July - August 2024

IVAL

G FEST N I C A R AN

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INDIA’S FIRST AND ONLY MOTORSPORTS& OFF-ROAD MAGAZINE

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ST 2 JULY / AUGU

RPPL brings e High-Octan action for fans to U BENGALUR

MRF 2W INRC

Back to back wins for

Tanveer Rajendra

reclaims glory

KARNA - MUSA taste sweet victory in Nashik

GAURAV GILL in Rally of Otago KARTING

INRC 4W

DRAG NATIONALS

MUDDAPPA begins season with a grand double

+

AKSHAT, NIKHILESH and RIVAAN EXCEL

ATMA ‘23

MRF 2W RACING

+KTM RC CUP

Winners Rahil Pillarisetty, Ann Jennifer, Adam Feroze set for Austria stint

FEATURE

BADAL DOSHI 30 Years of success

INTERNATIONAL

Indians eye honours at RAAT Thailand Natl Rally

TVS YMRP 8.0

Stunning show by young Sarthak Chavan

Media training & selection concludes

FEATURE

Powering ahead India’s EV Mission

EDITORIAL / IMPRINT

Hi,

Our New Look.

AUTO TRACK is on a new track...

T

he highlight of this year will be India's first documentary series on Indian Motorsports history “Breaking the Barriers – India's Race to Glory” on big screen. The Chapter 1 of the total 4 chapters, as of now, was on big screen in Mumbai and it is expected to spread across most of the metros.

While the fmsci calendar has many Nationals at the midway­stage of their championships, the just­ allotted Sprint Championship also began its regional rounds. The TSD championship and JK Racing Championship are expected to begin shortly. Meanwhile, the MRF MoGrip National Rally Championship for 2­ wheelers, will be the first to finish its five rounds in July. Coimbatore Auto Sports Club (CASC) shall host two back­to­back events in the span of two weeks. MRF 2w Rally Nationals' concluding round comes first and the third round of the Blueband Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 4W will be held the following fortnight.

With the change of guard at fmsci due to happen in September, hectic activity is already underway with key aspirants out to garner support.

With hardly two weeks to go for the RFC India round in Goa, rain has already created havoc and it looks set to be the wettest event so far.

Likewise, the upcoming Monsoon Scooter Rally to be held in Nashik is also expected to give the forgotten feel of monsoon this season as the stages are receiving heavy rainfall.

Shortly the two leagues, the Indian Racing League and the Indian Supercross Racing League, are yet to announce the complete dates and venues. Fans eagerly await to know the number of rounds and all eyes will be on the street circuit in Chennai.

S. ASHOK KUMAR TIWARI Editor M: +91­9845296190 autotrack.editor@gmail.com

IMPRINT

Editor S. Ashok Kumar Tiwari Concept and Design: S. Ashok Kumar Tiwari

Staff Photographers: Noorulla, KeshavaMurthy Managing Editor: Roopa A. Tiwari Sr. Correspondent: S. Nithyanand

Correspondent: K. Manjunath Ghanshyam A Tiwari Gokul

Spl. Correspondent: David Bodapati Western Region: autotrack.west@gmail.com Mob: 09757176958

Editorial Office:

Auto Track 7/3-1, Lalitha Engineering Building, Subbanna Garden Main Road, Vijayanagar, Bangalore-40 autotrack.editor@gmail.com www.autotrack.ind.in For Subscription, contact: 9845296190

For Advertisement, E: ashok.autotrack@gmail.com The Publisher makes every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are accurate. However, he accepts no responsibility of any effects arising therefrom. Printed at Raj Hans Enterprises, Rajajinagar Industrial Town, Bangalore-560044.

Published by S. Ashok Kumar Tiwari At # 7/3-1, Lalitha Engineering Building, Subbanna Garden Main Road, Vijayanagar, Bangalore - 560040

O1 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

VOLUME 16, ISSUE 5

CONTENTS July / August 2024

39

NEW DELHI

06

TVS Young Media riders Training : 03

Valley Run Drag : 05

Indian Racing Festival, Bengaluru : 06

MRF Rally of Hyderabad : 12

MRF Rally of Bengaluru : 16

BlueBand Rally of Maharashtra : 20 EV Revolution : 26

20 08

51: MRF Rally of Nashik

National MRF 2W Racing : 32

54: Auto Track Motorsports Awards 56: KTM RC Cup

Nationals MRF 4W Racing, R-2 : 36

MECO National Karting R1 : 39

12 12

48 58

O2 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

22 64

42: Indian Supercross Racing League - Finale 46: MRF Rally of Chikmagaluru

Badal Doshi Advertorial : 28

JK Tyre Womens Rally : 40

24 62

40 20

56 16

32 44

58: International Rally 60: Mysuru Autocross

62: Himalayan Cycling

YOUNG MEDIA RACER PROGRAM, CHENNAI programme has enhanced the racing skills of more than 200 journalists, some of whom are now taking part in several racing formats. Creating benchmarks in safety for its racers, first time in India, TVS Racing introduced Alpinestars Air bags Tech Air 5 and FIM homologated helmets, as used by MotoGP racers, for the participants of TVS YMRP

TVS Racing media racers programme 8.0 attracts young journalists Selection round for eighth edition concludes at MIC successfully

N

urturing racing talent since 1982, TVS Racing returned with its eighth edition of TVS Young Media Racer Programme (YMRP) at Madras International Circuit (MIC). The selection round for the category successfully wrapped up with fastest 16 racers representing young journalists from across the country. Since 2017, this programme has been pivotal in nurturing racing talent, reflecting TVS Racing's dedication to promote motorsport in India and training young media enthusiasts passionate about racing.

Few key highlights are, TVS YMRP offers young racers a platform to experience the thrill of racing in a safe environment and compete for the prestige's TVS One Make Championship which run alongside Indian National Motorcycle Championship. Fastest 16 riders from 39 participants raced to become this season's racers.

TVS Racing training academy Level­1 programme included full­day rigorous training covering theory and practical sessions trained by the TVS Racing champions. Fastest 16 racers will compete for the

prestigious TVS India One Make Championship Young media programme category, which is run alongside Indian National Motorcycle Championship. The selected racers will ride the race­ spec TVS Apache RTR 200 4V in media class. Over the years, the

Vimal Sumbly, Head Business – Premium said: “TVS Motor Company with a racing legacy of over four decades, has played a crucial role in democratising motorsports in India and is dedicated to fostering talent on a global scale. Positioned at the forefront, TVSM consistently strives to support and nurture young racers, making racing more inclusive. TVS YMRP offers specialised training to media enthusiasts with a passion for racing, becoming a highly­anticipated event among media professionals who share enthusiasm for the sport. Witnessing the participants' enthusiasm and dedication during the selection round is truly inspiring. We wish all the riders the best of luck this season.”

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 03

1. Karting becoming more and more competitive

KRISHNA SINGH UTTARAKHAND UTTAM KUMAR KARNATAKA SURESH DELHI

Yes, this season has witnessed a surge in the number of participants and also increase in team count. With the competition reaching next level, more kids are coming into the sport and the kind of speeds they carry is a matter of pride to observe. Three new circuits for karting are almost ready and awaiting official clearances.

Once the National level karting circuits start functioning, it would be a boost for karters from South India. But there is an urgent need for similar tracks across other parts of India. Next season, almost three southern states with tracks in Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore and Hyderabad can be utilised for the championship.

2. Upcoming tracks for the next season

With the return of N Chandra Babu Naidu as Chief Minister of

Andhra Pradesh for the third time, it might be a boon for Motorsports and an F1 track, his brainchild of yesteryears, might reignite. The racing track in Andhra Pradesh which is out of news since many years, might be back in news for a good reason. The track which was receiving marginal funds from the Government had little impact and the funds were inadequate.

With the new Government enjoying full majority, let's see if the idea resurfaces in the days to come. The Bengaluru track by Bren's Garage is also heading for the final showdown and must be finding itself ready by next year's calendar. The Pune's track might be ready by the end of next year or so. Once this is ready, it shall be the first racing track in Western India.

3. Rain fury in most of the coastal parts of India

Monsoon has been in full swing across the coastal line of India and it brings in it wake a lot of hardship for the residents which is a matter of worry. But as of now, no motorsports events are lined up in this geography. The only event to come up on the coastal line, the RFC, does need plenty of rain. That will give a real feel of RFC. It should not be to the extent of causing inconvenience to people, though. But if moderate rains continue for another three weeks, we can witness a very Slippery, Technical and Challenging track.

DRAG VALLEY RUN, MAHARASHTRA

Hemanth Muddappa

begins season with a grand double

Huge participation marks the well-conducted Amby Valley even

M

ultiple­national champion Hemanth Muddappa of Mantra Racing began the season with a bang winning a grand double at the summer edition of the Valley Run 2024, which concluded at Amby Valley with a huge participation from all over the country.

Bengaluru's Muddappa was also adjudged as the fastest rider of the day.

The fmsci event was scheduled to run concurrently with the first round of the Nationals, but the MMSC Nationals was postponed, and the organisers Elite Octane and Sportscraft successfully completed the annual 2024 edition.

Muddappa, the 12­time National

champion from Bengaluru, punched above his weight, as he won the Unrestricted class with a 1000cc stock bike, the BMW S1000RRR, and still managed to set a National record of 09.480 seconds for a 1000cc category bike against the mighty line of up of Nitrous Oxide, turbo and supercharged bikes. He edged out seasoned rider Mohammed Riyaz from Hyderabad to second place, continuing their epic battles at the National level.

helping me cut enough weight for the race day,” said Muddappa. In the four stroke 851 to 1050cc Open class, Muddappa clocked 09.692 to take the second gold ahead of Dr Riddhiish Patil of Mumbai but

had to be content with a second place in the third category he took part. Astride a Dayatona, Riyaz, won the 4­stroke 551 upto 850cc Open class in 10.421 seconds, to push Muddappa's Kawasaki Ninja 6R to second.

“Amazing race against all odds and we at Mantra Racing did it once again. A big thank you to champion architect Sharan Jayaram (tuner) and all the team at Mantra. We nailed it. A special thanks to Appu Raj and super credit to my coach JMI Haly for

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 05

The thrilling showrun, dubbed as Formula^Bengaluru, attracts huge response

Flag off by K Govindaraj, Karnataka MLC and President FIBA Asia and President KOA. O6 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

IRF SHOW RUN, BENGALURU

Indian Racing Festival brings high-octane action to Bengaluru

After the resounding success of the first show­run of the Indian Racing Festival (IRF) at the picturesque Dal Lake in Srinagar, Racing Promotions Private Limited, India's premier motorsports management enterprise, in collaboration with JK Tyre, recently concluded the highly­anticipated IRF Show Run in the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru. It was backed by Mobil 1.

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 07

the world and the country. It has provided the first step of the ladder to Formula 1. It has created an opportunity for young drivers in their single­ seater journey to gain Super License points.

IRF's unwavering commitment to advancing motorsport in India has been instrumental in re­ shaping the landscape of the sport. With a steadfast ethos centred around nurturing talent, promoting diversity, and delivering unparalleled excitement, IRF has inspired a new generation of racers and enthusiasts across the nation. By introducing innovative formats, fostering strategic partnerships, and providing a platform for emerging talent, IRL has played a pivotal role in putting Indian motorsport on the map.

H

eld in the heart of the city on Karnataka Trade Promotion Organisation (KPTO) Main Road, Whitefield, the event, dubbed as Formula Bengaluru, not only delivered on its promise of providing a thrilling spectacle for motorsport enthusiasts but also celebrated the remarkable journey of the Indian Racing League (IRL) and Formula 4 Indian Championship (F4IC) in elevating motorsport within India.

IRL has emerged as a beacon of innovation and excellence in Indian motorsport. The league embarked on a transformative journey aimed at fostering the talent of Indian youth and showcasing their prowess on the global stage. Last year's edition of the IRL featured 12 Indian drivers and 12 international drivers, including 6 international women participants.

The show­run was flagged off by K Govindaraj, Karnataka MLC and President FIBA Asia and President KOA.

Formula 4 Indian Championship is an FIA­certified championship and has begun to attract young and aspiring drivers from around O8 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

For the eagerly anticipated show­run, RRPL curated an exhilarating line­up of vehicles and drivers, set to captivate audiences in the Garden City.

The event was a roaring success, with the crowd going berserk over the captivating, action­ packed show. Attendees could look forward to witnessing the awe­inspiring IRL car in action,

IRF SHOW RUN, BENGALURU

driven by their city's talented 23­ year Sohil Shah. Joining him on the track was the FIA­Formula 4 (F4) car, piloted by 17­year Bengaluru boy Rishon Rajeev.

The event highlighted JK Tyre's legacy as the frontrunners in offering fans an exhilarating

glimpse into various motorsport categories that the company has helped develop. Spectators were thrilled by captivating drift shows featuring India's drifting champion, Sanam Sekhon from Chandigarh, who performed skilful manoeuvres in his Lexus

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 09

120 km/hr, delivering excitement that transcended the tarmac.

Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman, Racing Promotions Private Limited, said: “Since its inception, RPPL has tirelessly worked to nurture the talent of Indian youth in motorsport. We firmly believe in the prowess and determination of India's young generation to excel in this sport.

This show­run serves as a testament to our unwavering dedication to expanding the horizons of motorsport in India and preparing our drivers for the global stage. We were thrilled to bring the adrenaline­pumping action of IRF to the vibrant city of Bengaluru, reaffirming our commitment to promoting

car. Superbike daredevils from Coimbatore and Bengaluru showcased the seamless synergy between man and machine, while adrenaline­pumping displays on four wheels were led

by India's rally veteran, Hari Singh as the super bikers from Coimbatore and Bengaluru showcased some daredevilry on two­wheels. However, the true showstoppers were the 10­year­ old karting prodigies from Delhi, Pune and Mumbai who pushed the limits at breakneck speeds of 1O autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

motorsport excellence in India and delivering unforgettable experiences to fans."

Srinivasu Allaphan, Director­Sales & Marketing, JK­Tyre and industries, said: “Being at the forefront of promoting and packaging all verticals of motorsport and nurturing talent across the country for over four decades, we at JK Tyre are delighted of our association with RPPL, driving together the future of Indian motorsports forward."

The event was backed by Mobil 1 without whose contribution the show­run would not have been possible.

The roadshow not only delighted local spectators with a taste of professional motorsport but also celebrated Mobil 1™'s 50 years of innovation and leadership in synthetic motor oils, highlighting its ongoing contributions to automotive and industrial advancements in India. While the Bengaluru roadshow witnessed the debut of the golden Mobil1™ emblem for 50

years, the brand plans to feature a series of specially designed liveries and other highlights from Mobil 1™'s extensive racing history, celebrating its legacy.

4W RALLY IRF NATIONALS, SHOW RUN, BENGALURU R-2, NASHIK

"The Mobil 1™ brand's journey through the last 50 years is a testament to ExxonMobil's ability to push boundaries and become the trusted choice of leading automakers, professional racers, and millions of drivers worldwide. The Mobil 1™­RPPL show run is not just an event; it's a celebration of the spirit of motorsports. By bringing the action right to the city streets, we aim to bring to the fans an up­close and personal experience of the world of racing. This event marks a significant milestone in our ongoing collaboration with RPPL, a key player in advancing motorsports in India with our partnership significantly contributing to the growing enthusiasm and support for motorsports nationwide”, said Vipin Rana, CEO ExxonMobil Lubricants Pvt. Ltd.

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 00 11

12 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

TVS Racing's Rajendra reclaims glory

2W NATIONAL RALLY, R4, HYDERABAD

time of 35min 22sec. The former National champion had wrist issues and it was his first win after the surgery. His TVS teammates dominated the podium with Samuel Jacob taking second 25sec behind and the championship leader, Abdul Wahid Tanveer, took another 8 seconds to come third.

PHOTO BY: AVINASH SN / ASHISH JOSHUA

Arun T from Hero Motosports with a further 8­sec difference missed the podium. Imran Pasha and Sachin D, also from TVS Racing, competing in their 260cc class managed to finish overall fifth and sixth. Yuva Kumar from Hero Motosports finished seventh, adrift by 3 seconds as he was logged a a 10­sec transport penalty. Banteilang Jyrwa was 10­sec behind him to finish in eighth while Nataraj R, supported by VM Sports Foundation, and Asad Khan from Chikkamagaluru finished in ninth and tenth positions respectively.

Rajendra RE from TVS Racing came out triumphant winning in a total

All the four riders in Pro­Expert Group A were from TVS Racing.

Rajendra RE managed to keep his teammate Samuel Jacob behind him in second with a difference of 25sec, Abdul Wahid Tanveer with a further 8sec difference finished third, while lady rider Aishwarya Pissay

Aishwarya Pissay at the Ceremonial start

Stars return to podium in the MRF Rally of Hyderabad; Tanika wins Ladies class

R

ajendra who is recovering after surgery looked much more stable than in the previous round and comfortably won the MRF Rally of Hyderabad, the fourth round of the MRF Mogrip FMSCI National Rally championship for two­wheelers 2024. The 2W Nationals are promoted by Godspeed Racing and the event was held at Mominpet, about 70 kms from Hyderabad city. The 20­km newly­ created stage was supposed to be run thrice, but due to time constraints it was concluded after two runs. About 66 participants were in the fray.

Pro­Expert Group A

finished fourth.

Expert Group A

Defending champion and championship leader Nataraj R who is supported by VM Sports Foundation won the class with a 21­second lead. He also re­ claimed the championship lead from Asad Khan of Chikkamagaluru, who finished behind him in second.

Bengalurians GS Amogh Nag came third another 33sec behind while Kousthubha M finished fourth.

Super Sport 165 Group B

Bengalurians held the key in Super Sport 165cc Group B class, as Varun Kumar topped with a total time of 39min 42sec and Yogesh P came second 27­sec behind. Yogesh had one second lead on Bharath and in the second run but he managed to extend it after clocking 15­sec better time which put Bharath L in third. With 16­sec difference Bharath was content with a third place as he could not improve his own timing. Abdul Rehman from Shivamogga and Ramesh Balaji from Bengaluru finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Super Sport 260 Group B

Arun T from Hero Motosports was not at his best in the first run but put up great efforts to

Winners Group Photograph JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 13

improve his own timing by 14sec thereafter and grabbed the top spot. Imran Pasha from TVS Racing was unable to capitalise on his initial lead as his lost 18­ sec in the second run, and with 19­sec difference, he settled for second. Sachin D from TVS Racing with another 1im 4sec behind came third.

Mohammed Arshad winner Class 9

Yuva Kumar from Hero Motosports and Banteilang Jyrwa from TVS Racing finished in fourth and fifth positions respectively. Privateer Jeevarathinam J came sixth.

Super Sport 400 Group B

Suhail Ahmed winner Class 6

Nataraj R winner Class 2 14 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

Donesh Joshi from Panchgani won the Super Sport 400cc Group B class with a 14­sec lead on the championship leader Rajesh Swami from Raigad.

Hemanth Gowda M from Bengaluru with 1min 2sec difference held on to the podium in third. Veteran rider from Coimbatore Venu Ramesh Kumar was fourth.

Super Sport 550 Group B

Bengaluru boys dominated the podium in the Super Sport 550cc Group B class. Suhail Ahmed defeated Mohammed Zaheer by 1min 32sec and Naresh VS took third another 1min 18sec behind. Suhas SS finished fourth.

Sharath Kumar who was running third till the first stage, had to pull out in the second stage as his radiator pipe damaged due to a rock hit.

Scooter upto 210cc Group B

Karthik N and his teammates from TVS Racing shared the podium in the Scooter class.

Karthik won with a lead of 38 seconds. Shamim Khan finished second and defending champion Syed Asif Ali was third, another 9 sec behind. Goutham N, a privateer from Bengaluru, finished fourth.

Women’s class Group B

Tanika Shanbhag from Hero Motosports reclaimed her championship lead after a DNF

2W NATIONAL RALLY, R4, HYDERABAD

Overall winners of Rally of Hyderabad in previous event. She won with a handsome lead of 3min 7sec on Pune rider Tanaya Singh.

Super Stock upto 450cc Group D

Mohammed Arshad from Thrissur won the class clocking 40min 51sec. Bengalurian Subramanya T lost by less than a second and had to settle for second position. Uday Kumar M from Coimbatore completed the podium another 5 seconds behind. Shivam Thakur from Kullu with a further 1min 14sec

Anuj Sidhu winner of Class 10

difference was fourth and Goutham Rao from Bengaluru came fifth another 1min 30sec behind.

Star of Hyderabad

Anuj Siddu became the Star of Hyderabad, winning the local class. Mohammed Wajid Ali finished second with a 20­sec difference. Manishreddy Kuppi Reddy came third another 27­ sec in deficit. Mohammed Amanatullah finished fourth and Khalid Banafe was fifth.

Tanika Shanbhag winner Ladies Class

Karthik N winner ­ Scooter Class JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 15

Back-to-back wins for Abdul Wahid Tanve TVS romps home in all the classes it took part

PHOTO BY: GHANSHYAM A TIWARI

T

anveer continues his winning spree, as he won the MRF Rally de Bengaluru, the Round­3 of the MRF Mogrip FMSCI 2W National Rally Championship 2024 promoted by Godspeed held at Tribal Adventure on the outskirts of Bengaluru on May 12.

With nearly 90 participants in fray, in the back­to­back event held after Round 2 in Chikkamgaluru the previous Sunday (May 5), the two stages of 10.8 km and 9.35 km long were run thrice each. While the Tribal stage was purely dirt, the second stage, Kaadu, was a mix of dirt and broken tarmac.

It was once again the TVS Racing riders who finished in the top­five overall rankings. Abdul Wahid Tanveer won with a lead of 27 sec over teammate Rajendra RE while Samuel Jacob, also from Petronas TVS Racing, came third with a 44­sec deficit. Another TVS star Imran Pasha this time looked much­more confident than in the previous round 16 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

while riding in a much­lower 260cc class but missed the podium with a margin of 1min 40sec. Banteilang Jyrwa followed Imran in fifth position with a deficit of another 11 seconds.

Hero MotoSports rider Arun T of

Hassan settled for sixth with a difference of another 14 seconds. Two riders from Expert Group A privateer Asad Khan from Chikkamagaluru, with 11­ sec difference finished seventh while Mysuru­based Nataraj R

2W NATIONAL RALLY­R3, BENGALURU

eer

from VM Sports Foundation finished eighth with just over 2­ sec difference to his previous rider. Karan Kumar from Hero Motosports and privateer Santosh Vishnoi from Gurugram finished in ninth and tenth

positions respectively.

Pro­Expert Group A: All the four riders in this class were from Petronas TVS Racing. Defending Champion Tanveer topped the class followed by Rajendra RE in second. Samuel Jacob finished

third and the lone lady rider participating in this class, Aishwarya Pissay, came fourth.

Expert Group A: Asad Khan, a privateer from Chikkamagaluru, clinched the class for the second time in a row. He managed to pip

the defending champion Nataraj R from VM Sports Foundation by over two seconds. Amogh Nag, another privateer from Bengaluru, managed to hold on to the podium in third place with a difference of 3min 18sec.

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 17

from Hero MotoSports despite being the fastest in the fifth stage completed the podium in third some 14sec behind.

His teammate Karan Kumar, survived a crash and made a comeback with a difference of 1min 3sec in fourth. Santosh Vishnoi from Gurugram was 1min 03sec behind to settle for fifth while Sanjay Somashekar from Bengaluru came sixth.

Asad Khan winner Class 2

Koousthubha M from Benagluru was 2min 08sec behind in fourth.

Ishitha Gupta, a lady competitor from Mumbai, came fifth.

Super Sport 165 Group B: Abdul Raheman from Shivamogga was the fastest in two out of six stages and won the Super Sport 165cc Group B class with a total time of 1:07.56.

Bengaluru's Yogesh P clocked the fastest timing in three stages and with a mere 150th of a second difference lost out on the top spot and settled for second.

Varun Kumar A, also from Bengaluru, was fastest in one of the stages but was unable to keep up with a difference of 1min 04sec and finished third. Bharath L from Bengaluru was behind by 1min 03sec to take fourth.

Darpan Darshan from Shivamogga came fifth and Goan Aditya Samant finished sixth.

Super Sport 260 Group B: Imran Pasha from TVS Racing who earlier looked a bit out of focus, was back in command by dominating the first three stages in the class. He won with a total time of 1:02.21 while his teammate Banteilang Jyrwa was dominant in two stages and with 10­sec difference settled for second. Tumkuru­based Arun T 18 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

Abdul Raheman winner Class 3

Tanaya Singh winner Ladies Class

Shivam Thakur winner Class 9

Super Sport 400 Group B: Rajesh Swami from Raigad continued to dominate the 400cc class after winning the previous round at Chikkamagaluru. He managed to hold on to it with a lead of 1min 21sec over the second finisher Donesh Deepak Joshi from Panchgani. Hemanth Gowda from Bengaluru despite 1min 10sec liaison penalty managed to hold on to the podium in third with a difference of 3min 14sec.

Seasoned rider V Venu Ramesh Kumar from Kovai lost about 33sec in Stage 5 and with a difference of 27sec slid down from podium position and came fourth. M Rajesh Kumar from Bengaluru was fifth.

Super Sport 550 Group B: Bengalurians dominated and swept the podium in the Super Sport 550cc Group B class.

Suhail Ahmed made a winning comeback with a total time of 1:08.08 while compatriot Mohammed Zaheer fell short by 1min 03sec to finish second.

Sharath Kumar S completed the podium with a 4­min 12­sec difference. Darshan Ghansham Chaure from Nashik another 5min 02sec behind was fourth and Suhas SS from Bengaluru came in fifth. Naresh had to pull out midway due to injury, after a crash.

