The Hindu : MRF-India Rally from Dec. 5.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 08, 2003

Sport

Sport - Racing : Horse

MRF-India Rally from Dec. 5.

CHENNAI NOV. 7. Some of the top FIA-registered drivers in the Asia-Pacific region, including reigning overall champion Malaysia's Karamjit Singh, in a Group-A modified Proton Pert, and Japanese ace Fumio Nutahara, piloting a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7, have confirmed participation for the MRF-India Rally, the fifth and final round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) 2003, to be held in Mumbai/Pune from December 5 to 7.

Among the others who will be taking part are Team MRF Tyres' German driver Armin Kremer (Lancer Evo7) and Austrian David Doppelreiter (Lancer Evo7), Geof Argyle, the two-time New Zealand champion (in a Group-A Lancer Evo6), Italian Nico Caldarola, the defending Group-N champion (Lancer Evo7), Kiwi Andrew Hawkeswood (Group-A Mitsubishi Evo6), New Zealander Brian Green (Group-A Lancer Evo6), Japanese Katsuhiko Taguchi (Lancer Evo7), Italian Noberto Cangani (Lancer Evo7) and Australian Chris Atkinson (Group-A Suzuki Ignis Super 1600).

The focus, however, will be on Kremer (co-driver Fred Berssen) and his battles for honours in Group N (production cars) against Nutahara and in the overall against Argyle. Kremer, who won in Thailand recently for his third Group N title of the season, leads the standings in this category with 66 points, a clear 12 points ahead of second-placed Nutahara. In the overall, only four points separates Kremer from the leader Argyle (46 points).

Twelve containers, carrying rally cars, recce cars, service cars, equipments and spares, have already left the Bangkok port and are expected to reach Mumbai by the end of the month. The Indian round is being organised by the Himalayan Rally Association.

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