A total of four cars will be fielded in this weekend's third round of the MRC, which is also a round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).Â
Due to the prestige of this event, competition will be tough, and a total of at least 40 cars is expected to take the start ramp in Danga Bay, Johor, on Friday evening.Â
Heading the team's challenge will be eighteen year-old James Russell, who will pilot a Group A 4WD turbo Subaru Impreza STi.Â
James' co- driver is somewhat older, and will be returning to active competition after a six year layoff. Eido Osawa is better known for sitting alongside the likes of top Japanese competitor Toshi Arai, but has also helped the careers of several young drivers in his seventeen year rally career. The team is very grateful to Osawa-san for helping to coach its promising young driver.Â
Chasing James for overall points will be the well-known Malaysian duo of Mohd, Faizal Shamsuddin and Komar Johari. Faizal, who began driving in 1993, and has an MRC class win under his belt, will drive a Subaru Impreza WRC RA, entered in Group P. Hoping to contribute to the team's effort to retain the Team Championship award will be the brother and sister pairing of Jamaluddin and Rozita Tukimin in a Proton Satria, plus experienced Mohd Shazly along with novice Mohd. Fadzil in a Proton Wira.Â
Following the ceremonial flag off on Friday, the real action will take place on Saturday and Sunday, when crews tackle a total of fourteen arduous and challenging special stages throughout the southern part of Johor state.Â
For the first time, the Pennzoil team will be welcoming new supporting sponsor Fire Fighter Industry Sdn. Bhd. - one of Malaysia's leading fire fighting equipment producers.  Both motorsport and fire fighting are adrenaline-packed activities, and the team is glad to have Fire Fighter's support.Â
Following next weekend's event in Johor, the team will be back in action in November, for the final round of this year's Malaysian Rally Championship. Â
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