Scooter class upto 210 Group B: It was a back­to­back win for the defending champion Asif Ali from TVS Racing. He managed to hold on to the top slot with a lead of 34sec over his teammate and second position finisher Karthik N. Shamim Khan, also from TVS Racing, was third with a 2­min 4­ sec deficit.

2W NATIONAL RALLY­R3, BENGALURU

Imran Pasha winner Class 4

Suhail Ahmed winner Class 6

Rajesh Swami winner Class 5 Nareash VS at the Ceremonial Flag off

Womens class Group B: With the pull out of championship leader and defending champion Tanika Shanbahag of Hero MotSports in the very first stage due to a mechanical problem, the command was totally with privateer Tanaya Singh from Pune who won with a lead of 5min 06sec difference over the second placed New Delhi rider Somyya Chaudhary.

Super Stock upto 450cc Group D: Shivam Thakur from Kullu was the winner with a lead of 18sec over Bengalurian Subramanya T. Thrissur rider Mohammed Arshad with a difference of 21sec came third. While the next three

participants finished in the same second, Prithvi Dhillon from Chandigarh was 1min 20sec behind in fourth. Ankur Saikia from Tinsukia was less than 0.022th of a second in fifth and Uday Kumar from Kovai with 400 th of a second difference finished sixth.

Star of Karnataka: Abrar Ahmed from Mysuru was the winner of the class while all the remaining in top five were from Bengaluru. Akash R finished second and Mohammed Arif came third. Yogesh Kumar was fourth while Mohammad Salaluddin came fifth with Mahesh Raju N taking sixth.

Scooter class winner Syed Asif Ali Abrar Ahmed winner Class 10

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 19

Karna Kadur­Musa Sherif taste sweet victory in INRC

2O autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

4W RALLY NATIONALS, R-2, NASHIK

A round of National 4W rally returns to Nashik after 8 years PHOTO BY: SRINIVASA KRISHNANA / GHANSHYAM A TIWARI

T

he cool­headed pair of Karna Kadur and Musa Sherif cruised to a sweet victory in the BlueBand Sports Rally of Maharashtra as the 4­ wheeler rally returned to Nashik after a gap of eight years. It was the Round 2 of the BlueBand fmsci Indian National Rally Championship 2024 (INRC).

All the stages were held on the foothills of the picturesque Sahayadri hill ranges. The three stages, Amboli, Dandwal and Poshera, were run twice each. As per the competitors, the 22.25­ km Dandwal stage was the longest and most challenging with tricky and punishing terrain

and the crew and machines were put to the highest test amidst scorching heat. The roaring rally cars brought back the charm on the faces of Nashik fans as Blue Band Sports was instrumental in bringing back the lost and forgotten venues back into the INRC calendar which in itself is a great achievement. The Holy place of Trimbakeshwar, which has one of the 12 Jyotirlingas was the hosting city. There were 53 cars taking part in the five classes.

Day One

Day 1 had a 2.1­km tarmac on the menu run within the private property of Grape County and

some of it was broken tarmac, making the run more challenging.

Backed by JK Tyre, the Delhi daredevil and 7­time INRC overall Champion was in limelight, as usual. The three­ time APRC winner and Arjuna Awardee Gaurav Gill has been going through a difficult period for want of a well­prepared machine, and has been partnering with a new co­driver in Aniruddha Rangnekar from Pune. With his imported left­ hand drive Ford, he was roaring in one of his favourite destinations on tarmac and showed glimpses of his prowess

Overall winners JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 21

the next driver Philippos Matthai had no clue and the blocked car came into sight only after he entered the corner. He managed to avoid the stationed vehicle but slid into the ditch albeit without damaging his car much.

Thus the stage was red flagged and the remaining cars were guided in a convoy to the next stage.

Arjun Rao pulled out in the very next stage as the over­torqued wheel bolts sheared off. Fabid A hm er and Mi l en G eorge, supported by MRF, who narrowly missed the National championship, a couple of years

Overall second the pair of Amittrajit Ghosh and Ashwin Naik

on his favourite terrain clocking more than six seconds faster time than his nearest rival, the defending champions from Mandovi Racing, Mangalore's Aroor Arjun Rao and co­driver Satish Rajagopal of Bengaluru, who were supported by MRF.

This pair did well to beat Amittrajit Ghosh and Ashwin Naik from Arka Motorsports to third. Ghosh was behind the wheel of a just­prepared Mahindra XUV300 with a very limited test time and finished just over a second behind in third.

INRC3 driver Arnav Pratap Singh along with Rohit N from Snap Racing came a stunning fourth in the Overall classification and first in his class, the INRC 3. Their teammates, Younus Ilyas and Nitin Jacob, finished next with just a 100th of a second behind.

Day Two

The first stage of the day though was about 6 kms which was never an easy bet as it had a few fast downhill runs and blind corners. One such corner was in the first 3 kms, which did punish a few drivers. The route opener Arjun Rao maintained a sense of caution throughout the stage as he made a few early braking to 22 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

avoid overshooting and had clocked a timing which kept him within the top­five.

While Karna Kadur who was flagged off behind him, also drove with a bit of caution to finish the stage without any errors. He was just a 100th of a second behind Rao. Gaurav Gill began the day with a six­second lead as a topper but once again he ran out of luck. As he was the fastest till the downhill left hander, a blind corner at about 3­km mark into the stage. The loose pebbles at this corner glided the nose of the car into the ditch and the rear portion was partly hanging on the road.

The navigator was out of the car in quick time to caution the following cars which was not an easy task. Dean Mascarenhas, Amittrajit Ghosh and Harkrishan Wadia managed to go past the dropped­out car. And Jason Saldanha was lucky enough to escape from a crash as he was unable to control the speed on the wedge as he went past Gill's car which was on the right outer and he hit his rear end against it that put him back on the track.

Watching this excitement, no one cautioned the next car and

Overall winners

Winners of INRC2 category

Winners of INRC3 category

4W RALLY NATIONALS, R-2, NASHIK

Winners of Ladies class

Winners of JINRC class

back, took the command as they clocked the fastest stage time in Stage 5 and Stage 7.

Wadia did manage to challenge him but Fabid's consistency in all the stages put him on top with a lead of 1min 3sec.

Kadur was never looking comfortable at least in Stage 3 and 6 which were the repeat of the same physical stage. He lost a lot of time and with a further difference of 1min 21sec, he finished the day in third.

Ghosh was taking time to get used to the car but managed to clock the fastest stage time in the last stage of the day and stood fourth with a further 35­sec deficit.

Only 31 cars finished the rally while 22 cars had to pull out on this day due to crash, overshooting and mechanical failures.

Day Three

There were four repeat stages in the menu for the final day. The

Day 3 programme never went as smooth as expected for the top two. Fabid began the day with a handsome overnight lead of 1min and a finish would have given him an opportunity to be on the overall podium. He was driving safe and was slower by 13sec on the first stage of the day. The next stage was a spoilsport for this pair, as they lost about 7min, which brought them drastically down to overall 8th position. Harkrishan Wadia was the fastest in the first stage

but second stage of the day proved unlucky for them. They not only pulled out due to a crash but also lost their chance of finishing overall first for the fourth time in a row.

Karna Kadur who was consistently losing ground, rose to the leading position as both the cars ahead of him slid down the order.

Kolkata­Mangaluru pair of Amittrajit Ghosh and Ashwin Naik, a two­time former National

INRC3 and JINRC winners Arnav Pratap Singh and Rohit N JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 23

INRC2 winners Fabid Ahmer and Milen George

champions, started cutting down the overnight lead from Stage 1 onwards and had good pace in the next stage. But they had a flat which slowed down their timing by 2min and with a difference of just over a minute they managed to secure a well­deserved second place ahead of young guns Arnav Pratap Singh and Rohit N, who had a noteworthy Overall third.

Former Overall champion Karna Kadur, had the privilege of being one of the best navigators in the field. With Musa Sherif, the seven­time National co­driver champion, calling the pace notes and guiding all along to keep his

cool and cautioning against overdoing, the duo notched up an Overall victory by just nursing the car back to the finish.

Dean Mascarenhas along with Gagan Karumbaiah from DB Motorsports climbed a huge upward task on the final day to third as they were not in the top ten on the previous day.

Younus Ilyas along with Nitin Jacob had a very bad Day 2. With hydraulic jack issues in SS3, they were demoted as replacing the wheel due to puncture took them 29min. They had to compromise but they were unstoppable on the final day and

Overall winners with their service crew 24 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

clocked the best stage times of the day in the final three stages.

They were fastest by over a minute on the winner on the final day.

INRC2

Overnight leader, Fabid Ahmer and co­driver Milen George of Chettinad Sporting after missing the overall top finish lost over five minutes in Special Stage 9 which pushed them down to overall 8th place in the final standings. But they managed to win the INRC2 class. Only five managed to finish out of the total 24 cars.

Pragathi Gowda along with Sujit Kumar from Chettinad Sporting, supported by MRF and Sidvin, with over 8­min deficit finished second in the class. Yashas M Nayaka and Sudhindra BG were another 8­sec behind but held on to the podium in third. The Bengaluru pair of Chetan Shivram and Shiv Prakash was at their best on the final day by being the quickest with about 2min 20sec lead on, Sahil Khanna and Arjun SSB from Snap Racing, who finished fifth.

INRC3

It was a challenging final day for the top five overnight finishers as all were within the same minute.

Young guns Arnav Pratap Singh and Rohit N made their way to the top after starting the day on fourth.

Jeet Jabhakh and V Sekar from Chettinad Sporting began their day with A 29­sec advantage over the leader but were unable to capitalise on it. A puncture in SS9 took away a lot of time and with 16­sec difference, they finished second.

Daraious Shroff and Arjun Dheerendra completed the podium after starting the day in fifth place. The star runners, Ajay Sanket and Nitharshan from Mandovi Racing, had a right start but later on they pulled out.

Arjun Rajiv and Vinay Padmashali from Chettinad Sporting were just seconds away on the final day start and in the very first stage of the day they crashed out.

The Ideal team of Abhin Rai, also rose up along with Moideen Jasheer, but fell short of podium

by 14 sec and settled for fourth.

Nikhil J and Arvind Dheerendra from Bengaluru finished fifth.

Ladies Class

After missing the first round at Chennai, Pune's Nikeetaa Takkale made a comeback along with co­driver Mumbai's Shivani Parmar to win the category. They held on to second position till the Day 2, as the defending champion Anushriya Gulati and Karan Aukta from Arka Motorsports were in command by over 9 min but they had to pull out.

Round 1 one winning pair of Phoebe Nongrum and Rahul Sancheti from Snap Racing finished second with a difference of over 5 min. The Bengaluru husband and wife team Harshitha Raj Gowda and M Srivatsa from A&A Motorsports, in their first outing, were behind by 8 min in third place.

Junior INRC

Arnav Pratap Singh and Rohit N from Snap Racing began their final day journey from third position and with the top­two cars pulling out, they climbed two positions to win the class.

Abhin Rai and Moideen Jasheer

from Ideal Racing began the final day with an 18­sec deficit, further lost 37sec and thus with a difference of 45­sec settled for second position. The ladies team of Nikeetaa and Shivani finished third another 10 sec behind.

Arjun Rajiv and Vinay Padmashali were in command till the first stage on final day but they crashed 3­km from the start and missed a chance of sealing the championship.

Classic

Classic class winners

Shaik Hussain Pasha and Roshan Claber Crasta with a 12­min lead began their final day journey which they extended to 14 min during the final tally and won the class comfortably. Aneeshnath S and Amitha Aneesh from A&A Motorsports finished second.

Gypsy Class

This class saw the tables turn after results, the fastest in the class the Bengaluru pair of Sanjay Agarwal and Dheeraj Manae had to give up their position after disqualification due to external help in parc farme, The pair of Baljindar Singh Dhillon and Goutham CP who were behind by 5sec were declared the winners as they won with a lead of 55sec over the

Gypsy class winners

A&A Motorsports pair of Dr Akarsh Sundar and Ravi Kumar, while Sachin Singh and Prakash M with 6min13sec difference with the winner managed to step

on to podium. Sanjay Lal along with Chandrashekar M finished a distinct fourth, while Kariappa Mekerira and Vignesh Mahalingam were fifth.

INRC2 first runner­up Pragathi Gowda and Sujit Kumar JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 25

Powering Ahead

India’s EV Mission TEXT: AKSHAYA MATHRUBOOTHAM

T

he global automotive sector swiftly embraces sustainable mobility, with India closely following suit. The transition to new energy vehicles (NEVs) reflects a broader industry trend where consumers and manufacturers increasingly emphasise alternative energy sources towards the decarbonization of the transport sector. This shift is reshaping the automotive landscape, prompting manufacturers to innovate and adapt to evolving consumer preferences. The growing adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) was evident in June 2024, with significant increases in sales across various electric vehicle categories, underscoring the momentum towards sustainable transportation.

