October 2024

C 2024

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OCTOBER 20

MRF 2W INRC

JK FLGB 4 - R2

RAJENDRA wins National Overall title in a last-mile thriller

Diljith TS and Tijil Rao star

MRF 4W RACING

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JADEN PARIAT & ABHAY MOHAN clinch titles

Chennai's historic night race at the spectacular street circuit, a big success Parante and Hyman take top honours in IRL

IRF 2024

Hugh Barter & Alister Yoong excel in Round 1

+

RAIN FOREST CHALLENGE Kerala’s Dr. Fahed and Rajeev win in Goa ‘24

SUPERCROSS

SHLOK GHORPADE earns ‘Best Rider’ tag

INTERNATIONAL

Pragathi Gowda shines on debut, finishes third

SCOOTER RALLY

SHAMIM wins & ASIF is fastest

MIKA Circuit

World F1 champ Mika Hakkinen inaugurates

EDITORIAL / IMPRINT

Hi,

Our New Look.

AUTO TRACK is on a new track...

I

IMPRINT

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

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ndian motorsports is entering a thrilling new era, and the debut of the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit, a street circuit, has been the game­changer that everyone is waiting for. Following the success of Hyderabad's Formula E round, also on a street circuit, hopes were high for continued progress, but setbacks like the cancellation of the Chennai race due to flooding dampened those ambitions. Yet, the passion of the motorsports community never wavered and the Indian Racing Festival (IRF) organisers pulled off a fantastic show.

When the Chennai Street Circuit finally roared to life, it was more than just a race! It was a momentous occasion that silenced all doubts and fuelled excitement for the future. This inaugural night race, the first in India and only the third in all of Asia, was a spectacle of speed, grit, and precision. It also served as a shining example of Indian motorsports' potential, with the temporary track built in record time and setting a new standard for street racing in the country. Chennai's efforts have paved the way for a future of street circuits in India, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come.

The MRF 4W National Championship became the first to complete its season, wrapping up its four­round series, closely followed by the INRC 2W Championship, which concluded its five­round journey. Meanwhile, JK Tyre's National Racing series kicked off alongside IRF, with several of their races becoming a key part of the street circuit buzz.

The IRF was a spectacle in itself, offering more than just motorsports.

Bollywood, Tollywood, and cricket stars joined franchise teams, making it a glamorous, star­studded affair. This mix of motorsports and entertainment promises to drive the sport's popularity to even greater heights in the years to come.

The Blueband INRC has also had a fantastic season, now at its midpoint. After an eight­year hiatus, the championship returned to Nashik, a long­awaited and much­celebrated comeback. The remaining three rounds will be held on the gravel tracks of southern India, promising even more excitement.

To top off this landmark year, Breaking the Barriers, a documentary chronicling the history of Indian motorsports, has already premiered in Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru, drawing in huge and eager crowds. More screenings are planned in major cities across the country, further building the excitement for this thrilling sport.

Indian motorsports is moving ahead, with each race, championship, and documentary propelling the country into the global spotlight. Finally I thank one and all who have contributed to my 17 years of Journalism journey.

S. ASHOK KUMAR TIWARI Editor M: +91­9845296190 autotrack.editor@gmail.com O1 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

Staff Photographers: Noorulla, Keshava Murthy 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

VOLUME 16, ISSUE 6

CONTENTS

0 06

34

NEW DELHI

October 2024

30 18

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: 03

National Rotax Karting, Coimbatore: 06 IRF, Chennai Street Circuit: 08

Finals: 14MRF Natl 4W Racing

IRF Round-1, Chennai: 18

MIKA Track Inauguration: 22 Hindustan Zinc Feature: 24

Hygge Energy Feature: 26

553

New Revolution in Battery Life: 29

50: MRF 4W Racing, R3

Tracking Brands- HP Lubricants: 30

53: Monsoon Scooter Rally, Nashik 56: MRF Natl Supercross, Coimbatore

MRF 2W NRC finals, Coimbatore: 32

Blue Band INRC, Coimbatore,: 38

MRF 2W Racing Nationals, R3: 42

68 36 68 46: MG Windsor EV Review

62 20

62: Rain Forest Challenge, Goa 68: Renewable and Battery Show 70: National Sprint, South

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42 12

50 32

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70 16

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Pragathi Gowda shines on international debut, finishes third

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

First Indian to take a podium at Rallye des Vallées 2024 in her first attempt

P

ragathi Gowda finished on podium in her first attempt at the Rallye des Vallées 2024 by finishing third in the Rally 5 car class with a timing of 23:51.8 on August 26 in France.

She raced on equal footing with male competitors which included France's National Champion Yoan Corberand who finished first in her class.

After three months of rigorous training in Europe, the 26­year­ old Pragathi, along with Brazilian co­driver Gabriel Morales, not only blazed to the podium in her category but also finished an impressive 37th overall.

Pragathi said: “My first international rally in France was an incredible experience. We had a very productive test day and a perfect recce in the build­up to this beautiful rally. It was a challenging rally for me but with each kilometre I drove I gained confidence in the car and with

my co­driver. I was able to match speed of other top drivers. I was doing about 165 kmph in some places and averaged about 102 kmph speed throughout the race on these narrow roads."

"Thanks to the support provided by everyone on my team, I improved my time stage­after­ stage. I am really happy with my first rally experience in France and I will continue to work hard to improve my performance in the upcoming rallies. Also being acknowledged by some of the top rallyists here has been overwhelming and I am encouraged to do better in the upcoming race this weekend," she added.

track, she went on to improve her timing by a whopping 32 seconds across the second and third special stages to finish on the podium.

The Rallye des Vallées 2024 is a high­speed rally on narrow asphalt roads which begs

impeccable precision and one misstep could mean the end of the rally. Pragathi braved this challenge, achieving a top speed of almost 165kmph in some areas of the circuit and clocked an average speed of 102.5 kmph at the end of the rally.

Driving a Renault Clio Rally 5 car fitted with Indian made MRF tires, Pragathi showed immense pace in the first special stage to come 5th in her class and 80th overall. With a better grip on the OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 03

1. Does Rise in international representation relate to Indian Motorsports growth?

KRISHAN PAL UTTAR PRADESH UTTAM KUMAR KARNATAKA SURESH KIRAN CHANDIGARH

The rise in international representation of Indian riders is undoubtedly a strong indicator of Indian motorsports' growth. Riders like Kavin Quintal, who made history by becoming the first Indian to compete in the World Superbike Championship, and Jatin Jain's ambitious plan to compete in the 2025 Dakar Rally, are just a few examples of India's growing footprint on the global stage. Sarthak Chavan, another young talent, has been making waves, while female rally driver Pragathi Gowda pushed the boundaries in rally racing taking a podium in her first international debut in France.

