MUMBAI: Preparations for the last round of the FIA's (motorsports' world body) Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) 2003, the MRF India Rally, are hotting up.
 

For the rally, 12 containers have been delivered at the Bangkok ports. The containers, expected to reach Mumbai around 25 November, consist of 11 rally cars and other service cars, service equipment and spares. As reported earlier by indiantelevision.com, the event will kick off in Mumbai on 5 December. The rally will take place in Pune till 7 December. ESPN-Star Sports (ESS) will air a half-hour wrap-up of the event everyday.

The Mumbai/Pune round will be the fifth and the final round of the APRC. The earlier rounds were held at Canberra (Australia), Rotorua (New Zealand), Hokkaido (Japan) and Rayong (Thailand).

Among the FIA registered drivers who have confirmed participation in the MRF India Rally are last year's WRC (production cars) champion Karamjit Singh (Malaysia); last year's overall APRC 2002 Champion Geoff Argyle; twice New Zealand Rally Champion (1998/1999) Nico Caldarola, and 2001 European Rally Champion and German Rally Champion in 1996,1998 and 1999 Andrew Hawkeswood.

A few more drivers from Indonesia and Malaysia are expected to take part in the MRF India Rally 2003.