WRS 4X4 Rally expects good response from Sabah, Brunei, S’wak
KOTA KINABALU: It looks set for this year’s Whiskey Radio Station (WRS) 4x4 Rally getting yet another good response from participants, which is scheduled for April 11-12 at the Yayasan Sabah vicinity (near the State Assembly Building).
Yayasan Sabah Director Datuk Haji Sapawi Ahmad, who is also WRS Patron has granted the organisers to use the 4-hector piece of empty land for them to stage the rally, which will be its 2nd edition after Beaufort last year.
WRS Four Wheel Drive Club president Thompson Teo said yesterday, they received the official approval from Yayasan Sabah and the blessing from Sapawi to stage the two-day rally.
He thanked Yayasan Sabah and Sapawi for their approval and support towards the event. Todate, they have so far received a total of 25 confirmations from Brunei, Sarawak and districts from all over Sabah.
Among those who have registered for the challenge are the defending champion of combined 4x4 hardcore team in Liew Siak Kiong (Sandakan) and Liew Fui Kong (Keningau) and all of last year’s top three finishers in Yap Swee Siong (KK) and Yap Soon King (Keningau).
For the first time, a lady competitor from Lawas, Sarawak Liaw Ching Fung @ Pong has also confirmed her participation in her 14 B-powered Land Cruiser (BJ40) and she seems to be the rose among the thorns in the fray.
Thompson said, Liaw is no stranger to off-road challenge as she had previously competed against the men in several offroad 4x4 events in Sabah and also in Sarawak and Brunei.
Apart from that, Brunei enthusiasts and avid 4x4 participants will also be in the fray to be headed by hardcore offroader Shamsudin Haji Zainuddin and Shafihie Shahbudin who will be among the four teams from the oil-rich Sultanate.
In addition, seven teams from Tawau, led by the Tawau Four Wheel Drive Club president Hanif Ahid @ Sky too have confirmed their entries and are expected to be in Kota Kinabalu with their vehicles three days before the start of the event.
“Since there will be no closing date for entries, the open event will be limited to 30-35 vehicles only and open to the early birds on a first-come-first-serve basis,” he said.
“I wish to remind participants that safety is their utmost priority and all drivers and co-drivers must adhere to all the safety requirements and the rules and regulations or else they would be disqualified.”
The entrance fee of each team, is set at RM380, with the champion receiving cash prize of RM3,000, RM2,000 and RM1,000 for the 2nd and 3rd placing respectively including lots of goodies to be given away.
Cash prizes and goodies will also be awarded to the 4th to 6th placing.
Thompson t hanked all the generous sponsors who have come in either in kind or cash in support of the event, which will see Petron oil company being their main sponsor.
He wished to remind all spectators to abide by their course marshals’ directive not to be near or on the rally tracks during the competition, and parents must at all times ensure the safety of their children and not to encroach into the tracks.
Sapawi is expected to officiate at the opening (flag-off) and they are trying to invite City Hall Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir to officiate at the closing and prize giving ceremony.