The growing participation of Indian riders in global motorsports platforms showcases not only their individual talent but also reflects the increasing competitiveness and professionalism within the domestic motorsports scene. Events like the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup and TVS Asia Cup are providing a stepping stone for aspiring racers, nurturing them for international competitions. This, in turn, encourages further development of riders and drivers, sponsorship opportunities, and talent cultivation within India, if properly nurtured and publicised by the

Indian federation and clubs.

2. Will the franchise based leagues take away the championship essence?

Grass root level events and National championships will always remain as the breeding ground for the young and the talented sportspersons.

Franchise sport is the next­level sport which makes the sport more coulourful and it caters to both to the sportspersons and spectators.

But championships are meant for a different purpose. From where it ends for a rider or a driver, then the league journey begins.

3. With Bharat GP back after a year's break, will such inconsistency in sports take the sport backward?

The cancellation of the 2024 MotoGP race in India has raised concerns about the consistency of motorsport events in India. The primary reason for the cancellation was severe weather concerns, specifically high temperatures and heavy rains expected in September, which would have made it difficult for riders and event staff to perform under safe conditions. This decision follows the extremely challenging conditions during the 2023 race, where riders

experienced extreme heat, leading to physical exhaustion on the track.

Although the 2024 race is off the calendar, plans are in motion for a return in March 2025, which is expected to be almost certain and will offer more favourable weather conditions. While this might seem like a setback, the shift could prove beneficial in the long run, ensuring better conditions for both riders and spectators.

However, inconsistency like this does create concerns about India's reputation in global motorsports, and the country will need to ensure a more stable schedule to sustain its momentum in the world of motorsport.

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in the first round by finishing 8th in the 5­lap race, lasting roughly over 12 minutes.

Then 16 from the first round, 16 from the next round and four from the LCQ round went on to the Main race which had 36 riders on the starting grid. With a packed grid at the Start line, riders from all over United State, Shlok took the hole shot and maintained his pole position for almost two laps. Later, he fell short of experience and the expertise required for riding in rutty tracks and finished 9th in the Mains. He was ranked 10th Overall. And that was a pleasant surprise for a first­timer.

The second race Shlok participated was on Saturday in the MX at Glen Summer Series 1 at Glen Helen Raceway. He rode two classes, the 250cc Intermediate and the Open Intermediate class. Each class has two motos of 20 minutes each.

Shlok finished 1st in all motos in both classes. Shlok returned back to India from his maiden trip to the USA with 3 trophies.

Shlok Ghorpade goes international, bags podium at DMX Dubai

S

hlok Vikram Ghorpade, 16 years, from Satara, Maharashtra had a chance encounter with Selvaraj Narayana, Executive Director of KTM North America, in early 2024. And that set the ball rolling for Shlok to go international.

With support from KTM UAE, he won his first International trophy, a third place the DMX Round 5 at Dubai.

Shlok underwent rigorous training in the USA with KTM USA. He raced in two events during his training in California.

He was trained by Jarryd Coetzee.

The first race he participated was the Road to Mammoth Qualifier at Fox Raceway in Pala. He rode the 250cc Class C for foreign riders. He qualified for the Mains

NEWS

Kush Maini wins his first-ever F2 Sprint race

K

ush Maini takes his maiden win in the FIA Formula 2 Championship and became only the second Indian to achieve this feat at Hungaroring in Hungary. The 23­year­old Indian driver inherited the position from Richard Verschoor, who was disqualified due to a technical infringement following the race.

The top step of the podium translated into the Invicta racing driver adding 10 points to his season tally. With the win, Maini surpassed Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli in the Formula 2 Drivers Standings going up to P8 with 66 points under his belt. Placed 9th on the starting grid in Round 9 of the F2 Championship, Maini had his work cut out after a tough start on the hard compound tyre, which saw him lose a position on the opening lap to the Prema Racing driver, Antonelli.

Despite the setback in Lap 1, Maini kept his composure and steadily closed the gap on his rivals, finally bearing fruit in Lap 17, when he showcased his acumen and ability to perform under pressure, regaining P2.

The final 11 laps saw him not only fiercely defending his position but also constantly challenging Verschoor, demonstrating his prowess in handling the demanding Hungaroring circuit.

The sole Indian driver on the 2024 Formula 2 grid is currently enjoying his career best season with 5 podiums, including a race win under his belt.

After being adjudged the race winner, Kush expressed his joy with the F2 community through the official Formula 2 Instagram handle.

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KARTING NATIONALS, COIMBATORE

Rivaan Dev Preetham excels in Micro Max Round 3

Top honours for Rishon in Juniors, and Nikhilesh in Senior class

PHOTO BY: SHAHJAHAN

R

ivaan Dev Preetham, the 11­year­old from Chennai, took the honours in the Micro Max class while Bengaluru's Rishon Rajeev and Nikhilesh Raju, won the Senior and Junior classes respectively in the third round of the Meco Fmsci National Rotax Max Karting Championship 2024 at the brand new CoASTT circuit, built by India's first F1 driver, Narain Karthikeyan, at Coimbatore .

Former champion and Indian F4 driver, Rishon Rajeev from Birel Art India, topped the Pre­Final and the Final in the Senior Max class to underline his dominance.

In fact, Rishon won the 19­lap Final by 7.4 seconds with Rayo Racing's Krish Gupta from O6 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

Mumbai finishing second and Bengalurean Ruhaan Alva from MSport coming in third.

Nikhilesh Raju from Peregrine Racing extended his win­streak by winning both Pre­Final and Final races in the Junior Max category. He edged out Gurugram's Aarav Dewan from Leapfrog Racing in the Final with Chennai's Eshanth Vengatesan from MSport taking P3 spot. In the Pre­Final too Nikhilesh was a comfortable winner while Eshanth finished second, ahead of Aarav.

Rivaan Dev Preetham led a 1­2 finish for MSport in the Micro Max Final while finishing comfortably ahead of Rehan Khan R. Rayo Racing's Danish Dalmiya from Mumbai

completed the podium. Earlier, in the Pre­Final, the trio had finished in the same order.

Commissioner

of

Police,

Coimbatore City, V. Balakrishnan and District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati were the chief guests at the PD ceremony.

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O8 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

INDIAN RACING FESTIVAL, CHENNAI STREET CIRCUIT

Chennai’s historic night race at the spectacular street circuit, a big success

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Giancarlo Artho ahead of Mira Erda in Formula 4

Parante and Hyman take top honours

P

ortuguese veteran Alvaro Parante of Speed Demons Delhi and UK's Raoul Hyman representing Goa Aces JK Racing held their nerves in a thrilling finish to top the Round 2 in the Indian Racing League (IRL) races as the historic India's first­ ever night races, on the iconic street circuit of Chennai became a huge spectacle at Chennai on September 2.

