Maharashtra [ Images ] Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal [ Images ] flagged-off the MRF India [ Images ] Rally 2003, the fifth round of the Asia Pacific three-day car rally championship (APRC) to be held at Pune from Friday.

Though the rally, with 11 cars manned by foreigners was flagged-off on Thursday, the actual race will commence tomorrow.

Australia [ Images ] and New Zealand [ Images ], who both enjoy an enviable track record of producing world class rally drivers, have a strong representation.

Karamjit Singh with co-driver Allen Oh Siew Sain of Malaysia and Nico Caldarola and co-driver Paolo Cecchini of Italy [ Images ] are also expected to do well.

Drivers from Malaysia, Australia, Germany [ Images ], Italy, Japan [ Images ], Norway and New Zealand are also in the fray in the three-day car race, to be run over 260 kms.

The India rally for INRC and rally Star Cup will also be held concurrently on December 6 and 7.

Indian interest in the APRC will revolve around the two team MRF Tyres entries, Armin Kremer and co-driver Fred Berssen of Germany and David Doppelreiter of Austria and his co-driver Ola Floence of Norway.