in the Proton Wira 4WD were also victims of the FELDA Lepar Hilir’s treacherous roads.
A surprise casualty was Kan Chee Hong and Arish Qutb Ahmad Khan in the Perodua Myvi who were placed second overall coming into this Round. They had their title hopes dashed when their car’s gear box broke and it is uncertain whether they will compete in tomorrow’s second leg. Even if they did, it will not add to their championship points as they will relegated to the ‘Super Rally’ category, which allows them to continue, but they cannot get a podium placing.
Joining the long list of DNF cars (did not finish) were Kan Chee Hong’s Perodua M5 Racing team mate Lim Leong Onn and Kamarul Anuar Mohd Razali who limped home after their engine overheated.
Disappointment and frustration was written all over their faces as all had hoped to at least finish the rally and not go home empty handed.
At press time, the top three leaders were Karamjit Singh and Jagdev Singh in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8, Benny Lautan and Edwin Nasution in the Proton PERT and, Nandakumar Puspanathan and Mohd Izwan Abdullah in the Perodua MyVi.
19 cars were officially flagged off by FELDA Chairman, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Yusof Noor at Mahkota Square in downtown Kuantan this afternoon.
At the flag-off Tan Sri Yusof Noor said that FELDA was proud to be the sponsor of the FAMRC and would continue to support the Rally in the years to come.
“The number of cars joining the Rally today exceeded our expectation. It just goes to show that sports and other attractions can be held during the Monsoon season and this is positive for the FELDA plantations and tourism on the East Coast of Malaysia,” he said.
Unofficial Results
1. Karamjit Singh/Jagdev Singh, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 01:27:01
2. Benny Lautan/Edwin Nasution, Proton PERT 01:32:33
3. Nandakumar Puspanathan/Mohd Izwan Abdullah, Perodua MyVi 01:36:08
4. Sutan Mustaffa Salihin/Ahmad Nadzri Ahmad, Proton Satria 01:37:54
5. Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya/Cheah Chii Keen, Proton Satri Neo 01:45:07