Alvaro Parente IRL Race2 winner

Hugh Barter in the lead with Ruhaan Alva adjacent under safety car in Formula4 Race1 10 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

On a day of high drama and wheel­to­wheel action, with plenty of Safety Car periods, the 39­year­old Parante was pushed to the limit by a couple of young Bengaluru drivers, Sohil Shah from Goa Aces JA Racing and Rishon Rajeev of Bangalore Speedsters. However, the Portuguese driver used his vast experience to pick up pace at the crucial moment towards the fag

INDIAN RACING FESTIVAL, CHENNAI STREET CIRCUIT

Formula 4 Race1 winners

end of the race for a fine victory.

Shah briefly led the race before Parante, who had slipped to fourth after an error, caught up and passed him.

Earlier, Raoul Hyman and Gabriela Jilkova delivered a 1­2 finish for Goa Aces JA Racing in Race­1 that had its share of drama. The duo survived it all to take the top two podium spots ahead of Malaysian Alister Yoong from Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers who did extremely well to climb from P5 to pick up vital points for his team.

Thus, after two rounds, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers lead the championship table with 93 points, followed by Chennai Turbo Riders (83), Speed Demons Delhi (74), Goa Aces JA Racing (73), Bangalore Speedsters (39) and Blackbirds Hyderabad (36).

Barter and Alibhai shine in Formula 4 Indian Championship Hugh Barter of Godspeed Kochi and South African Aqil Alibhai of Hyderabad Blackbirds wrote their own scripts to share the day's honours in the FIA­ Formula 4 Indian Championship which was held along with IRL at the iconic street circuit.

Starting from pole position, Barter topped Race 1 in typical style, outpacing the field, in another flawless exhibition that underlined his undoubted talent.

In contrast, Alibhai, who missed Race 1 due to issues with his car, made ample amends by winning Race 2 after starting fourth on the grid, and, in the process, displayed considerable skill in defensive driving.

Barter, who won a race starting last on the grid in the previous round, was unstoppable while winning the first race that was marred by two Safety Car periods and then a red flag with a little over three minutes and a lap left. Meanwhile, Abhay Mohan from Bangalore Speedsters quietly moved to P4 from P8 and then jumped to third place behind Barter and Ruhaan Alva from Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers as Jaden Pariat from Bangalore Speedsters retired, bringing out the Safety Car for the third time with about six minutes and a lap left of the race. The proceedings were yet again interrupted by a red flag with about 3:30 plus one lap remaining following an incident.

Unable to complete the Qualifying 2 session, Barter started Race 2 from the end of the grid, and in no time, climbed to fifth before tangling with Ruhaan Alva and dropped to eighth. Ahead of them, Alibhai made three spots to take the lead which he defended with aplomb to win from two Indians, Divy Nandan and Jaden Pariat as the race ended behind the Safety Car. Alva finished fourth while Barter came in fifth.

Formula4 Race2 winners

Race1 IRL winners

IRL Race2 winners

Formula4 Race2 winners OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 11

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make further progress.

Later in the day, under lights, Tijil Rao came up with another fine drive to upstage Diljith after the two traded lead through the 10­ lap race that saw two Safety Car interventions.

Rookie: McPherson won the Race 1 as Abhay Mohan from Bengaluru representing MSport finished second and Ashok Lal also from Bengaluru representing Avalanche Racing finished third.

Race 2 was once again bagged

by McPhersaon as Abhay finished second and Bengaluru's Dhruvh Goswami from Msport finished third.

Divya Nandan first runner­up Formula4 Race2

Diljith and Tijil Rao star in JK Tyre Formula LGB 4

Jaden Pariat second runner­up Formula4 Race2

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ark Don team relished a memorable weekend on the street circuit as Diljith TS from Thrissur and Bengaluru's Tijil Rao won a race apiece in the Formula LGB 4 category, but both had to work hard for their P1 slots on the podium.

Race 1 was a close fight between pole­sitter Pune's Neython McPherson (Momentum Motorsports) and Diljith as the two exchanged leads early on.

However, the more experienced Diljith managed to secure a slender lead that he nursed to the finish despite a Safety Car period, to finish ahead of McPherson. Behind them, Tijil Rao, having started from P8, moved up to P3, showing impressive pace, but could not 12 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

Rishon Rajeev second runner­up IRL Race2

Stunt show by JK Tyre

INDIAN RACING FESTIVAL, CHENNAI STREET CIRCUIT

Naga Chaitanya holding F4 trophy with FMSCI president Akbar Ibrahim

Arjun Kapoor and John Abraham

JK Tyre Formula LGB4 winners JK Tyre Formula LGB4 action

John Abraham with the IRL trophy TamilNadu Sports Minister Udayanidhi Stalin honouring the winner

IRF promoter Akhilesh Reddy breifing Sports Minister

Flag off by the Sports Minister of Tamil Nadu Udayanidhi Stalin OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 13

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Bengaluru's Chetan Surineni, winner of MRF F2000 Race­2

Jaden Pariat, Abhay Mohan clinch MRF Formula titles Biren Pithawalla, Viswas Vijayaraj, Diana Pundole emerge champions

PHOTO BY: ANAND PHILAR

D

iana Pundole from Pune broke the glass ceiling by becoming the first female driver to win a championship title as the curtains came down on an action­packed fourth and final round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Car Racing Championship 2024, powered

by Storm­X at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai on August 18. Teenagers Jaden Rahman Pariat from Shillong and Bengaluru's Abhay Mohan

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emerged champions in the premier MRF single­seater.

Mumbaikar Biren Pithawalla from N1 Racing won the Indian Touring Cars championship while Chennai's Srinivas Teja from Performance Racing won the Indian Junior Touring Cars.

Viswas Vijayaraj from Nellore representing DTS Racing was the winner of the Formula LGB 1300 championship and Lonavla's Dhruv Chavan survived massive battles through six races over

the weekend and won the championship in the Polo Cup.

Diana Pundole, the mother of two from Pune, became the first female driver to annex the title in the MRF Saloons category.

Incidentally, she celebrated her 28th birthday on Friday last.

“But I didn't touch my phone because I wanted to focus on this weekend's races. I can't describe the feelings now but I'm very happy, of course,” she said.

MRF Formula 2000

Seventeen­year­old Jaden set a scorching pace to score his eighth win in 10 outings from pole position in the Race 1 on Saturday. However, on the final day on Sunday, Jaden could not add to his eight wins, as he finished second behind Bengaluru's Chetan Surineni in both races. But the 17­year­old from Shillong, clinched the title on Saturday itself, as he accrued sufficient points to annex his

NATIONAL 4W RACING FINALS, CHENNAI

Anirudha Aravind in MRF Saloons class

Jaden Pariat, winner of the MRF F2000 race

maiden championship with Surineni in second spot behind him.

In Race 1, Jaden was the winner followed by Chetan Surineni from Bengaluru in second as Tarun Muthaiah also from Bengaluru finished third. Chetan won the Race 2 followed by Jaden in second and Akhil Agarwal from Mumbai completed the podium. It was the second straight win from Chetan as Jaden followed him in second and Tarun finished third.