Electric India

Currently, the EV penetration in India is in its nascent stage with the electric passenger vehicles (ePV) segment at just 1.8 per cent in 2023. The growth potential is immense, almost 40 per cent by 2030. Another factor is the automotive companies working towards reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) to target the price­sensitive Indian markets.

They do this by implementing localisation through Indian production hubs and strategically designing tailor­made EV 26 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

ZS EV

products and accessories to cater to Indian markets. Government policy incentives have attracted players like Ola, Reliance New Energy, and ACC Energy Storage to start EV battery manufacturing in India. The latest to join the list are Amara Raja and Exide Industries. The Government as well as the affiliated businesses are promoting, working to build, establish and scale universal charging infrastructure.

announce incentives to boost and encourage EV makers, components suppliers and stakeholders. These measures will help reduce the cost of the EVs against ICE vehicles. While the central government is working on the EV policy, the state governments are also announcing tax cuts and other incentives to help customers opt for EVs.

India has been actively promoting the integration of EVs through the flagship Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme, which aims to accelerate EV sales by providing fiscal incentives to EV buyers. The Indian government is also accelerating key EV initiatives to promote the adoption and production of electric vehicles, alongside the local manufacturing of advanced technology batteries. These efforts aim to advance clean mobility and position India towards net­zero goals, aligning with increasing global demand for EVs.

Tata Motors leads the ePV market offering products like Tiago, Nexon, Tigor and Punch, while its immediate rival Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is set to launch several new ePVs over the next 12­18 months apart from its XUV400 EV. Hyundai has Kona and Ioniq models. India's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki, with a slew of ICE vehicles, is now expected to launch its first electric car in 2025.

M&M was the fastest­growing brand in 2023, followed by Build Your Dreams (BYD) and MG Motor.

Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's third term, during the Union Budget in July 2024, the Finance Minister is expected to

EV Portfolio

With the inflow of brands like Citreon E­C3 and BYD Seal in the electric segment, there is a stronger EV presence in the Indian markets.

The luxury car makers, Mercedes­Benz, BMW, Audi and Volvo are also offering electric

FEATURE

partnerships with leading players including Adani TotalEnergies, Shell India, HPCL, Epsilon, and Chargezone, to name a few.

Green Future

Based on current policies and trends, the rollout of electric vehicles is set to avoid the need for nearly 6 million barrels of oil a day by 2030 globally, according to the International Energy Agency report.

BYD Seal

entry­level models to customers in India looking to attract first­ time luxury car buyers.

With investment from JSW Group, MG Motor India is revitalised and set to launch a new vehicle every three to six months, beginning in the latter half of 2024, starting with the debut of the Cloud EV, expanding MG's existing portfolio of EVs, which includes the Comet EV and the ZS EV. In June 2024, the ZS EV set a new record with 1,861 units sold in a single month.

Preference

Although Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles still dominate the market, there is an increasing preference for electric vehicles among Indian consumers. In India, there is still an expectation that ICE vehicles will continue to coexist with EVs as opposed to the abrupt shift from ICE to EVs in European markets. While the transition is slower, there is a shift in the mindset of the consumer, especially the urban youth who are more likely to invest in a vehicle with alternative energy, more advanced technology and lower maintenance costs.

Over the lifespan of vehicles, EVs hold a clear advantage over ICE models in terms of TCO. A significant portion of an EV's overall cost is attributed to battery expenses. Recent trends show a decline in battery cell prices, with expectations for further reductions soon. The price parity between EVs and ICE cars is narrowing down. In India, the TCO reveals a 25% difference with the expectation of further reduction, driven by factors such as lower refuelling and maintenance expenses associated with EVs.

have their charging set up to support the customers. Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited, MG Motor and M&M have forged several significant

The automotive industry and the stakeholders are playing a perfect role in their commitment to fostering a sustainable future.

Their combined efforts will help reduce carbon footprint and ease urban mobility which will contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment. India is in the right direction towards achieving its green drive.

Infrastructure

Rising awareness and advancements in EV technology have bolstered consumer trust in electric vehicles. Moreover, with growing urban consumer demand, the cost of buying EVs is becoming more affordable.

The widespread EV adoption demands robust infrastructure and greater connectivity. The charging infrastructure will play a major role in the adoption of EVs in India.

Therefore, developing charging infrastructure is crucial to establishing a sustainable EV ecosystem. Major car makers

Punch.ev

The new BMW iX xDrive50 JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 27

Mumbai's Badal Doshi on a milestone racing bikes for 30 years

The dirt-track expert, with a National title even in his twilight years, is a road safety crusader

M

umbai: June 19, 1994, marks a memorable day for a young racer from Mumbai. At 16, his love for speed and bikes led him to racing for fun.

Over the years, his hard work and dedication transformed him into a professional biker, earning numerous accolades at both local and national levels.

Without any sponsors for much of his racing career, this privateer not only created his own training school and infrastructure in his city but trained many youngsters over the years.

Racing motorcycles is his passion and he spread that love to other youth with equal enthusiasm and promoted many a star for the west. The veteran rider who started racing two­wheelers in 1994 is still holding on to his throttle with a never­say­die attitude. This passionate biker is going strong and has lined up a couple of international events for the next two years.

“The heart is still there, and I am working hard to race abroad in a couple of events. Will fine tune the details later on,” he said.

Badal Subash Doshi made his debut in the iconic Monsoon Scooter Rally, organized by the renowned Srikant Karani of Sportscraft.

And he went on to win many scooter rallies thereafter.

GroupA winner INRC 2019 at Nashik 28 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

Bitten by the racing bug as a teenager, Doshi not only excelled in bike racing but also supported and trained

MOTORSPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS

2018 Nashik Rally GroupA winner Scooter Olympic Taiwan 2007

“

students soared to remarkable heights, collectively securing over 50 triumphant victories and clinching two illustrious National Championship titles.

A regular at many National championships, Doshi travelled extensively, competing in events across the country, from the North to the South. He excelled in Dirt Track events and secured podium finishes in two­wheeler rallies on both Indian and foreign bikes. His stellar performance in National championship events led the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of India (FMSCI) to select

National Sprint GroupA 2019 winner

“

many young enthusiasts through his SB Racing outfit.

Over the last three decades, he has been instrumental in promoting Road Safety. SB Racing promotes Road Safety Programmes for government employees, students, and corporates. “We also promote automobile products and other essentials used by bikes and cars on the road or for racing. We help manufacturers and companies advertise and promote their brands through motorsport and Road Safety events,” Doshi explains.

"Our motto for everyone is to REACH HOME SAFE," he says, leaving his mark with this parting wisdom.

He teaches cops on defensive techniques on bikes and also the safety aspects of maintenance and riding gear, and some quick tips to be on the chase. He also conducted free workshops for corporates.

Doshi proudly presided over a prestigious two­wheeler racing school which he started in Navi Mumbai, for two glorious years, nurturing the talents of 80 aspiring racers. Under his expert guidance, these dedicated

him twice to represent India at the Asian Grand Prix in Taiwan in 2006 and 2007.

A versatile National champion, Doshi has triumphed in every conceivable format of off­road two­wheeler events, from the adrenaline­pumping hill climbs and dirt tracks to the thrilling rally supercross, motocross, and autocross. As a daring rider, he has mastered a wide array of two­wheelers, including scooters, Indian 2­stroke and 4­ JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 29

stroke bikes, and foreign motorcycles up to 500cc.

Traversing the majestic landscapes from the Himalayas to Bangalore, Doshi has raced in almost every city, leaving his mark on the racing community.

Reflecting on his extensive career, he muses, "Thirty years is a long time. It has been half my life, well almost, in Motorsports.

Now, I wish to pass on my sport and safety tips by organizing safety events for the next generation."

In 2021, Doshi reclaimed his title as the National champion in the Group A foreign class, 2W Sprint Rally Championship, having first won it in the inaugural year of 2019. His accolades also include being the vice­champion in the Dirt Track Nationals in 2005 and 2006, and again in 2009 and 2011, often coming tantalizingly close to the top spot in the Dirt Track Championship.

Furthermore, he secured a victory in a round of the fmsci MRF MoGrip Indian National Rally Championship for two­ wheelers at Coimbatore. From being named 'Rookie of the Day' in his novice years to earning the title of 'Fastest Rider of the Day' in premium classes for foreign bikes, Doshi's fearless riding has brought him the highest honours and unparalleled experiences in the world of motorsports. He is associated with FXR & MX STORE as they are his sponsors.

Among the most unforgettable events of his illustrious career is the Raid de Himalaya. In 2004, this gruelling five­day adventure led Doshi through 1800 kilometers of treacherous terrain, winding through the snow­capped mountains. These picturesque yet daunting paths, with temperatures plummeting between 5 to ­17 degrees, presented challenges such as frostbite and high­altitude sickness. Yet, despite these hardships, the sheer exhilaration of standing on the podium bestowed upon Doshi a sensation akin to being on top of the world. Known for his safe driving and unwavering passion for the sport, Doshi's achievements have illuminated his path to fame.

In 2019, he was honoured by the then Sports and Youth Minister of India, Kiren Rijiju, in New Delhi.

Equally dedicated to road safety, Doshi has conducted approximately 50 seminars to spread the message and recruit more volunteers for the cause.

As a Road Safety Advisor for the Navi Mumbai Police, he trained over 2000 police personnel, conducting safety programmes for key staff who manage the roads.

MOTORSPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS

2014 with Mumbai Police Comissioner during road safety week

Badal during road safety week with Mumbai cops

"Our motto for everyone is to REACH HOME SAFE," he says, leaving his mark with this parting wisdom. More info on www.sbracing.in

Overall winner 2020 GroupA winner at Bengaluru

Asian Grand Prix in China 2006

Badal winning moments in Gulf Dirt Track 2006 3O autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

Stunning show by Sarthak Chavan

Sarthak Chavan (75) en route to winning the Pro­Stock 301­400cc category race

Abdul Basim, Rakshitha, Kaushik bag a double; Jagan Kumar returns to winning ways

PHOTO BY: ANAND PHILAR eenagers Sarthak Chavan and Rakshitha Dave bagged a grand double along with a few others in the one­make events in the first round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 at

T

32 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

the Madras International Circuit, at Irungattukottai, near Chennai, on June 16.

The end of first round saw teenager Sarthak in the Pro­ Stock 301­400cc Open class, and school girl Rakshitha Dave in the Girls, Stock 165cc National

Championship, winning both the races in the weekend. Others to win a double are Abdul Basim (Novice, Stock 165cc), Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Novice, Stock 301­400cc), Senthil Kumar and Harshit V Bogar in TVS One­ make championship.

The 15­year­old Dave twins, Rakshith and Rakshitha took the honours in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R) and the National Championship Girls (Stock 165cc) races. It was a maiden win for both of them, in their respective categories.

2W RACING NATIONALS, R-1, CHENNAI

Rakshitha Dave (centre), winner of the Girls (Stock 165cc) race, flanked by Jagathee Kumaresan (left) and Ryhana Bee.

Two other siblings, 28­year­old KY Ahamed (Pro­Stock 165cc Open) and his 17­year­old brother Abdul Basim (Novice 165cc), also won a race apiece to set off celebrations in both families.

Pro­Stock 301­400cc Open class

Sarthak Chavan, established himself as the top gun in the class, winning both races over

the weekend in an emphatic manner. Chavan, the 17­year­old from Pune, led a 1­2 finish for TVS Racing along with Bengaluru's Chiranth Vishwanath, also 17. The race was cut to four laps from scheduled six after a red flag stoppage following a Turn­3 crash which took time for recovery, while Sarthak, starting from pole, virtually destroyed the field on restart. Chiranth

The Dave twins from Chennai ­ Rakshitha and Rakshith won a race in their respective categories

came in second, ahead of Hyderabad's Sairahil Pillarisetty from Gusto Racing.

In Race 2, following home Chavan in P2 was another 17­ year­old, Chiranth, who just couldn't match Sarthak's pace.

The duo dominated both races leaving the rest to scrap for the other podium spot, Alwyn Sundar A from Gusto Racing finished third.

Pro­Stock 165cc

In Race 1 of Pro­Stock 165cc, Sarthak, however, had a disastrous outing as he crashed when in the lead. On his exit, Sathak's two TVS Racing team­ mates, KY Ahamed and multiple National champion Jagan Kumar, were involved in a tight finish. Ahamed pipped his mentor Jagan in a photo­finish with another TVS Racing ace, Deepak Ravikumar, who had started the race from the pit lane, completing the podium.

Chiranth, who was running second, also crashed, but resumed to finish fourth.

Sarthak, however, missed a possible win, despite starting P7 on the grid, in the Race 2, when he crashed again after tangling with an aggressive Chiranth when the two were fighting for 1­2 positions. The Pune youngster had also crashed in Race­1 on Saturday when leading.

