MME 2006 IS AN OPEN AFFAIR

TEAMCAR - Defending champion Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel has declined the favoruites tag for this weekend's Petronas Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance 2006 (MME); saying that any team is capable of winning the endurance race.

Djan, who would be partnering Australian Damien French and Proton R3 collegue Faidzil Alang for Proton R3 Racing, said until half of the 12-hour race had been completed, no team could claim that they were in a better position than the others.

"We can only evaluate our position and the positions of the other teams after the sixth hour. Then, only we can make any realistic prediction," says Djan, who had his fair share of misfortunes in the MME that traced back to 2000.

Partnering former GT driver Genji Hashimoto and Australian Tony Riccirdello, Djan and the Amprex Motorsports Proton R3 Racing Team completed 279 laps in their modified Lotus Exige 300RR within the 12-hour period to taste his first ever victory in the event last year.

With a total entry of 87 cars, the teams and drivers would be going into qualification tomorrow with the knowledge of only 77 cars would be making the actual grid for the race.

The Petronas Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance 2006 would be flagged off by Malaysia Motorsports Commission Chairman Datuk Azman Yahya at 12.07am on Sunday, August 27.