Chetan finally found his touch and his team managed to tune the car up for a victory, but it came a bit late towards the championship. “We finally learnt and did what we needed. This augurs well for the next season,” quipped Surineni.

his maiden championship. His second place behind Mumbai's Zahan Commissariat may have denied him an all­win record but it did not take any sheen away from his fabulous performance where he dominated right from Day 1. With 11 wins from 12 starts, Abhay emerged champion by a massive margin.

MRF Saloons race winners Diana, Anirudha and Tarushi

“It is still to sink in. I mean, winning a championship in my debut season is great, but I can't find words to express my happiness. It was a good run

Biren Pithawalla en route to his eighth win in the ITC class

“I have proved to myself that I have it in me to win a championship. After my win yesterday, I just wanted to bring the car home without trying anything risky, but it's great to win my first­ever championship.

It is also good for Chetan (Surineni) to win both races today,” said Jaden on Sunday.

MRF Formula 1600

Abhay, 16, was equally impressive in maintaining his unbeaten run in the MRF Formula 1600 category. He thus made his debut season a delightful occasion by clinching

Vadodara's Mira Erda winning Formula LGB 1300 Race­2 OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 15

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Abhay Mohan, winner of the MRF F1600 race

Abhay won Race 1 with a difference of over 2sec on Zahan as Raaj Bakhru from Mumbai finished third. Zahan won the Race 2 as Abhay finished second and Saishiva Sankaran from Pune completed the podium.

Abhay's was second in the final race followed by Saishiva in second and Raaj finished third.

Formula LGB 1300

Viswas Vijayaraj from Nellore led a podium sweep for DTS Racing, while also scoring his eighth win to take a firm grip on the title in the R ace 1. His team­mates Balaprasath from Coimbatore and Diljith TS from Thrissur came in second and third, respectively.

Nellore's 26­year­old Viswas Vijayaraj claimed the title in the category despite retiring early in the last two races, one of which was won by Mira Erda who, starting from pole, held off stiff

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competition to score her first­ ever win in single­seater since her debut in 2014.

“I have waited for 10 years for this moment. I have been racing in a single­ seater class since 2014, but apart from a few podiums, I have never won a race. So, I am absolutely delighted by today's win which I am told is the first by a female driver in FLGB 1300,” said an ecstatic 23­ year­old Mira who is also making a career as a driver­coach.

“

The day's post­lunch session was extended due to a couple of crashes and spins leading to Red Flag stoppages with title contenders involved in wheel­ to­wheel battles. Diljith was the winner of the final race followed by Bala in second and Neev Datta from New Delhi representing MSports finished third.

fine race to finish second with a last lap overtaking of Ananth Pithawalla from N1 Racing.

Elsewhere, Mumbai's Biren Pithawalla from N1 Racing also notched his eighth consecutive victory, holding off Chennai ace Deepak Ravikumar from Performance Racing who drove a

Indian Junior Touring Cars

Indian Touring Cars

Biren won the second race while Anant followed him in second and Jeevanantham Subramaniam from Coimbatore came in third. By winning the Race 3, which was his third straight dominance followed by Deepak in second as Anant finished third.

Srinivas Teja from Performance Racing topped the Class and Championship as he won all the three races of weekend.

“It is still to sink in. I mean, winning a championship in my debut season is great, but I can't find words to express my happiness. It was a good run overall and I thank my JA Motorsports, my family and friends for their support,” said Abhay.

“

overall and I thank my JA Motorsports, my family and friends for their support,” said Abhay.

NATIONAL 4W RACING FINALS, CHENNAI

Abhay Mohan notched his 10th consecutive win in the MRF F1600

In Race1, Nikung Vagh from Surat representing Team N1finished second as Dean Mascarenhas from Mangaluru representing from DB Motorsports finished third.

Chennai's Hatim Shabbir from Team Performance Racing finished second in Race 2, behind Srinivas, while Yug Italiya from Mumbai, Team N1. Hatim once again finished behind Srinivas in Race 3 as Nikung finished third. .

Super Stock

In a race that saw its share of

extremely close fights where a few cars exchanged paints, Justin Singh won two races.

Coimbatore's Bala Prasath from DTS Racing won Race 1 followed

by Justin in second and his teammate Manan Patel from Mumbai finished third.

Justin Singh from Gurugram representing Redline Racing won Race 2 as local driver Anirudha Aravind his teammate finished second and Angad Matharoo from Chandigarh representing Buzzing Hornet

Viswas Vijayaraj moving ahead of Balaprasath

Motorsports finished third. In Race 3, Justin was followed by Anirudha in second and Manan finished third.

MRF Saloons (Toyota Etios)

Daiana Pundole, the mother of two from Pune, was in total command while winning the Race 1 ahead of Chennai's Anirudha Aravind and Tarushi Vikram from Chikkamagaluru in third. In Race 2, Anirudha was followed by Diana in second as Muskaan Jubbal from Delhi

finished third. By winning Race 3, Diana won the championship as Anirudha and Muskaan finished in second and third position respectively.

Polo Cup

There was plenty of action in the Polo Cup which saw three of the six races scheduled being completed. All three races produced different winners underlining the competitiveness of the grid. Aditya Patnaik (Mumbai), Dhruv Chavan (Lonavla) and Romir Arya (Mumbai), the youngest competitor in this category, won a race apiece.

Aditya Patnaik from Mumbai was the winner of Race 1 followed by Ojas Surve also from Mumbai in second as Dhruv Chavan from Lonaval finished third. Dhruv won Race 2 as Ojas managed to Keep Aditya behind him in third.

Romir Arya from Mumbai won Race 3 as Ojas once again finished second while Dhruv finished third.

Neythan McPherson holding back Eshan Narayanan

Romir was the winner of Race 4 followed by Dhruv in second and Munjal Savia from Mumbai in third. Aditya won the fifth race of the day as Munjal and Romir finished in second and third respectively. Ojas won the final race of the day as Dhruv finished second and Aditya was third.Dhruv Chavan won the championship.

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Hugh Barter of GodSpeed Kochi scores F4 double

Alister Yoong powers Bengal Tigers to victory in IRL season opener

A

ustralia's Hugh Barter of Godspeed Kochi made up for his disastrous outing on Saturday with a grand double in the Formula 4 Indian Championship that was held along with Round 1 of the Indian Racing League which concluded at the Madras International 18 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

Circuit on August 25.

Malaysian Alister Yoong showcased his racing pedigree with a lights­to­flag win for Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in the first round of Indian Racing Festival which was presented by Kingfisher Soda.

Starting from pole position,

Yoong, the 21­year­old son of former Formula 1 driver, Alex, enjoyed an untroubled run after seeing off an early challenge from Hyderabad Blackbirds' Akhil Rabindra who eventually settled for P2.

Czech Republic's Gabriela Jilkova, representing Goa Aces

JA Racing finished third after an impressive drive in a race that turned out to be processional with track positions at the front remaining unchanged throughout the 25 minutes­ plus­1­lap outing.

