Date:11/07/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/07/11/stories/2003071100631900.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Possum will be missed

By Sanjay Rajan

ROTORUA (New Zealand) JULY 10. It is over two months since the demise of Possum Bourne. But the memory of the great rally driver still remains. The Hella Battery Town Rally of Rotorua, which is the second round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) for cars 2003, is probably the first big event in New Zealand since the passing away of the nation's favourite son, who was a sporting icon and a household name.

But then, as they say, the show must go on. Bourne's cherubic face will certainly be missed at the start on Friday (a ceremonial start was held on Thursday) the first day of the three-day rally, but his spirit will be there.

The 1077 kilometres event includes 16 special stages totalling 274 kilometres. The opening leg features only stages over closed public roads, including the famous Motu stage, which is split into two sections of 20 and 27 kilometres each with a 1.32 kilometre liaison section in between. The third stage _ Whakarau _ at 33 kilometres in the longest of the event.

Five of the six second leg stages are in the forests while four of the final leg's six stages are on closed gravel public roads.

Of the 42 cars taking part, only 12 are registered for the season's APRC. The others are contesting the NZ National championship that is to be run concurrently.

Karamjit Singh, a Malaysian of Indian origin, will start his title defence here. He said he missed the opening round in Canberra (Australia) due to budget problems and has made it here at very short notice.

Karamjit, who is also a World Rally Championship Group N winner, will be driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7 and not his usual souped-up Proton Pert. ``I got the green signal only last Wednesday and so could not transport my car. According to this year's APRC regulations, I need to participate in at least one of the two rounds in the Pacific region to be eligible for the championship (six rounds). We've hired a car from Recce Jones' team. The car is ok. There are, however, problems with the braking.''

Team MRF Tyres has fielded two Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7 cars in Group N. The Indian tyre giant did splendidly in Canberra with the German Armin Kremer (Fred Berssen) winning the APRC Group N and overall and Austrian David Doppelreiter (Ola Floene) finishing third in Group N.

Kremer is seeded third here behind Singh and defending APRC Group N champion Italian Nico

Caldarola respectively. Doppelreiter is 19th.

It rained the whole of Thursday here, threatening to make the route doubly challenging, especially the tight and twisty Motu stage where it had snowed (and subsequently cleared) a couple of days ago.

It is Kremer's first appearance in New Zealand. "The special stages are challenging, especially Motu. There are a couple of real fast stages in Leg Two. The route as such is tight and twisty. I'll certainly enjoy it and hope to finish leader again,'' he said.