Karamjit rules Rally of Melaka at 64

PETALING JAYA: Karamjit Singh showed he still remains the one to beat after winning the Rally of Melaka despite being 64 years old.

Karamjit, who despite driving his 19-year-old Proton Gen2 4WD Turbo and assisted by co-driver Daveender Singh, finished the rally on the gravel surface that took place around the Felda Tun Ghaffar oil palm plantation in a total time of 1’08:32, beating his main rival in Malaysia for now, Haji Suttan Mustafa Salihin.

Haji Sutan, who drove a Subaru Impreza WRX GDB with his co-pilot Haji Kamarul Anuar Mohd Razali, finished the rally in second with a total time of 1’14:21.

The two drivers not only took first and second place overall, but were also in the same position in the Open and 4WD categories.

Third place in the Open and 4WD categories went to Mohd Khairul Nizam Yaacob with co-pilot Shahrol Zainal as they completed all the SS in 1’28:13.

This is the first time Khairul had finished the rally without any problems after switching from a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III to a unique Proton Iriz 4WD Turbo machine built by his team SuciMuci Motorsport.

Karamjit was pleased to take the win.

“It was a good start for us this season,” said the 2002 Production Car world champion.

“It was a tough rally for everyone, just finishing the rally itself was an achievement. We are grateful to the organisers for giving us a chance to once again compete.”