“I had a beautiful car today. So, yeah, I had a good start, and it is

INDIAN RACING FESTIVAL, R1, CHENNAI

Avia Anagnostiadis from Goa Aces JA Racing

nice to win,” said Yoong.

Barter excels in F4 Meanwhile, in the F4 India Championships, 19­year­old Barter virtually destroyed the competition while winning Race 2 by over 18 seconds and then

Alister Yoong winner of IRL with Akhil Rabindra and Gabriela Jilkova

bagged Race 3 also convincingly despite a Safety Car period which bunched up the grid, negating his big lead.

Barter was at his aggressive best in the second race which he started from P15 and made it to

P1 in a matter of just seven laps.

Thereafter, his scorching pace took him well clear of the pack. Following him home were fellow­Aussie Isaac Demellweek of Chennai Turbo Riders and India's Divy Nandan of

Ahmedabad Apex Racers.

In the next race, Barter was yet again off to a great start and went on to enjoy a lead of over 10 seconds before the Safety Car was deployed following an on­ track incident. On resumption,

Veer Sheth from Ahmedabad Apex Racers OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 19

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Barter pulled away for a comfortable win.

Behind the Aussie, South African Aqil Alibhai of Hyderabad Blackbirds settled into P2 ahead of Ruhaan Alva Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers to finish in that order.

Three Indians – Jaden Rahman Pariat, the Race­1 winner yesterday, Divy Nandan and Abhay Mohan took the fourth, fifth and sixth spots, respectively, to provide more cheer to their countrymen.

JK Tyre­fmsci National Racing Championship Formula LGB 4:

B

engaluru's Tijil Rao of Dark Don Racing came up with a brilliant drive that was a mix of aggression and defence and pulled off a deserving­win in Race 2. Holding off veteran Raghul Rangasamy of MSport. Mehul Agarwal, another member of Dark Don Racing from Kolkata, did well to finish P3 with a last­lap spurt.

The race produced some heart­stopping moments beginning with pole­sitter on the reverse grid Chetan Surineni of Ahura Racing stalling his car while Tijil Rao and Agarwal capitalised to move to the front. The positions were unchanged despite a Safety Car period.

On resumption, Tijil Rao defended brilliantly to deny Rangasamy who had slipped past Agarwal who, in turn, traded places with Abhay Mohan before coming in at P3.

Royal Enfield Continental Cup: Coimbatore's Navaneeth Kumar S pulled off a fine win over Race­1 20 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

INDIAN RACING FESTIVAL, R1, CHENNAI

winner, Anish Shetty. The duo finished ahead of Soorya PM who was promoted to P3 after

Abhishek Vasudev was docked 30 seconds penalty for “overtaking under yellow flag”.

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World F1 Champion Mika Hakkinen inaugurates MIKA circuit amidst pomp and show

D

ouble Formula One World Champion Mika Hakkinen flagged off Indian motorsports on a new and exciting journey when he inaugurated the state­of­the­art Madras International Karting Arena (M.I.K.A.), here on Thursday at a gala and landmark ceremony that was attended by India's two former F1 drivers, Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.

Hakkinen, on a whistle­stop visit to Chennai enroute to Singapore for the F1 Grand Prix, was received on his arrival at the airport by Madras Motor Sports Club vice­president Vicky

MIKA CIRCUIT INAUGURATION

Karun, Mika and Narain during demonstration laps at the MIKA track

Chandhok and was brought to the MIC for the launch ceremony that the traditional lighting of the lamp and unveiling a commemorative tablet which will be on display at the MIKA circuit.

At an emotionally charged function after Hakkinen, the F1 champion in 1998 and 1999, and popularly known as the “Flying Finn”, posed for a group photograph with young karting drivers, he provided an insight into the mind and making of a World Champion. “I like MIKA because it is my name too!” he declared but added on a serious note: “You must learn to lose and

Titan Edge Carbon Fibre watches being presented

by Kalpana Rangamani CSMO, Premium watches, Titan 22 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

enjoy the win, and to control your emotions. As you move up the racing ladder, it is a whole different World out there. There is a lot of pressure from family, friends and teams. So, you must be able to deal with the pressure.

But everything is up here,” he said, pointing to his temple.

On prompted by Karun Chandhok during a one­on­one interview, Hakkinen spoke at length about his Formula One career, especially his inability to win a single race for six years after debut before tasting success by winning two back­to­ back World Championship titles.

He also touched upon his rivalry

with seven times World Champion Michael Schumacher.

“You learn a lot watching Michael though, at times, he can be a bit naughty,” said Hakkinen.

Later, Hakkinen, along with Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok, performed demonstration laps on the MIKA track in specially prepared electric karts after the traditional lighting of lamp and a ribbon­ cutting ceremony.

“Karting is a good way to start your racing career, and this MIKA track offers a wonderful platform for kids to make a beginning. I hope they enjoy their karting stint,” he said.

Lighting the Lamp at the inauguration function

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manufacturers reduce their carbon footprint across the value chain. Produced using renewable energy, the carbon footprint of EcoZen is about 75% lower than the global average making it a preferred choice for the automotive sector.

"As the automotive industry transforms, zinc stands out as a sustainable solution for the challenges of tomorrow," said Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc. "We're committed to collaborating with Indian automakers to unlock zinc's potential and propel India's mobility future forward. Our zinc solutions are not only cost­ effective and adaptable for complex designs but also environmentally responsible, making zinc a key material for a cleaner and more sustainable tomorrow,” he added.

Driving the future of automotive innovation with Hindustan Zinc

I

n the ever­evolving landscape of automotive manufacturing, the materials chosen for vehicle production are critical for achieving optimal performance, sustainability, and durability. Among these, zinc has emerged as a pivotal material, offering a multitude of benefits from lightweighting and corrosion protection to enhancing the durability of key automotive components. As the global automotive sector continues to push the boundaries of sustainability and efficiency, zinc's role has become indispensable in shaping the future of vehicle design and manufacturing.

At the forefront of this transformation is Hindustan Zinc, India's largest and the world's second­largest integrated zinc producer, providing cutting­edge solutions tailored to the automotive industry's needs.

The company's focus on

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innovation and sustainability places zinc­based products at the heart of new vehicle technologies.

SIGNIFICANT FEATURE One of the primary uses of zinc in the automotive sector is galvanization, a process where a layer of zinc is applied to steel to protect it from corrosion.

Approximately 80% of a car's body structure, known as the Body­in­White (BIW), relies on zinc­coated steel for longevity and structural integrity. In regions exposed to erratic & heavy rainfall, heat, humidity, salt, extreme pollution or harsh environmental conditions, zinc's superior corrosion resistance ensures that vehicles remain corrosion­free for extended periods, significantly increasing their lifespan.

A recent study from IIT Bombay and the International Zinc Association underscores the importance of zinc

galvanization. Vehicles with non­ galvanized steel experience up to 65% corrosion within five years, while those with galvanized steel face only 7% corrosion in the same period.

