BANJARMASIN — Two young rally drivers from South Kalimantan (Kalsel), Muhammad Kholilul Rahman and Ahmad Sakha Rahim, have achieved remarkable success in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).
The duo—sons of the founder of the Haji Rihan Variza Racing Team (HRVRT-MAB)—delivered competitive performances and were recognized as top drivers at the North Sumatra Rally 2026, the third round of the FIA APRC.
Upon their return, the two young athletes from the region were welcomed by officials from the South Kalimantan chapter of the Indonesian Motor Association (IMI) at Syamsudin Noor International Airport, Banjarmasin, on Friday evening (August 14, 2026).
IMI South Kalimantan Chairman Edy Sudarmadi was present to welcome Kholilul and Sakha. He noted that their achievement is a source of pride for South Kalimantan, demonstrating their ability to compete in a prestigious Asia-Pacific level rally championship.
“Praise be to God, this is an extraordinary achievement. The APRC serves as a benchmark in rally championships, particularly in Indonesia. Muhammad and Ahmad have shown significant improvement,” said Edy.
According to him, this achievement proves that rally drivers from the region possess the capability to compete at the international level.
“This is certainly a source of pride for the people of South Kalimantan. I hope their achievements continue to grow and that more young racers emerge from the region,” he said.
Edy also emphasized the importance of holding regular competitions to enhance the experience and competitive mindset of young athletes before they face challenges at national and international levels.
“If rally events are held more frequently in South Kalimantan, it will certainly encourage others to participate. From there, new talents will emerge who can eventually elevate the region’s reputation to greater heights,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the founder of HRVRT-MAB expressed pride in seeing his two sons compete against the best rally drivers in the FIA APRC. “I would like to thank our friends at IMI—especially the IMI South Kalimantan Chairman, Mr. Edy, and everyone else who has shown their appreciation. Thankfully, the boys have managed to achieve success at the Asian level,” he said.
He affirmed that the development and training of his two sons would continue, ensuring their skills and experience mature as they face tougher competition.
“Hopefully, they can perform even better in the future. We will continue to provide support and guidance to ensure their abilities keep developing,” he stated.
Daffa Ibrahim