Though both Sarthak and Chiranth recovered to rejoin the race, veteran TVS Racing teammates Jagan Kumar, KY Ahamed and Deepak Ravikumar made the best of the free space in front to finish in that order.

For Jagan, a multiple National champion, it was his first win of the season after a barren 2023.

Novice (Stock 165cc) category

Pune's Sarthak Chavan celebrating his win in the Pro­Stock 301­400cc category race

In Race 1, pole­sitter Abdul Basim, held off a strong JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 33

KY Ahamed (33) edging out Jagan Kumar to win the Pro­Stock 165cc Open race

challenge from Mysuru's Tasmai Cariappa from Motul Sparks Racing who led briefly in the penultimate lap but conceded the advantage. Basim went on to win with Tasmai and Coimbatore's Abhinav G from Chandra LGE Racing finishing second and third, respectively.

Similarly in Race 2, another Chennai teenager Abdul Basim from Rockers Racing achieved a clean sweep by winning both the races, Kamal Navas from One Racing followed him in second as Abhinav G from Coimbatore finished third.

Girls (Stock 165cc) category

Chennai schoolgirl, 15­year­old Rakshitha Dave completed a fine double in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Having won Race­1 on Saturday, she extended her domination with a sweeping win in Race­2, virtually unchallenged.

She dedicated the victory to late Shreyas Harish, who passed away during an on­race accident last year.

Chennai's Rakshitha Dave from RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate 34 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

team, starting from P2 in Race 1, moved to the front by Turn­2, deftly avoiding any jostling that was happening behind her, and enjoyed a trouble­free run for a commanding win. Another Chennai rider, Jagathishee Kumaresan from One Racing and Ryhana Bee from Motul Sparks Racing settled for second and third spots, respectively, while pole­sitter Ann Jennifer from Alpha Racing came in a disappointing fourth.

“I am very happy to score my first­ever win in the National championship. I had a good start today and a trouble­free run after going into the lead early in the first lap. The bike too performed very well,” said a delighted Rakshitha.

won as he pleased that gained National championship status from this season. Lokesh V from Bengaluru finished second and Varun Nanjundegowda from Mysuru representing Gusto Racing India finished third.

Later, the Chennai rider, Kaushik Subbaiah Ganesan notched his second win of the round as he won Race 2 also. His teammate Aldrin Babu from Chalakudy finished second and a privateer from Bengaluru, Varun Patil, came third.

Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup

Rakshith Dave reigned supreme

It was a double for Rakshitha Dave as Ryhana Bee finished in second place and Jagathishree Kumaresan finished third.

Stock 301­400cc (Novice) class

Also finishing on top step of the podium was Chennai's Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan from RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate who

TVS Racing e­OMC action

Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan, winner of Novice (Stock 165cc) race

in the NSF 250R race after initial battle with the more experienced Mohsin Paramban from Mallapuram with Bengaluru's AS James finishing third. It was Rakshith's first­ever win in this class. Incidentally, Rakshith's twin sister, Rakshitha made her debut in this class and finished 13th.

Shyam Sundar from Chennai came up with a fine ride to win the Race 2 after starting from P4 on the grid. He cut through the front­runners to top the six­ lapper with Mohsin Paramban yet again finishing second, but ahead of Race 1 winner, Rakshith Dave.

2W RACING NATIONALS, R-1, CHENNAI

TVS One­Make Championship:

In Race 1, Senthilkumar C took the honours in the truncated race that was reduced to three laps from six due to a red flag stoppage following an on­track incident. Jayanth Pratipathi (Chennai) came in second, ahead of Nagercoil's Ajai Xavier M.

Senthilkumar C from Coimbatore enjoyed a fruitful weekend as he won both the races. Having won Saturday's Race 1, Senthilkumar displayed relentless pace in topping Race 2

ahead of two Chennai riders, Manoj Yesuadian and Jayanth P.

Rookie (Apache RTR 200)

Harshith V Bogar from Bengaluru notched a dominating win in

“

Jagan Kumar (centre), winner of the Pro­Stock 165cc Open race, flanked by KY Ahamed (left) and Deepak Ravikumar.

Race 1, with second­placed Saranjith KM from Thrissur finishing some 10 seconds behind. Vijayawada's Akarsh Jangam was a distant third.

“

Rakshitha Dave on way to winning the Girls (Stock 165cc) race

“I am very happy to score my first­ever win in the National championship. I had a good start today and a trouble­free run after going into the lead early in the first lap. The bike too performed very well,” said a delighted Rakshitha.

Harshith V Bogar continued to dominate the class as he finished the weekend with a double by winning Race 2 on the back of his triumph in the previous outing on the previous day.

CS Kedarnath from Tirupati scrambled to second place while Saranjith KM from Thrissur finished third.

Girls (RTR 200)

Mumbai's Sarah Khan won the race untroubled from Pune's Saimah Ajaz Baig and Aisvarya V from Coimbatore, who finished in second and third position.

Sarah had a good start but lost the lead after the first lap as she suffered some technical issues.

But she soon recovered and took the lead back and never looked back again. “This win is for my mom,” she said after the race.

TVS Electric RTE

Pune's Sarthak topped the race quite comfortably with his arch­ rival Chiranth Vishwanath finishing second and Chennai's Alwyn Sundar third.

Media (Apache RTR 200)

Abdul Basim celebrating his win in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category race

The five­lap race was won b y K a ra n M a t h u r, A u t o X , Gurugram, finished in the same minute in second position was Praveen Kumar from Rev Nitro, Chennai, with by over two seconds difference. Akash Bhadra from Topgear, Mumbai, finished third.

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 35

Jaden Pariat, Abhay Mohan complete clean sweep

Double for Biren Pithawalla, Srinivas Teja, Viswas Vijayaraj

PHOTO BY: ANAND PHILAR

D

isplaying remarkable patience, Jaden Rahman Pariat from Shillong and Abhay Mohan from Bengaluru achieved a triple crown apiece in their respective MRF single­seater category as the second round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Car Racing Championship 2024 concluded at the Madras International Circuit in February.

Also coming through unbeaten in Round 2 was Biren Pithawalla from Mumbai from Team N1 Racing in the Indian Touring Cars category and Chennai's Srinivas Teja from Team Performance Racing in the Indian Junior Touring Cars class. Nellore's Viswas Vijayaraj won two of the three races in the Formula LGB 1300 category.

MRF Formula 2000

Displaying impressive pace, 17­year­old Jaden from Meghalaya added another win to the double he had scored in Round­1 a week before. Chetan Surineni from Bengaluru finished second with six

seconds difference. Tarun Muthiaiah also from Bengaluru with over 41sec difference was third.

Jaden Rahman Pariat (left) and Abhay Mohan who won triple crown apiece in the MRF Formula 2000 and F1600 races.

36 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

Pariat, showcased his maturity particularly in the10­lap Race­2 which he started from P3 on the reverse grid. He tucked in behind Bengaluru teenager Chetan Surineni for the initial couple of laps before making a move to take a lead which he expanded lap by lap to win by the proverbial country mile. Surineni finished second and Tarun finished third.

“I took my time to settle down and then I made my move. Patience was the key and after I moved to the front, I kept pushing,” said Jaden, who

4W NATIONAL RACING, R1, CHENNAI

Jaden Rahman Pariat, who won all three races in the MRF Formula 2000 category

also participated in Formula 4 races in the United Kingdom last year.

In Race­3, Pariat capitalised on his pole position to start for yet another handsome win, his fifth in six starts across two rounds. Surineni followed in second and Tarun finished third.

MRF F1600

Bengaluru's Abhay, only 15, notched his fourth win in as many starts in the class, as he won Race1. Raaj Bakhru from Mumbai finished second while Mumbaikar Zahan Commissariat finished third.

Race­2 was a closely­fought battle. Abhay took a start in P7 but

gradually carved his way through the grid, biding his time and waiting for the front­runners to make mistakes before seizing the opportunity for a fine win. Zahan finished second behind him with less than a second difference and Bakhru finished third.

“I was very patient and I knew that I had to grab the opportunity when the guys in front made a mistake which they did eventually. Very happy with this win,” said Abhay who later went on to win Race­3 from pole position for his sixth win in as many starts over two rounds. Monith Kumaran from Chennai with three seconds difference finished second and Zahan with a further over­4sec difference settled for third.

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 37

Indian Touring Cars

Chennai's Srinivas Teja (No.86) holding off competition while winning the race in the Indian Junior Touring Cars category

Viswas Vijayaraj winner of two races in the Formula LGB 1300

Biren Pithawalla en route to a double in the Indian Touring Cars

Mumbai's Biren Pithawalla who achieved a double in the ITC 38 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

4W NATIONAL RACING, R1, CHENNAI

Mumbai's Biren Pithawalla from Team N1 Racing, starting from pole position in race1, also remained unbeaten, recording his third straight win. Biren was hardly challenged as his main rival, Ritesh Rai from Buzzing Hornet Motorsports, retired with a mechanical issue while Biren's cousin and team­mate Ananth Pithawalla, was stuck in third gear and just about finished the race in distant third position behind Deepak Ravikumar from Team Performance Racing.

Biren Pithawalla was in his elements while recording his fourth straight win. Starting from P3 on the reverse grid, Biren snatched the lead by Turn­3 in the very first lap and never looked back. Behind him, Chennai's Ritesh Rai, despite his best efforts, could not catch up with Biren to finish second ahead of third position finisher Deepak Ravikumar.

Indian Junior Touring Cars

Chennai's Srinivas Teja led a podium sweep for Team Performance Racing, ahead of fellow­Chennaiite Hatim Shabbir Jamnagarwala who finished second and third finisher from Coimbatore's Yokeshwaran. It was Teja's second win in three starts, including two in Round­1.

Teja completed a double, with an untroubled run Nikunj Vagh from Mumbai representing N1 Racing finished behind him in second while Yokeshwaran finished third.

Super Stock

Anirudha Arvind from Redline Racing India was handed out a victory in Race1. The top finishers, Angad Matharoo from Buzzing Hornet Motorsports and Justin Singh from Redline Racing India were disqualified for technical infringements following post­race scrutiny.

Bala Prasath from Coimbatore, DTS Racing and Jarshan Anand from Chennai, DB Motorsports also moved up two spots to finish second and third, respectively.

Chandigarh's Angad Matharoo took the honour in Race 2 as Justin Singh finished second while Anirudha Arvind from Chennai finished third.

Formula LGB 1300

Nellore's Viswas Vijayaraj from DTS Racing qualified for pole position with Delta Speed's Mohit Aryan from Chennai closed the front row of the grid for Race 1. Pole sitter Viswas was the winner by managing to keep his teammate Bala Prasath from Coimbatore in second with a difference of over six seconds and Mohit Aryan slipped down one position from pole to finish third with a further over­two seconds difference. In Race 2, Bala Prasath with a narrow difference managed to win over his teammate Viswas and Gokul Krishna from Chennai representing Delta Speeds finished a distant third. The 8­lap Race 3, once again went into Viswas kitty as Bala Prasath finished second while Mohit finished third.

Abhay Mohan ­ his third win of the weekend

KARTING NATIONALS, R1, BENGALURU jostling for track positions and came through untroubled, ahead of the experienced fellow­ Bengalurean Ruhaan Alva of MSport and Chennai's Varun Hari Praveen of Peregrine Racing.

In the Junior Max final, it was a tense battle all through the 14 laps with Nikhilesh holding his never to emerge winner with his closest rival, Pune's Arafath Sheikh (Crest Motorsports) receiving five­second penalty that dropped him to fifth.

Finishing second behind Nikhilesh were Eknath Vengatesan (Chennai, MSport) and Aarav Dewan (Gurugram, Leapfrog Racing).

Earlier, Rivaan had to fight hard for his win in the Micro Max final after wheel­to­wheel dicing with Yatharth Gaur, who finished second, but was later disqualified, for “technical infringement”. Consequently, Rehan Khan (Chennai, MSport) moved up to second ahead of team­mate Mumbai's Atiqa Asif Mir.

Akshat Misra, Nikhilesh Raju

dominate Karting Nationals

Rivaan Dev Preetham excels in Micro Max

PHOTO BY: SHAHJAHAN

B

engaluru's Akshat Misra, of Crest Motorsports, literally strolled to victory in the Senior Max final with a dominating win in the first round of the Meco­Fmsci National Karting Championship Rotax Max 2024 at the Kartopia track, Bengaluru, in June.

The other winners were Nikhilesh Raju of Peregrine Racing, also from Bengaluru, in the Junior Max category and

Chennai's Rivaan Dev Preetham of MSport, who topped the Micro Max class. Incidentally, the event attracted 57 entries, including participants from abroad.

The final runs in all three rounds witnessed close competition in the early laps until the eventual winners managed to break away from the bunch. Misra was an impressive winner in the Senior Max final as he opened a sizeable lead after surviving some early JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 39

JK Tyre Women's Rally to Valley 2024 attracts good response The WIAA organised event saw 300 women take part in TSD format

A

round 300 women in 100 cars participated in the rally, raising awareness about different socioeconomic issues faced by women in society.