This demonstrates how zinc can dramatically extend the life of vehicles, providing value to both manufacturers and consumers.

Hindustan Zinc offers a range of high­quality zinc products, including Special High­Grade Zinc and Continuous Galvanizing Grade Zinc, that are crucial in the galvanization process. These products not only provide robust corrosion protection but also ensure cost­efficiency for automakers, allowing them to extend vehicle warranties and improve overall vehicle durability. Additionally, Hindustan Zinc's latest offering, EcoZen, Asia's first low­carbon 'green' zinc, exemplifies the company's commitment to environmentally friendly products that help car

PRODUCT APPLICATION As automakers strive to meet stringent fuel efficiency and emission standards, lightweighting has become a top priority. Traditionally, materials such as aluminium and carbon fibre have been used to reduce vehicle weight, but zinc alloys are proving to be a highly effective alternative. Zinc's strength­to­ weight ratio allows it to replace heavier materials without compromising on safety or structural integrity.

Zinc alloys, such as those provided by Hindustan Zinc, are used to manufacture intricate, high­strength components.

From engine parts and seatbelt mechanisms to door locks and electronic housings, zinc die­ casting allows for the production of complex and durable components that are critical to vehicle safety and performance.

The use of zinc alloys helps reduce overall vehicle weight, improving both fuel efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions.

Hindustan Zinc is also playing a pioneering role in alternative battery technologies, such as zinc­air and zinc­ion batteries.

These emerging battery solutions offer a cost­effective and sustainable alternative to

ZINC:THE BACKBONE OF AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

addressing local consumer needs. Zinc's pivotal role in corrosion protection, lightweighting, and component manufacturing makes it a key material for Indian automakers seeking to enhance vehicle durability and performance.

“Our focus is to present product solutions that cater to the growing demand of the auto sector. The rising demand in the middle­class segment necessitates the evolution of automobiles that are long­ lasting and durable,” said Mr. Misra. The company is well­ positioned to cater to the current and emerging needs of the Indian auto sector, offering a broad range of products that find usage across the automotive value chain – from casting to galvanizing to batteries.

With Hindustan Zinc leading the charge, the Indian automotive

traditional lithium­ion batteries, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs). As EV adoption continues to rise globally, these zinc­based batteries hold great promise in improving energy storage and advancing environmentally friendly solutions.

Hindustan Zinc's focus on battery innovation aligns with the growing global demand for greener technologies in the automotive sector. With zinc being abundantly available and 100% recyclable, zinc­based batteries offer both cost advantages and sustainability benefits for EV manufacturers and consumers alike.

industry is well­positioned to adopt global best practices. He further added, “As the country transitions to electric mobility, Hindustan Zinc's partnerships with automakers, industry bodies, and academic institutions will accelerate the development of zinc­based solutions that are cost­efficient, sustainable, and reliable.”

As the automotive industry undergoes significant changes driven by technological advances and shifting market dynamics, zinc is set to play an even greater role in vehicle manufacturing. Moreover, Hindustan Zinc's offerings are the first in India to receive Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) verification, providing comparable data on the product's environmental footprint, along with ISO and BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certifications for quality.

Additionally, Hindustan Zinc also has REACH quality certification for exporting its products to Europe.

Hindustan Zinc's innovative solutions, commitment to sustainability, and partnerships within the automotive ecosystem will ensure that zinc continues to drive innovation and efficiency in the sector, positioning both the company and the Indian automotive industry for a bright and sustainable future.

FOR INDIAN AUTOMAKERS As India emerges as one of the fastest­growing automotive m ark e t s i n t h e wo rl d , t h e demands for durability, safety, and fuel efficiency are driving material innovations. The aspirations of India's burgeoning middle class are pushing automakers to produce vehicles that meet global standards while OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 25

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Hygge Energy: Pioneering P2P Energy Trading and Carbon Emission Tracking Amidst India's Rooftop Solar Revolution

Nowhere is this more apparent than in Karnataka; the state has emerged as a frontrunner in the adoption of rooftop solar and peer­to­peer (P2P) energy trading. The state's progressive p o l i c i e s — K E R C ' s Implementation of Peer­to­Peer Solar Energy Transaction Regulations, 2024—are driving this transformation. These regulations aim to facilitate blockchain­based P2P energy trading, allowing solar energy prosumers (sellers) to directly trade surplus electricity with consumers (buyers). This system

PRATEEK SAXENA ­ FOUNDER AND CEO HYGGE ENERGY

Power of SOLAR I

ndia's rooftop solar market is on the brink of significant growth. Projected to expand at a CAGR of 15.29% over the next six years, it will cross the INR 1 lakh crore mark by 2029, underscoring the immense potential for investment and

“

innovation in this space. As of August 2024, India's grid­ connected installed rooftop solar capacity stands at 13.89 GW, and off­grid solar at 3.76 GW. To put this in perspective, the former alone is enough to meet the combined power

demand of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai—the country's largest electricity consumers. The market's growth is driven by decreasing costs of solar PV systems, government i n c e n t i v e s , an d i n c re as i n g consumer awareness.

"The integration of rooftop solar with the grid presents a persistent challenge for DISCOMs, which is why rooftop solar programs struggle to succeed. While we have seen a much-needed boost in rooftop solar installations thanks to schemes like the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the actual key to success is making it a win-win for everyone involved, and not just a select few. This is the challenge we have addressed at Hygge Energy; we have developed a solution that enables DISCOMs to efficiently absorb solar while benefiting communities by fostering energy independence, lowering electricity costs, and enhancing local resilience. Our P2P trading platform has gained momentum, and we are encouraged to see regulators like KERC leading the way with forward-thinking regulations that benefit all stakeholders. Regulators and policymakers have the power to create an environment that enables companies like Hygge to develop groundbreaking technologies that address both the urgent needs of today and the challenges of the future. Our vision is to partner with DISCOMs to build a cleaner, more flexible grid without raising electricity prices. Together, we aim to be the Amazon of the clean energy market and drive the future of sustainable power."

“

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bypasses traditional energy distribution companies (DISCOMs) and gives more power to the consumer, creating an open and efficient energy market that will contribute thoroughly to the adoption of

FEATURE­HYGGE ENERGY

rooftop solar in the state. With competitive tariffs and streamlined processes for rooftop solar installations, Karnataka is setting the benchmark for energy decentralization and consumer

empowerment in India.

At a recent forum, Nandan Nilekani, co­founder and chairman of Infosys, presented a forward­thinking vision for India's energy future—one that centres around a transparent, efficient and consumer­driven energy system. His call for a system where consumers have direct control over their energy usage and transactions echoes the demands of today's rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Hygge Energy anticipated this shift as far back as 2019. In fact, Hygge's groundbreaking platform has since been delivering on what Mr. Nilekani envisions by integrating real­ time transparency, AI and blockchain­powered transactions. Their patented technology not only enhances the security and efficiency of energy transactions, but also empowers consumers by enabling seamless P2P energy trading among them. Hygge's system ensures that energy markets are accessible to all, giving consumers the ability to directly trade their surplus energy while also benefitting from lower costs.

