Asia’s most accomplished rally driver, Karamjit Singh, will be competing in next weekend’s (14 – 15 May) International Rally of Queensland (IROQ) after confirming his entry on the last day of registration. The multiple APRC Champion and Production World Rally Champion (PWRC), will be competing as a privateer (what….no Malaysian corporate sponsor for Malaysia’s top rally driver?) with Indian co-driver, Vivek Ponnusamy. Vivek is looking forward to being the first Indian national to co-drive in the APRC as well as the first to co-drive for a PWRC champion.
With private funding from close friends and family, Karamjit looks set to make a title assault in a CUSCO backed Proton Satria Neo 2WD. After opting to stay out of the first round at the Rally of Malaysia in April this year, Karamjit’s 2011 APRC campaign is now due to start at Rally of Queensland on 14-15 May. After a six year absence (Corporate Malaysia was busy playing with F1 sponsorship instead of putting Malaysia on the podium of the World Rally Championship arena with a proven driver) from the APRC, Karamjit is eager to get back to international rallying. Karamjit Singh: “I’m very happy to be able to rally at one of the APRC rounds this year. My aim is to be challenging for wins right from my first race”.
With only 5 more rounds to go in the championship this year, Karamjit is confident he will be able to attract strategic partnerships with government agencies as well as private companies to allow him the opportunity to rally at the remaining events and be crowned APRC champion in the 2WD category. As for next year’s challenge, Karamjit pointed out that if the necessary support comes in on time, there may be a possibility of making a full comeback in the APRC Group N 4WD category.
APRC 2011 CALENDAR 1 – 3 April Malaysian Rally
13 – 15 May Rally Queensland, Australia
17 – 19 June Rallye de Nouvelle Caledonie
15 – 17 July Rally of Whangarei, New Zealand
30 Sept – 2 Oct Rally Hokkaido, Japan
4 – 6 November China Rally