The annual event for women in motorsports, the JK Tyre WIAA Women's Rally to Valley, was flagged off from the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in Worli, Mumbai. Organised by the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) and presented by JK Tyre, the rally witnessed participation from close to 300 women in around 100 cars.

The rally was flagged off in the presence of Anil Kumbhare, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), signalling the commencement of

4O autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

yet another thrilling motorsport adventure. The rally traversed through the city's notable sites and concluded in Pune, where the winners were felicitated.

Sanjay Sharma, Head­ Motorsport, JK Tyre said: “It has been our endeavour to make motorsport accessible to everyone, and our association with WIAA for over 10 years has been crucial to our success in achieving this goal. We are thrilled to witness increasing participation from women in this event over the years and wish to see this enthusiasm continue in the future. Throughout the month, JK Tyre is honouring women empowerment with various initiatives across the nation.”

The participants leveraged this

platform raise awareness of significant social and economic issues that affect society including Women's Safety, Mental Health, Support for

Farmers, Save Girl Child, and Social Acceptance.

Conducted under the aegis of FMSCI (Federation of Motor

WOMEN’S TSD RALLY, MUMBAI

Sport Clubs of India), the rally followed the classic TSD (Time, Speed, and Distance) format.

This format tested the skills of both the driver and navigator, with penalty points for being ahead or behind schedule. Being one of the simplest format of rallying, the TSD format enables anyone with a driver's license to team up with a navigator to start with the motorsport endeavour.

The team has to tackle the course while following the route instructions, calculating the average speed, and making sure they are on track rather than falling behind or ahead of schedule, as both eventualities

result in penalty points.

JK Tyre WIAA Women's Rally to the Valley aligns with JK Tyre's vision of bringing more women into motorsport and giving them a platform to celebrate their true potential. Over the years, JK Tyre has hosted successful editions of women's only events across India and has played an instrumental role in training women champions like Shriya Lohia, Mira Erda, and Sneha Sharma, who have represented the country on the international stage of Motorsport. Moreover, under the aegis of FMSCI, the company has adopted FIA's successful global initiative, the

Girls on Track (GoT) programme encouraging women to enter the world of motorsports through karting. The programme aims to create awareness at the grassroots level in the country and emboldening young girls

to come to the track and understand different aspects of the Motorsport. JK Tyre has identified key talent in the world of Motorsports at the bedrock level who were then nurtured to hone their skills for a career.

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 41

BigRock Motorsports wins inaugural CEAT Supercross League at home Matt Moss, Reid Taylor and Thanarat Penjan top their respective classes

T

he CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) concluded its inaugural season in February with a breath­ taking Grand Finale in Bangalore.

In an exhilarating display of skill and determination, the home team, BigRock Motorsport emerged victorious, securing their place as the champions of the inaugural CEAT ISRL season.

The team dominated the final round replicating their outstanding performances with star athlete Matt Moss, riding the Kawasaki, taking the first place in the 450cc international race. The 250cc international race was once again won by Reid Taylor, 42 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

also of BigRock Motorsports.

In the 250cc India Asia Mix category, Thanarat Penjan, riding the Kawasaki, claimed the top spot, to add another feather to Bigrock.

The Finale in Bangalore drew a crowd of over 8000 spectators, taking the total physical attendance to over 30000. The event marked a new chapter in Indian motorsports bringing together a high­profile event for Supercross.

Veer Patel, Managing Director of Lilleria Group and Co­Founder of CEAT ISRL said: "The Grand Finale in Bangalore has exceeded

SUPERCROSS, BENGALURU

ISRL, we congratulate all winners and participants for showcasing their skills and talent, which has led to the success of the inaugural season."

The CEAT ISRL Finale showcased not only the skill and competitiveness of the riders

and the series has successfully positioned India on the world map of Supercross racing.

CEAT ISRL looks forward to building on this success, continuing to provide a safe and competitive platform for riders of all ages and skill levels.

our expectations and set the stage for an even more thrilling second season. We have set a new global record with the maximum physical representation anywhere in the world for a Supercross event. It gives me immense pleasure to see our collective dream to take shape in reality. I am confident that with the support of FMSCI, FIM, racing teams and all partners we will make India as the focal point for Supercross in the world. On behalf of CEAT JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 43

TRACKING BRANDS

Tracking Brands

Reise Moto's maiden flagship Brand experience store

M

arking a significant step towards phase two of its expansion strategy, Reise Moto, the premium tyre manufacturer and a leading name in premium motorcycle accessories and apparel, inaugurated its first exclusive brand store in Mumbai.

The store showcases over 1000 SKUs across various categories, including Reise's premium range of Riding Jackets, Gloves, Pants, Boots, Helmets, Protectors, Jerseys, Racing Suits, Denims, Hard & Soft Luggage, Hard Parts

44 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

and accessories. Featuring more than 20 brands, customers will have access to premium products that cater to diverse riding needs.

"With the inauguration of our first exclusive brand store in Mumbai, we are thrilled to mark a significant step in the second phase of our expansion strategy," said Mr. Yogesh Mahansaria, Founder & Managing Director, Reise Moto.

"Our new retail space is designed to provide motorcycle enthusiasts with an unparalleled

shopping experience, offering a comprehensive range of riding gear, accessories, and premium tyres. We are committed to building a vibrant community hub where riders can come together to celebrate their passion for motorcycling. This store embodies our dedication to quality, innovation, and the joy of riding, and we look forward to expanding our footprint across India to bring these exceptional products closer to our customers”, added Mahansaria.

Reise Moto also provides a comprehensive online platform, www.reisemoto.com, serving as a one­stop shop for performance­oriented two­ wheeler enthusiasts across the country. This robust digital presence ensures access to superior quality products, while our brand store offers a physical location for riders to explore and purchase these premium items.

INTERNATIONAL RALLY

A

rjuna awardee and JK Tyre's Gaurav Gill supported by VM Sports Foundation showcased a strong performance in the Rally of Otago (also promoted by Vamcy Merla), securing a top­3 finish on Day 1. He maintained his third position consistently until Special Stage 10. However, an unexpected challenge in Special Stage 11 forced him to withdraw from the rally.

The Otago Rally is among the most­historic rally events in the world and has been held every year since 1976. This year, the rally has drawn a field of 117 cars, the largest in four years. A customary mix of challenging sections, it comprises of 16 Special Stages. Over 144 km of competitive stages, the contestants demonstrated their driving prowess on Saturday. On Sunday, another 130 kilometres of stages was driven.

Gaurav Gill and his New Zealand­ based co­driver, Jared Hudson, were piloting a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car when, at the 7.2km mark in Special Stage 11 (SS11), the car hit a pothole, causing a suspension issue. Despite their attempts to fix the car, the duo was forced to withdraw from the race. Apart from this technical setback, Gill demonstrated strong performance throughout the rally, showcasing his dedication to the sport.

This was Gill's first time competing at the Otago Rally, which with its stages made up of fast, flowing open public roads, blind brows as well as gravel strewn sections, offers a unique challenge. Gaurav is the three­ time winner of the Rally of Whangarei, which also takes place in New Zealand.

GAURAV GILL excels in Rally of Otago but goes down fighting

Suspension issues on final day bog down the Indian champ Day One: Arjuna awardee and JK Tyre's Gaurav Gill supported by VM Sports Foundation put himself in the battle for the win with a top­three placing at the end of the opening day of the Otago Rally in New Zealand.

Piloting 2022 APRC champion and 10­time Otago Rally winner Haydon Paddon's Hyundai i20 N Rally2 machine, Gill and his New­Zealand based co­driver Jared Hudson were third on the timesheets, a little over 30 seconds behind overall leader Jack Hawkeswood and 11 seconds adrift of second­placed Robbie Stokes.

Gaurav Gill said: “It has been a very unique experience; the super­fast stages are so distinct and varied from one another that I would describe them as extremely fast. I have never driven this fast before.

We had a pretty good start in the morning stages, and now we're trying to become better

at maintaining our rhythm on the trickier parts. We are up against cars more powerful than ours. That makes a difference, and the settings are ideal for them. We are happy with our performance today and will try to replicate the same tomorrow, ensuring a podium finish.”

On Day 1, the drivers navigated through eight special stages. Gill lost 15 seconds on Stage 5 due to an error, but the triple­APRC champion offered proof of his outright speed by winning stages 4, 7 and 8.

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 45

Defending champion Tanveer finishes on top

PHOTO BY: GHANSHYAM A TIWARI

F

or the third time in consecutive seasons the MRF Rally of Chikmagalur received over 100 entries in the Round 2 of the MRF Mogrip FMSCI National Rally Championship 2024 for 2 wheelers. The event was flagged­off by Sri SL Bhojegowda ­ MLC, Sri Ashwath Babu ­ DHO and Sri BH Narendra Pai in presence of Jayant Pai President MSCC. From the total of seven lady participants Five women will participants in the women's class and the remaining two participated in the Group A category. While Tanveer was the route opener in the three stages, Palya which is 5.93kms, 46 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

Sanehadlu is 5.42kms and Vasant Cool is 8.68kms cumulating to over 20kms which was run thrice.

The major challenge for all was

the rise in mercury level and keeping hydrated is of utmost importance and enough arrangements have been made.

The organisers, Motor Sports Clubs of Chikmagaluru (MSCC) and promoter Godspeed Racing left no stone unturned to keep

2W NATIONAL RALLY, R­2, CHIKKAMAGALURU

the entire participants, marshalls, communication and media en route hydrated with adequate water supply. With no rain, it was

a dry and dusty spell for the first time in Chikkamagaluru.

Defending champion Abdul Wahid Tanveer made a great

comeback by winning the MRF Rally of Chikmagalur. Teammate Samuel Jacob was not at his best initially but from third stage

onwards, he did manage to cut down the lead but still fell short and had to finish second behind Tanveer. Hero MotoSport finally JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 47

Asad Khan winner Sueprbike Expert GroupA

managed to finish in the top­ three after a long gap as their rider Arun T stood third with a difference of 50sec.

While the third TVS Racing rider from Shivamogga, Rajendra RE, was consistently running third since the start but finally missed the podium by 3­sec difference.

Imran Pasha also from TVS Racing after overshooting on the left hair pin in Vasant Cool stage was unable to set good time in the stage and had to finish fifth with a difference of 51sec.

Local rider Asad Pasha with a further 33­sec difference finished sixth. Privateer Nataraj R, supported by VM Sports Foundation, was leading initially but lost out in timing midway. In the final two stages, he made a comeback but fell short by 11sec and settled for seventh. Karan Kumar of Hero Motosport finished eighth. He lost over a minute in the final stage as he rescued rider Nitish who had crashed. thus the lost time of 45sec was subtracted and the difference came down to 25sec.

Two TVS Racing Riders Sachin D 48 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

and Benteilang Jyrwa finished ninth and tenth respectively.

Pro­Expert Group A: Abdul Wahid Tanveer won the class which had only TVS Racing riders. He managed a lead of 39sec over the second­placed Samuel Jacob. Rajendra RE with a 52­sec difference finished third and the lady rider Aishwarya Pissay came fourth.

Expert Group A: With a 11­sec lead, local rider Asad Pasha, a privateer, managed to finish on top over the second­place Nataraj R who is supported by VM Sports Foundation. Amogh Nag GS, a privateer from Bengaluru, completed the podium in third with a difference of 3min 3sec. Kousthubha M was another 2min 40sec behind in fourth. Ishita Gupta finished a distant fifth.

Super Sport 165 Group B: Yogesh P with a total time of 1:08.08 won the class. Abdul Rehman from Shimoga finished second with a difference of 1min 49sec which included a liaison penalty of 1min 20sec. Chalass K Bose from Kottayam fell back with a 15­sec difference finished

third. Darpan Darshan from Shivamogga was another 2min 10sec behind in fourth. Mahesh

Chandu from Bengaluru finished fifth while Arshad Ali from Kannur was sixth.

Rajesh Swami winner 400 GroupB Arun T winner 260 GroupB

2W NATIONAL RALLY, R­2, CHIKKAMAGALURU

Tanika Shanbhag winner Ladies class

Ashwin Anantha Raju winner Star of Karnataka

Karthik N winner Scooter class

Mohammed Zaheer winner 550 GroupB

Super Sport 260 Group B: Arun T from Hero Motosport won SS 260cc Group B class with a total time of 1:02.11. Imran Pasha from Petronas TVS Racing team was consistently running second right from the start finally and he finished in that order in second, 54 sec behind the winner. Karan Kumar from Hero Motosport was given a 45­sec waiver on his final stage timing as he rescued one of the crashed competitors ahead of him. And he managed to hold on the podium in third with a difference of 1min 8sec.

