TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said that his administration was in the process of finding sponsors for Indonesian racer Rio Haryanto of the Manor Racing team.
“As much as Rp 150 billion (US$11.3 million) needs to be paid so Rio can continue to race this year. We will help to raise the fund,” Ganjar said when meeting Rio’s mother Penny Indahwati at his office on Wednesday, May 4, 2016.
Penny had expressed her concerns over the completion of Rio’s payment to the Manor racing team. Ganjar said that he had called State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Rini Soemarno and Youth and Sports Ministers Imam Nahrowi to discuss the matter. However, both ministers had not returned the calls yet. Ganjar then called a number of state-owned enterprises directors, including those of Garuda Indonesia, Pertamina and Bank Mandiri.
Ganjar revealed that he had urged the SOE directors to raise the fund for Rio.
“If an SOE can help with Rp 10 billion (US$760,000), then it only takes 15 SOEs [to raise the fund]. Therefore, it’s my job to escalate this matter to the SOE Minister,” Ganjar explained.
Earlier, Penny had asked the West Java Provincial administration to sponsor Rio in the 2016’s Formula One season.
“The Manor Racing team had notified that the payment must be completed in late May, otherwise they will replace Rio with another racer,” she said.
ANTARA