Sohrarim in the East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, for instance, continues to clearly demonstrate how AI and blockchain­based P2P energy trading can be used to empower communities by providing access to affordable and reliable energy—even through incessantly inclement weather typical of the world's wettest region—without the need for capital­intensive grid investments. This project, supported by the Government of Meghalaya, not only powers villages but also contributes to local economic growth through rural resilience and skill development.

Hygge's vision has been put into practice with effective results.

Through their collaboration with UC Berkeley's Smart Village Movement (SVM), Hygge has been working diligently to alleviate energy poverty and build a sustainable energy infrastructure in rural India. Their project in the remote village of OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 27

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FEATURE­HYGGE ENERGY

businesses, especially those in hard­to­abate industries like steel, cement and aluminium. Hygge's platform includes a real­time carbon emission tracking system, allowing businesses to monitor their carbon footprint accurately, transparently and securely.

It is essential for companies to track Scope 2 emissions, which arise from the use of electricity in manufacturing processes and can vary significantly depending on the energy source. Hygge's patented technology uses blockchain to provide instantaneous and tamper­ proof tracking of energy generation and consumption. This ensures that businesses can track and report their emissions with accuracy, meeting regulatory requirements.

By allowing manufacturers and renewable energy producers to track their power generation and consumption in real time, Hygge's solution simplifies compliance with carbon reporting requirements.

The manufacturer saves a lot of time, effort and costs in not only obtaining accreditation for their data from approved agencies, but also maintaining documentation and records for their renewable energy consumption and tying them to indirect emissions. Both the manufacturer and the renewable energy producer (under power purchase agreement) get an accurate view of power generation and consumption, allowing them much more granular management of their PPAs.

Hygge's patented solution integrates two essential functions—P2P trading and carbon tracking.

Peer­to­Peer Energy Trading: Securing Energy Independence for Smaller DISCOMs

Hygge Energy is poised to lead the way for numerous small­scale distribution companies across the USA. In Kentucky, these utilities are being empowered to achieve energy independence through Hygge's P2P energy trading platform. These smaller­sized distribution companies often face energy security challenges because they do not generate their own power, relying instead on external energy purchases. This dependence puts them at the mercy of fluctuating prices and creates potential security risks. By using Hygge's P2P platform, smaller distribution companies can aggregate local renewable energy sources, particularly solar, to stabilize their energy supply and reduce their dependence on external sources.

For hard­to­abate industries, reducing carbon emissions is critical but challenging. These industries must source more renewable energy locally, reducing their reliance on carbon­intensive power sources. By integrating P2P trading with carbon emission tracking, Hygge's platform provides a transparent and efficient way for industries to track and reduce their carbon footprint. This integration allows companies to source clean energy directly from local producers while simultaneously meeting their carbon reduction targets.

As India stands at the cusp of an energy revolution, Hygge Energy is proud to lead the charge in making energy generation and consumption clean, transparent and consumer­driven. From empowering energy consumers to making small DISCOMs energy­ independent, Hygge is paving the way to a future where energy is not just a commodity but a sustainable and community­driven resource.

This model provides a dual benefit. Firstly, it ensures energy stability for the distribution companies, allowing them to manage their energy supply more effectively. Secondly, it reduces electricity costs for communities through subsidies as renewable energy becomes a larger part of the energy mix.

Furthermore, In the scalable P2P model, integrated technologies like wind and solar are already being deployed in Karnataka, with ongoing discussions to incorporate microhydro turbines and hydro storage where feasible. These advancements contribute significantly to reducing carbon emissions by decreasing the dependence on traditional, carbon­intensive energy sources.

Carbon Emission Tracking: Transparency, Accuracy and Security

As the world moves towards stricter environmental regulations, such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, tracking and managing carbon emissions at a granular, product and/or batch level has become crucial for

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NEW REVOLUTION IN BATTERY LIFE

Second Life Batteries: A Sustainable Solution for Stationary Applications

T

he rise of electric vehicles (EVs) has brought about a surge in demand for lithium­ion batteries. While these batteries are crucial for powering EVs, they eventually reach a point where their performance declines. Rather than discarding these batteries, a sustainable solution is emerging: repurposing them for stationary applications.

Understanding Second Life Batteries Second life batteries are lithium­ion batteries that have been retired from their primary use in EVs. While they may not have the same peak performance as new batteries, they still retain a significant amount of capacity. This makes them ideal for applications that don't require the same level of power or fast charging as EVs. Benefits of Second Life Batteries

SUSTAINABILITY- VISION MECHATRONICS AND JSW MG MOTORS for peak shaving, load balancing, and backup power.

Grid­Scale Energy Storage: Large­scale energy storage systems can be built using second life batteries to support renewable energy integration and improve grid reliability.

Telecommunications Infrastructure: Second life batteries can provide backup power for telecommunication towers and data centers.

Vision Mechatronics' ReLiVe Battery Vision Mechatronics, a leading Indian technology company, has made significant strides in the field of second life batteries.

Their product, "ReLiVe," is India's first high­ voltage (HV) second life battery with an indigenous battery management system (BMS).

Key features of ReLiVe include: Preventive Predictive Monitoring: Advanced monitoring systems ensure optimal battery performance and early detection of potential issues.

High Safety Standards: Rigorous safety measures are in place to protect against thermal runaway and other hazards.

Customizable Solutions: ReLiVe can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of various stationary applications.

Bharat Gupta, Director Vision Mechatronics Environmental Sustainability: Repurposing batteries reduces the need for new materials and manufacturing, minimizing the environmental impact.

Cost­Effectiveness: Second life batteries are typically more affordable than new batteries, making them a financially attractive option.

Energy Storage: They can be used in stationary energy storage systems to store excess renewable energy, such as solar or wind power, for later use.

Grid Stability: Second life batteries can help stabilize the electrical grid by providing backup power during peak demand or grid outages.

Applications of Second Life Batteries Residential Energy Storage: Second life batteries can be installed in homes to store excess solar energy generated during the day, reducing reliance on the grid.

Commercial Energy Storage: Businesses can use second life batteries to store energy

Vision Mechatronics and JSW MG Motors India have partnered to create ReLiVE, India's first high­voltage second­life battery. This innovative initiative repurposes retired MG ZS EV batteries for industrial use. Equipped with a homegrown Battery Management System (BMS), ReLiVE is deployed in a Pune­ based facility, supporting sustainability and circular economy goals.By extending battery life, this collaboration reduces waste and offers a sustainable, cost­effective energy storage solution for India's industries. The initial deployment, using six modules from MG ZS EV batteries, delivers 36 kW of power paired with an Industrial UPS for backup.

ReLiVE is customizable from 180V to 1500V, catering to diverse C&I sector needs. This provides a significant price advantage and helps businesses achieve their ESG and sustainability targets.