Sachin D and Banteilang Jyrwa both from TVS Racing had to finish in fourth and fifth position, Sachin with 17sec difference was fourth and Banteilang with 55sec difference was fifth. Stephen Roy

from Kodagu was further 36sec slower to finish sixth.

Super Sport 400 Group B: Rajesh Swami from Raigad defeated Bengalurian Anish D Shetty by 50 seconds. Swami clocked 1:06.56. Shetty, a racer as well, managed to finish in second ahead of Uttarakhand rider Akhand Pratap Singh, who was further behind by 3min 05sec, but managed to get on to the podium in third. Akash Gandhi from Tumkur with over 8­min difference was fourth while Dinesh Joshi from Mumbai with another over 2­min difference was fifth. Rajesh Kumar from Bengaluru was sixth.

Super Sport 550 Group B: Defending champion

Yogesh P winner 165 GroupB

Shivam Thakur winner 450 GroupD

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 49

2W NATIONAL RALLY, R­2, CHIKKAMAGALURU

Bengalurian Mohammed Zaheer who after participating in 400cc for some time made a comeback last season in his regular class, the SS 550cc Group B. With a total time of 1hr 10min 1sec he defeated Arun Joy of Ernakulam by 41 seconds. Suhail Ahmed, also from Bengaluru, was third another 4sec behind. Three Bengalurians finished thereafter.

Sharath Kumar with 1min 38sec difference was fourth, and Naresh V with 1min 40sec difference was fifth. Suhas S finished in sixth position.

Winners Group Photograph

Ceremonial flag off

Scooter Class upto 260cc Group B: Karthik N from TVS Racing was the winner of the class with a difference of 16­sec over his teammate and defending champion in the class Syed Asif Ali who finished second. Goutham N from Bengaluru finished third with a difference of 7min 31sec and another Bengalurian, Aditya Dutt, finished fourth with a further difference of over 14sec.

was the winner with a difference of 2min 39sec on Tanaya Singh from Pune, the second­placed rider. Bani Dabholkar from Goa came third.

Women's class Group B: Tanika Shanbhag from Hero MotoSport

Super Sport upto 450cc Group D: The rider from Kullu, Shivam Thakur defeated Mohammed Arshad from Thrissur by 2min 29sec. Pradeep from Bengaluru was 55sec behind in third position. Uday Kumar M from Coimbatore with a further 59­ sec difference finished fourth.

Gautham Rao from Bengaluru

another 1min 6sec behind was fifth while Kottayam's Pranav Prem came sixth.

Star of Karnataka: Ashwin Anantha Raju from Bengaluru with a difference of 40sec was the winner followed by Abrar Ahmed from Mysuru in second position. Madhusudhan Suresh from Shimoga finished third with a difference of 42sec. Nischay Salgadi from Shimoga was fourth and Yogesh Kumar from Bengaluru came fifth.

Mohammed Azharuddin from Chikkamagaluru was sixth.

Overall winner Abdul Wahid Tanveer 5O autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

2W NATIONAL RALLY, R­1, NASHIK

Samuel Jacob wins season opener Samuel Jacob stamped his season's first victory in the MRF Rally of Nashik, Round 1 of the MRF Indian National Rally Championship for two­wheelers promoted

by Godspeed Racing on the outskirts of Nashik recently.

The 12.5­km long tarmac stage which was supposed to run four times but was cut short to thrice due to time constraints. Over 83 participants were in the fray.

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 51

Super Sport 165 Group B

Nataraj R winner class2

S

amuel Jacob began his 2024 season opener with a bang as he dominated the MRF Rally of Nashik from the first stage with an 11­second lead over his teammate Rajendra RE from TVS Racing, Rajendra did try in the two further stages and cut down the lead by 2sec but the final stage was cancelled due to time constraints. With a difference of 8sec, Samuel was the winner and Rajendra finished in second position.

Defending champion Abdul Wahid Tanveer was consistently clocking the third fastest timing and finished in the same order. It was a top­four finish for TVS Racing while the fifth and sixth positions were bagged by Team Hero Motosports.

Imran Pasha with a difference of 32 seconds settled for fourth.

Arun T with further 27­sec difference was fifth and his Hero teammate Yuva Kumar finished behind him in sixth with a further 11­sec difference. With a difference of 8 sec, privateer from Bengaluru Nataraj R was seventh and Sachin D came in eighth a further 3sec behind, as he lost time in the final stage.

Pro Expert Group A

Developing a huge lead in the 52 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

Abdul Raheman winner 165 GroupB

very first stage was a biggest asset for Samuel Jacob. It was indeed very tough to be challenged by his fellow competitors. His teammate, Rajendra a former National champion, just returned to rallying. After his wrist surgery he skipped a few rounds in the previous season. He lost time in his first stage but did try to cut down the lead but was not successful. With an 8­sec deficit he settled for second position.

Defending Champion Abdul Wahid Tanveer who lost time in the very first stage was unable to catch up with about 20­sec difference and completed the podium in third. Since this class had only riders from TVS Racing, the lone lady competing in this class was the former six­time ladies class champion Aishwarya Pissay. She finished fourth.

endurance bike had only five gears and since he is a dirt rider, similar high level of performance on a tarmac cannot be expected.

A privateer from Bengaluru Amogh Nag had a shaky start in the first stage due to stray cattle and was slowed down. He got back in action in the remaining two stages and finished second with a difference of 50 seconds.

A seasoned rider Asad Khan from Chikkamagaluru finished third with a further difference of 8 sec.

After participating in one round, Sinan Francis was out of rallying the previous season. He made a comeback to finish fourth with 15sec difference. Tabish Rizvi finished fifth.

Abdul Rehaman with over a second difference managed to clinch the Super Sport 165cc class. He managed to keep Bharath L in second. Bharat had lost over 7 seconds in first stage and managed to reduce the difference to less than two seconds later on. As the final stage was cancelled he had to settle for second. Arshad Ali AT with a further 10­sec deficit managed to be on the podium in third position. Yogesh P with a 10­sec liaison penalties finished fourth with a further 16­sec difference. Varun Kumara A finished fifth with another 9­sec difference.

Super Sport 260 Group B

Imran Pasha from TVS Racing apart from winning the SS 260 Group B class missed the overall podium. Arun T from Hero Motosport finished second with 27­sec difference while his teammate Yuva Kumar with 10­ sec difference came third.

Sachin D of TVS by going off the road in Stage 1 had lost time but did manage to do well in Stage 2 and climb up the order.

However, Stage 3 didn't go his way. Trying to avoid a stray dog, he had a fall and recovered. He managed to finish the rally in fourth position. Banteilang Jyrwa with less than a second difference settled for fifth position. Sabarish R finished sixth.

Super Bike Expert Group A

Nataraj R, the defending champion in Super Bike Expert Group A Class, supported by VM Sports Foundation, topped the class with a total time of 26min 53.905sec. He also lost time in Special Stage 1 as he over shot in one of the corners and took time to get back on track. Sixth gear was essential due to long stretches and his bike being an

Rajesh Narajan Swami winner class5

Super Sport 400 Group B

Rajesh Narajan Swami was the winner of the SS 400 Group B class with a total time of 28min 03.988sec. Regular track racer Anish Shetty showed his presence in rallying as well and with a difference of 52 seconds he finished second. Akhand Pratap Singh with a further 34­ sec difference came third. Venu Ramesh Kumar V from Coimbatore finished fourth another 55­sec behind.

Madhurjya Jyoti Rabha with 25­ sec further deficit came fifth.

Super Sport 550 Group B

Suhail Ahmed beat fellow Bengalurian Naresh VS by 44 seconds to win the SS 550 Group B Class. Darshan Chaure finished third with another 1min 12sec difference. Sharath Kumar S also from Bengaluru has issues with carburettor and suspension. He lost time and missed the podium with a 42­sec deficit. He came fourth. Kaustubh Manohar Lohar finished fifth with further 1min 42sec difference which included 10 liaison penalties.

Scooter class upto 210 Group B

Defending champion Syed Asif Ali from TVS Racing began the season with a win with a huge margin of 2min 12sec over privateer Venkatesh Shetty.

Goutham N finished third with

2W NATIONAL RALLY, R­1, NASHIK

15sec difference.

Women's class Group B

Satara girl Tanika Shanbhag from Hero Motosport was defending her 2023 title and also won the class with a handsome margin of 1min 20sec over the second finisher Somyya Chaudhary. Remya Ravi finished a distant third. Bani Dabholkar was fourth and Tanaya Singh finished fifth.

Super Stock upto 450 Group D

Arshad Muhammed was the winner of the SS upto 450 Ggroup D class with a difference of 22 seconds. Uday Kumar M followed in second and Shivam Thakur with a difference of 15 sec came third. Prithvi Dillon finished fourth with a further difference of 15sec while Goutham Tao R with another 13 sec behind in fifth position.

Amarendra Sathe winner Star of Maharashtra

Star of Maharashtra

Amarendra Sathe from Pune ensured his presence was felt despite being in and out of rallying. He finished first with an overall time of 31min 59.600sec.

Lokesh Anil Bhosale finished second with a 30­sec deficit.

Kishor Jadhav finished third with another 7­sec difference.

Shridhar Pandey missed the podium by a margin of 59 seconds. Sanjay Bedse came fifth and Prithviraj Pingale was sixth.

Suhail Ahmed winner 550 class6

Dheeraj H winner class3

Syed Asif Ali winner Scooter class

Arshad Muhammed winner class9 JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 53

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13th AUTOTRACK AWARDS, BENGALURU

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Winners Rahil Pillarisetty, Ann Jennifer, Adam Feroze set for Austria stint

KTM Cup, India's unique championship, concludes a successful Secondseason, 2024

Rahil Pillari Shetty clinched the honours in the Pro­Category while Ann Jennifer annexed the Women's Category and Adam Feroze Backer won the Amateur Class in the action­packed finale of KTM Cup Season 2 at Coimbatore's Kari Motor Speedway .

The winners will train with KTM Pro instructors in the presence of 56 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

MotoGP legends at the KTM Academy of Speed in Austria.

O

ver 900 KTM owners from 114 towns participated across the Pro, Women and Amateur categories. Around 111 racers from 38 cities were then selected for the qualifier, making it the largest qualifier of any 'One Make Race' this far in India. Thus the 'Ready To Race

GP bikes. This machine boasts high­level components like trellis frame, WP Apex suspension and sophisticated technology like MTC and cornering ABS. These features, when combined with KTM's power to weight ratio create a racer's dream machine that is capable of incredible performance on the track.

2W RACING, COIMBATORE

The media race

Some of India's auto journalists also got to race on the KTM RC 390 at Kari track in a friendly media race. Their presence was an added motivation for the top racers who competed in the finale.

Jeremy McWilliams, Race Director, KTM Cup said: “Every nation across the world should have such grassroot­level programmes for racing like the KTM Cup India. It is good to see India introducing the women category. I have seen such efforts from the USA and other European countries. The feedback from the riders and their progression has been outstanding and at international standards. Jeba (Emmanuel Jebaraj) and his team have worked hard to up the standards and set up a good base for the riders. The KTM Cup is delivering exactly what it is set out to do for two consecutive seasons.”

KTM', the customer racing programme of KTM Cup concluded successfully.

The KTM Cup is recognised by fmsci as KTM's One Make Race Championship. This year, Castrol and Ceat joined KTM India's mission to popularize racing in India.

The Stages in KTM Cup

KTM Cup is conducted in 3 stages, selections, qualifier and finale. The Amateurs and Women with over 860 racers across India took part in the selection rounds at Coimbatore, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and the top 66 made it to the qualifier.

Out of these 860 racers, about 200 were women racers.

Sumeet Narang, President (Pro­biking) at Bajaj Auto Limited said: “The response to KTM Cup Season 1 was so overwhelming that Season 2 was a natural outcome. Racing is a sport that is best experienced in controlled environment of a racetrack than the streets. We have provided a platform for over a thousand racers to learn and display their racing talent. This year, we are thrilled by the fantastic turnout across the 3 categories. Winners from each category will fly to Austria for an unforgettable training experience at the KTM Academy of Speed. KTM fans can gear up for more such 'Ready to Race' experiences in the future.”

About 36 Pros joined in at the Qualifiers at Coimbatore. With 111 racers from 38 cities across India, the KTM Cup qualifier saw a large gathering for any one­make race in India.

The KTM Race Academy

KTM Race Academy is a pedigree racing school that trains the racers during selection and qualifier rounds. This is driven and mentored by ex­MotoGP racer Jeremy McWilliams and 7­time Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship winner Emmanuel Jebaraj.

The KTM RC 390 ­ Born and bred for the racetrack

Throughout all stages of the KTM Cup championship, the participants raced with the 'Ready To Race company­provided KTM RC 390 JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 57

Karna Kadur­Musa Sherif duo spearheads five Indian teams

Indians eye honours at RAAT Thailand National Rally

T

alented Indian driver Karna Kadur made his maiden foray into the international field along with experienced co­driver Musa Sherif as the duo spearheaded five Indian teams at the first round of the prestigious RAAT Thailand National Rally Championship 2024 held on April 6 and 7 at Chacheongsao Province in eastern Thailand.

