NOW FOR THE FINAL PUSH

23 October 2011, MELAKA - Karamjit Singh has put himself right in the hunt for the overall title in the Malaysian Rally Championship 2011.

A fine performance by the 48-year old Karamjit over the weekend at Round 3 of the championship in Tanjong Bidara, Melaka has put him within reach of the overall crown.

It is now only a two point gap separating him and the leader Muhamma Rafiq Udhaya as they head for the fourth and final showdown in two months time.

Karamjit for all his effort in Melaka over the weekend where he won on both days has 28 points now and Muhammad Rafiq finishing second best to Karamjit on both days, is still the overall leader on 30 points.

But for now Karamjit and co-driver Vivek Ponnusamy are the undisputed winner taking their Mitsubishi Lancer past everyone with ease. Even Muhammad Rafiq and his Subaru Impreza alongside Sean Gregory, who finished second,just could not handle the pace.

Karamjit's total winning time for the round was 1hr:53:19.7sec for the entire 125km race with Muhammad Rafiq coming in second on 2hrs: 06:53.9secs, a good 13 minutes behind.

Third overall was the young driver Kenneth Koh and Nicole Gill in their Proton Satria in 2hrs: 19:28.3secs.

The day had started brilliantly for Karamjit, just like the opening day on Saturday where he was in terrific form and just like Saturday, he was in total control from the start to the end.

"That's they joy of rallying. When everything goes your way and the car respond to your every touch, you know you are in for a comfortable drive. I am happy that I have won both rounds here in Malacca which has kept me in the hunt for the overall title.

"I have won the overall title a total of eleven times and I want to make it a dozen," said Karamjit.

A total of 25 cars took part in the rally and for the first time in the championship two environment friendly fueled cars took part in the race, a Daihatsu Tomaso and a Perodua Kelisa.

NOW WHO CAN STOP KARAMJIT

22 October 2011, MELAKA - Karamjit Singh was in no mood to be beaten as he steered his Mitsubishi Lancer to victory in the opening day of Round 3 of the Malaysian Rally Championship in Tanjung Bidara, Melaka yesterday.

The 48-year old Karamjit, was just too fast and too good for the 24-competitor field to finish Day one which cover a total distance of 72 kilometres, to take the winner's flag in style.

In fact he was brilliant and over the entire seven stages of the race which included a special stage of 2.41km held at the Masjid Tanah Industrial Estate, he never had any trouble at all to return a total time of 1 hr 02:28.8secs which is a good seven minute lead over the second placed Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya and his co-driver Sean Gregory.

There is another six stages to come on Day 2 on Sunday to complete the Melaka leg but on the strength of his performance on the opening day, Karamjit and his co-driver Vivek Ponnusamy, are headed for a brilliant finish to the round.

The pair, who are driving under the GSR Pennzoil banner are lying third overall behind leader and defending overall champion Muhammad Rafiq with a six-point gap but things could change when it's all over.

For now Muhammad Rafiq in his Subaru Impreza are still the overall leader but only just because their second placed finishing yesterday was just about enough to keep them in front.

Muhammad Rafiq and co-driver Sean Gregory clocked a total of 1hr: 10:03.1secs with third placed Mike and Maruthi Arokiasamy in a Proton Satria in 1hr 15:03.0secs.

It was clear Muhammad Rafiq was just contented to stay in the hunt and not try anything spectacular simply because he knows his chances are still wide open.

"It was a comfortable drive for me today. Even though the track conditions changes from stage to stage, I was in control of the situation. Another good race tomorrow and another good round in the final race next month and I could still end up champion," said Karamjit.

MRC DEBUT FOR FIRST MALAYSIAN ‘GREEN’ MOTORSPORTS TEAM

21 October 2011, MELAKA - Historical Melaka, which has also declared itself to be an environmentally friendly or commonly known these days as a ‘Green’ state, will create more content for its history books when two bio-fuel rally cars are flagged off at this weekend’s Malaysian Rally Championship (MRC) series which moves into its third round for the 2011 season.

Recently formed 1 Malaysia Wheelspin Green Motorsports team has, via a joint venture with existing teams, two cars which will be run on Bio-Diesel and Bio-Ethanol respectively. The first is a specially modified Proton Satria Gtdi rally car driven by Malaysia’s rally queen Gina Finanza of Ultra Racing motorsports and the other; a Bio-Ethanol powered Perodua Kelisa RS prepared by the students of Institute Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) under the guidance of former Junior rally champion Mohd. Shazly Farith Ilias who manages the IKBN Motorsports Team.

1 Malaysia Wheelspin Green Motorsports team is the brainchild of former rally driver and current grassroots motorsports event organiser Jagjeet Singh and is fast gaining support from various parties who see a need for Bio-Fuel powered cars in the future of motorsports in Malaysia as it means emitting less harmful gasses into the environment. “Bio-Fuel powered motorsport cars have been a regular sight in events around Europe for many years now and its time we do the same in Malaysia. What started as an uphill task for me has now become a reality thanks to supportive drivers, teams and the Malaysian motorsport fraternity in general” Said Jagjeet, adding “I chose the MRC to debut our bio-fueled cars because it was the first championship to include an alternative fuel category five years ago but sadly nobody competed in such cars. Now that I’ve brought two cars and possibly more for the 2012 season, hopefully the organizers will reintroduce the category to motivate more such entries”.

THE ACTION CONTINUES IN MALAKA

20 October 2011, MELAKA - Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya is ready to consolidate his grip on the Malaysian Rally Championship crown as he prepares for the third leg of the championship in Tanjung Bidara Malacca over the weekend.

He is the overall leader after two rounds of the championship-in Kangar and Johor Baru- with a total of 18 points and another encouraging round in Malacca would give him a serious shot at the overall title by the time the fourth and final round comes along next month.

In any case Muhammad Rariq and his co-driver Sean Gregory in their Subaru Impreza are the defending overall champion and in his own words, he is ready to defend his title.

But he admits he has got a fight on his hands. Karamjit Singh, the nine-time overall champion is still very much in the hunt even though he is on 12 points and lying third overall.

Karamjit will be behind the wheels of a Mitsubishi Lancer together with Indian driver Vivek Ponnusamy and their sterling performance in the second round in Kangar four months ago where they finished second, will give them the lift they need to challenge Muhammad Rafiq and company.

"I am still in the race for the overall title and I intend to keep pushing hard," said Karamjit who will be driving under the GSR Pennzoil banner.

For Muhammad Rafiq of the MRU Motorsports Team, the challenge to keep the crown will be a a hard fought one with plenty of twists and turns to come.

"Rallyinng is a tough sport. There are so many things to worry about. Your car, the road conditions and your performance on the day. But I have always maintain the philosophy that as long as you prepare your car well half your battle is won," said Muhammad Rafiq who had just returned from the Rally of Japan in Hokaido where he finished fifth in the Asia Cup category.

The 3rd round of the Malaysian Rally Championship will see a total of 29 entries with history in the making too. For the first time two environment friendly fuel cars- a Daihatsu Charade De Tomaso and a Perodua Kelisa- will be entered for the championship.

The two cars are the entrants provided by the Greensports Rally Team.

But some big names will be missing in Malacca too with Cody Crocker of Australia who won the second leg in Kangar and Japan's Katsu Taguchi, the former world rally championship participant not in the line-up.

"They have pulled out due to some sponsorship issues but looking at the field gathered for Malacca, there is enough big names to give the championship the boost and the recognition it deserves," said a championship spokesman.