ARMED with a little injection from new sponsors, Karamjit Singh and Jagdev Singh have their eyes set on securing the Malaysian Rally Championship (MRC) overall title in the next round in Johor on Oct 11-12. If expectations were for the duo to look at the overall title in the Malaysian Rally 2008 (MR8), which is round five of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) which is held simultaneously during that round, it is not to be.

Karamjit-Jagdev will be present that weekend, but only as competitors in the local round. “It is not financially viable for us to compete at that level, to fork out the budget and on top of that not get any points for competing there, as the regulations have changed. “Even our car will not be on par, as the regulations for APRC have allowed a number of expensive upgrades for Group N-spec cars,” said Karamjit. “So, we will aim at just one objective, which is the national championship. I need only two more points to secure my 10th national title and that is what we’re going to look for.”

He was speaking after receiving a RM20,000 cash injection from new sponsors Fusion Excel International, who also provide Quantum Science alternative health products to the team. This is the first step towards building a budget sufficient to enable the GSR-Pennzoil Racing duo of Karamjit and Jagdev to compete in a full season of the APRC next year. That would require a budget of at least RM2 million, significantly more than the RM400,000 they need to compete in the MRC this year.

Source: New Straits Times