Karan Kadur and Musa Sherif in center 58 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

On the invitation of Toyota Racing, a division of TCD Asia (Toyota customising and development), the two­time National Overall champion Karna Kadur of Bengaluru joined 'Team Fast Forward Sport' along with seven­time National Overall co­driver champion Musa

THAILAND RALLY

machine in the top RC1 Class.

“We are very happy to have received this call from TCD Thailand to drive the Toyota CHR alongside Mana san for the first round of the Thai National Rally Championship. We are looking forward to our first international outing together and can't wait to get on to the stages,” said Karna Kadur, who has multiple Indian titles in the sub­categories apart from the two National overall titles. Karna has recently partnered with Musa Sherif, who boasts of over 300 caps and is the senior­most rally co­driver from India and has many successful international outings to his credit.

The other popular Indian pair of Dhruva Chandrashekar and top co­driver PVS Murthy were also part of the Team Fast Forward Sport, but drove a Suzuki Swift in the 2.3 Class.

The rally also witnessed 2023 reigning champions in the 2w drive class, Jason Saldanha and co­driver Thimmanna Uddapanda, the first Indians to win a title in the Thailand championship which saw the participation of drivers from Malaysia, Japan, besides the Thai drivers. The Mangalore­Coorg duo drove a Suzuki Swift 1.6L six speed, in the 2.3 class for 'Team Insight & Ally' which also has a lady driver in Anushriya Gulati, who pairs with co­driver Karan Aukta .

Anushriya Gulati and Karan Aukta

Jason Saldanha and Timmanna Uddpanda

Sanam Sekhon and co­driver Hitesh Sharma also in a Suzuki Swift in 2.3 Class completed the Indian line­up. The hot and humid conditions and unknown dusty roads were a big challenge for the Indians making the competition much more interesting.

There were five Special Stages totalling to a timed competitive distance of 72.84km and along

with the liaison, the total distance of the rally extends to 146.44km.

The top event of Thailand attracted a healthy 55 cars, including the five from India. The three physical stages will be K45 Sportsland (13.5km), Sanam Chai Khet Forest Park (13km) and Chacheongsao Rubber Research Centre (16.67km). The last two Special Stages were run twice on Sunday.

Sherif from Kasargod. The Team Fast Forward Sport also had one of the top Thailand drivers in Mana Pornsiricherd and co­ driver Kittisak Klinchan, who also took a podium in the APRC round at Chennai in 2023. Both these pairs will be behind the wheel of a Toyota C­HR AP4 JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in59

Mysuru by 0.150th of a second.

Coorg's Abhin Rai finished third with a further less­than­a­ second difference.

2000cc class: Jenu Johnson won the 2000cc class beathing Dhruva Chandrashekar by less than a second difference.

Chikkamagaluru's Aeman Ahmed came third, a further second behind.

SUV Petrol/Diesel class: Vidit Jain was the winner followed

by Kaariappa in second with a minute difference. Darshan Nachappa Kokkengada finished third another second behind.

Chetan Shivram wins Clash of Titans With support from VM Foundation, JK Tyre Autocross attracts over 275 entries

T

he creamy class was the Clash of Titans which had a major share of cash prize an d s e as o n e d d ri v e r f ro m Bengaluru, Chetan Shivram, a former INRC Overall champion, won three regular classes and went on to win the Clash of Titans in the JK Tyre Autocross held at Mysuru recently.

With only Rs.1 entry fee, the JK Tyre Autocross attracted an overwhelming response of over 275 entries and it was the first time that an event of this nature had such a low entry fee.

Promoted by VM Sports Foundation and sponsored by JK Tyre, the event held in Mysuru also offered free stay and hospitality for the participants.

A few invitees from the fraternity were also part of the event which had nine classes were spread across three days on 1.8­km twin track. Popular Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma inaugurated the event in the 6O autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

presence of AK Mishra, Director, JK Tyres.

Day One

Unrestricted class: Chetan Shivram won the Unrestricted class, one of the premier classes, with over a second lead followed by Ahmed Salman and Bengaluru's Dhruva Chandrashekar in third, who was a further 2­sec behind.

Indian Open: Chetan Shivram with a total time of 2min 5.708sec won again to bag the prestigious Indian Open followed by Dhruva Chandrashekar, a second behind, and Ruthvik Gowda finished third, with less than two seconds further apart.

Ladies class: Pune's Nikeetaa Takkale with a total time of 2min 11.674sec won the class beating Dr. Shivani Pruthvi from Davangere. Shivani had been out of rallying for some time to finish her medical studies came three seconds behind. Meena finished

third with a further 22­sec difference. Sumitha T finished fourth.

Day Two

1400cc class: Vaibhav Marathe from Goa, a former INRC class winner, won the 1400cc class edging out Jenu Johnson from

Gypsy class: Darshan Nachappa Kokkengada was the winner followed by Kaariappa in second with three seconds difference.

Ashwin finished third with a difference of over 9sec on the winner.

Day Three

1600cc class: It was the third win for Chetan Shivram as he had won both the classes on Day 1.

He managed to keep Jenu Johnson behind him and won the 1600cc class with a margin of over three seconds. Rithesh Guthedar was edged out to third place by a hundredth of a second.

Clash of Titans: This is the top class, formed by selecting the 10

AUTOCROSS, MYSURU

toppers from all the classes.

This was the fourth straight win for Chetan Shivram who was in his elements once again demolishing all the opposition.

He finished 2 seconds ahead of second­placed Rithesh Guthedar.

Dhruva Chandrashekar came third, less than a second behind.

Coorg had to be shifted to Mysuru due to some unavoidable circumstances. An event was held on the same Mysuru track a few days earlier and it was totally ruptured.

Within seven days we had to

rebuild the full 1.8­km track to ensure a smooth surface and the work was undertaken on war footing. It was quite hectic to make last­minute booking cancellations and rebooking and finding accommodation to all

the drivers, tuners and organisers which was free.

Despite all this, we ran with the same intensity and, even permissions were a big burden.

Thankfully all went on well as expected."

"We are thrilled to associate with one of the nation's largest autocross events. For over four decades, our mission has been to bring motorsport to the masses, and the overwhelming number of entries affirm our commitment. Our sincere thanks are to Vamcy Merla for providing such a platform to the drivers to showcase their skills.

His hospitality sets a new benchmark. This commitment to excellence in creating an outstanding experience for all participants is rare," said Sanjay Sharma, Head of Motorsport, JK Tyre.

Speaking on the organising challenges, founder Vamcy Merla of VM Sports Foundation said: "The original venue from JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 61

Priyanka Mehta and Akash Sherpa win their respective Elite class

Highly-successful 11th Firefox MTB Himalaya Shimla 2024 concludes

T

he 11th Firefox MTB Himalaya Shimla 2024, organised by Firefox Bikes Limited in collaboration with MTB Himalaya, concluded with resounding success and thrilling moments. The event witnessed an unprecedented gathering of 140 mountain bikers from 45 cities across India and five countries, showcasing their skills and determination on challenging terrain.

Organised by the Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA), the competition was held in an MTB­XCM/XCO style race, open to both amateurs and

62 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2024

professionals. Riders embarked on a gruelling journey spanning 130 KM over two days, surmounting 3000 vertical meters through jeep roads, single tracks, and forest climbs.

This edition was distinguished not just by the rugged track but also by the diverse participation, embodying the spirit of mountain biking and adventure.

Featuring a completely new route and format, the race passed through forest trails of Kufri Wildlife Sanctuary, Chail Wildlife Sanctuary, and the pristine forests of Mashobra.

Held in seven categories with the highest­ever women

participation of 16 riders, the event showcased the youngest rider at the age of 11 and the oldest rider at 63 years of age.

Out of the 140 participants for the MTB Shimla, winners emerged in each category as follows:

Men's Elite: Akash Sherpa from Shimla had consolidated a lead of over 18min on Day 1 and kept on dominating the second day as well with a healthy margin. He was the leader as Atul from Dharmashala finished in second position. Nikhil Thakur from Kullu tried to make a comeback on the final day but his huge Day 1 deficit settled him to third.

Men's Junior (16­19 years): Ayush Negi from Dehradun was leading on Day 1 by 34min and had a close finish on Day 2. But the Day 1 lead was enough for him to win. Yugal Thakur from Shimla bettered his performance on Day 2 but had to settle for second position and Parvaiz Ahmad Mir from Budgam was third.

Men's Master (40­55 years): Sunil Barongpa from Kullu finished his Day 1 with over 55min lead and further extended on Day 2 as Amit Baliyan from Dehradun finished in second while Amrinder Singh Bajwa from Panota Sahib completed

CYCLING, SHIMLA

the podium.

Men's Grand Master (56 or above): Anil Kapila from Chandigarh was the undisputed leader from Day 1 as he began his Day 1 with a lead of over 100mts had nothing to look back as he further extended his lead on Day 2 as well. He finished on top while Kailash Chand Meena from Jaipur and Masheshwar Dutt from Shimla finished a distant second and third, respectively.

Men's Sub­Junior (15 years or below): With a 27­min lead on Day 1, Ashwin Rauthan from Dehradun managed to finish Day 2 with a further 4­min lead and won the class. Karthikay Kainthola from Dehradun finished in second position which he was holding on Day 1 while Aarav Thakur from Shimla came third.

Women's Elite (20­39 years): Priyanka Mehta from Haldwani began her journey with a 18­min lead at the finish of Day 1. But Day 2 never went as expected as she lost 9 min but still managed to hold on to her top position.

Sandhya Mourya from Bhopal was unable to cover up the Day 1 lost time in spite of good

performance on Day 2 and had to settle for second while Divija Sood from Shimla came a distant third.

"This year's race in Shimla embodies the surging enthusiasm for mountain biking and adventure sports sweeping across India," said Sriram, CEO of Firefox Bikes. "It transcends being merely a race; it mirrors a dynamic cultural shift towards embracing the great outdoors, pushing boundaries, and new challenges. Witnessing riders from diverse backgrounds spanning different ages and

experiences, underscores the inclusive essence of this exhilarating sport."

He continued, "The presence of top­tier riders heightened the race's atmosphere, infusing it with excitement and fostering a sense of competition. Their expertise, determination, and unwavering passion not only ignited fellow participants to pursue excellence. Their participation highlights the event's significance as a platform for showcasing the finest talent and pushing the boundaries of achievement."

JULY / AUGUST 2024 autotrack.ind.in 63

NEWS

Evotron Motorsports Revolutionizes Motorsports Landscape

E

Kush Maini becomes the fourth Indian to drive an F1 car

I

ndia's top racer and current F2 driver Kush Maini tested for the BWT Alpine F1 team at the Red Bull Ring, Austria. In a watershed moment for Indian motorsport, Maini became only the fourth Indian to successfully test a Formula 1 car.

votron Motorsports, a pioneer in the motorsports industry, announced its ground­breaking initiative to introduce EV Racing to India with the launch of the Bengaluru EV Festival. Scheduled to take place in September 2024, the festival heralds a new era in motorsports, blending the thrill of racing with the sustainability of electric vehicles.

For this one make races initially Ather will be providing 25 scooters for this venture, where as Tork Motors will provide the bikes.

The Bengaluru EV Festival will feature separate one make races, each dedicated to the respective Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) separately. With professional and novice categories, the festival aims to make racing accessible to all while promoting skill development and safety on the track. The professional category will be by invitation only, while the novice category will be open for registration on the festival website ­ https://bengaluruevfestival.com.

The test gains greater significance with the Alpine F1 team recently announcing that their driver Esteban Ocon will be leaving after the end of the current season. It's a major step for Maini in his ambitions to become a F1 driver.

Maini drove BWT Alpine's A522 Car and clocked more than 500 km in it. He did more than 110 laps of the Red Bull Ring.

Double podium for Geoffrey Emmanuel in Qatar

G

eoffrey Emmanuel, the 19­year­old from Chennai, marked his debut in the Qatar Superstock 600 championship with a

double podium as he finished third in both the races held at the Lusail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar, recently.

Riding a Kawasaki ZX­6, Geoffrey Emmanuel managed to quickly adapt to the bike and learn the track. He showed blistering speed from the beginning and managed to finish third in both the races in the Trophy category (first­ timers).

Jatin Jain finishes 6th in class at Portugal

J

atin Jain from India managed to finish 6th in his class and 27 t h in Rally2 at the BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal, which is also the Round 3 of the World Rally Championship.

Overnight and continuous rains before the event, had made the surface bad to worse, as a few places were completely water­ logged and negotiating on such a terrain was too challenging.

Geoffrey, backed by CEAT tyres and Sidvin Energy Engineering, is also taking part in the Junior World Championship, but decided to try the superbike, leading to his participation in the QSTK 600 championship.

He missed the first round of the Qatar championship as the dates clashed with the Junior Worlds.

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