Conclusion

Second life batteries offer a sustainable and cost­effective solution for stationary energy storage applications. By repurposing retired EV batteries, we can reduce waste, conserve resources, and contribute to a greener future.

Vision Mechatronics' ReLiVe battery is a promising example of the potential of second life technology in India and beyond. As the demand for renewable energy continues to grow, the importance of second life batteries will only increase.

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H

P Lubricants, a division of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), stands as a pioneer in India's energy sector, offering a diverse range of high­quality lubricants for automotive, industrial, and specialty applications. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction, HP Lubricants leads in developing advanced products that enhance engine performance, reduce emissions, and extend machinery life.

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Why Choose HP Lubricants?

In today's fast­paced world, your vehicle isn't just a means of transportation—it's an integral part of your everyday life, an extension of your personality, and often the driving force behind your dreams and ambitions. Whether you're navigating the busy streets of a bustling city or embarking on a long journey through scenic highways, you need a partner that ensures optimal performance at every turn. This is where HP Lubricants steps in,

HP Lubricants: Powering India with Precision and Performance offering you the most advanced and reliable solutions for your engine's protection and efficiency.

HP Lubricants is one of the most trusted names in the automotive industry, delivering high­quality products designed to meet the needs of every vehicle. With a legacy spanning over five decades, we have mastered the art of engineering lubricants that deliver superior performance while ensuring the longevity of your engine. Our vast portfolio of products caters to a wide

range of applications, from passenger cars to heavy­duty commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and even industrial machinery.

Experience Unmatched Performance with HP Lubricants

In a market as diverse and demanding as India's, engines face unique challenges —ranging from harsh weather conditions to high­density traffic. HP Lubricants understands this, offering solutions that not only meet but

TRACKING BRANDS- HP LUBRICANTS

exceed the evolving needs of customers across industries.

Whether you're driving a high­ performance motorcycle, managing a fleet of commercial vehicles, or running industrial machinery, HP Lubricants ensures that every engine operates at its peak, regardless of the environment. Our products are crafted to deliver superior protection, maximize performance, and ensure that your engine runs smoothly in all conditions. With HP Lubricants, you're not just buying an oil—you're investing in the long­ term health of your vehicle.

Empowering Mechanics and Building Relationships

At HP Lubricants, we recognize the critical role mechanics play in

maintaining vehicle health. To this end, we've launched several initiatives to empower this community and enhance their technical expertise.

The Racer Station initiative is particularly noteworthy, transforming two­wheeler workshops into branded, state­ of­the­art service centers.

Meanwhile, Tool se Taal events combine mechanic engagement with entertainment, helping mechanics stay connected to the latest product updates while enjoying a sense of community.

you'll always have access to our range of products and technical support.

Conclusion: Choose HP Lubricants for Unmatched Performance

Whether you're on the road, running a business, or managing industrial machinery, HP

Lubricants offers a range of high­ performance products that guarantee engine protection, improved efficiency, and long­ term reliability.

Choose HP Lubricants—the brand that delivers performance, protection, and peace of mind.

Robust Distribution Network for Nationwide Coverage

Our widespread network of distributors, retailers, and service partners ensures that no matter where you are in the country,

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Rajendra RE wins

National Overall title in a last-mile thriller Nataraj R from Mysuru tops Expert class while Tanika Shanbhag bags Ladies title

F

ormer National champion Rajendra RE of Shivamogga, triumphed in style winning a last­mile thriller as the overall title in the MRF MoGrip National Rally Championship for two­wheelers was wide open till the last round, and the excitement was carried till the last mile and the last minute as the fight for supremacy between the Petronas TVS Racing teammates Rajendra and Tanveer, was only decided at the fag end of the final round, the MRF Rally of Coimbatore 2024.

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2W NATIONAL RALLY, COIMBATORE

Rally of Coimbatore Overall winners honoured

by Mr. Madhusudhan Rhenius from MRF Ltd.

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imported bike after entering directly in this rally without any practice. He managed to finish second with a difference of 2min 26sec. Another 42 seconds behind was the privateer from Bengaluru, Amogh Nag, who completed the podium in third.

The championship frontrunner Asad Khan from Chikkamagaluru had to settled for fourth with a further 3­sec difference.

Supersport 165cc Group B:

Nataraj R winner of Pro Expert GroupA

Abdul Raheman from Shivamogga won the championship in the Supersport 165cc Group B class winning the final race by 11 seconds. Bharath L from Bengaluru finished second and Varun Kumar A, also from Bengaluru, managed to hold on to the podium with a difference of 33sec. Vishnu Sachin Jith from Thrissur came fourth followed by Chalass K Bose from Kottayam and Yogesh P from Bengaluru in fifth and sixth respectively.

Supersport 260cc Group B:

PHOTO BY: MANOJ

Overall:

The Championship was wide open as the riders went into the last round with the winner of this round taking the 2024 crown.

The three drivers who were in the fray for the title are all Petronas TVS Racing riders. The first­ round winner Samuel Jacob was not in form right from the very first stage and the battle lines were drawn between Rajendra RE and Abdul Wahid Tanveer.

Tanveer got off to a good start and kept a 10­second lead till the final fourth stage. In one of the right­hand corners, Tanveer had a fall which robbed him of the lead. Meanwhile, Rajendra made no mistake in the final stage and logged a better time, gaining by 13sec. That not only wiped out the 10­second lead enjoyed by Tanveer till then, but also gave him a narrow 3­sec lead which was enough for the Shivamogga man to take home this second INRC title. After losing most of his time in the final two stages Samuel finished third with a difference of another 1min 18sec on Tanveer.

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Mysuru's Nataraj R, supported

by VM Sports Foundation, finished Overall fourth, a further 1min 7sec behind. Petronas TVS Racing's Imran Pasha was fifth another 29­sec adrift. Arun T from Hero MotoSports with 16­ sec further difference came sixth.

The next two placings were bagged by the Petronas TVS Racing riders Sachin D (7th) and Banteilang Jyrwa (8 th ). Karan Kumar from Hero Motosports stood ninth while Naresh VS, supported by VM Sports Foundation, came tenth.

Super Bike Expert Group A:

VM Sports Foundation supported rider Nataraj R from Mysuru won the Super Bike Expert Group A class and clinched the championship in style. It was his second straight championship win while his teammate Naresh VS made it to the top­two on a just­purchased

The Supersport 260cc Group B championship was open till the last round and Imran Pasha from Petronas TVS Racing dominated the class right from the start and gained about 18sec lead in the very first stage. The other contender who is still in the fight for the title, Arun T from Hero Motosports, did manage to strike back with two fastest stages but Imran never let

Super Bike Pro­Expert Group A:

The top three finishers in the class were the toppers in the overall classification. All the four riders in the class were from Petronas TVS Racing. Rajendra was the winner of the class followed by Tanveer in second and Samuel Jacob completed the podium. The lone lady rider, Aishwarya Pissay, was fourth in the class, and a creditable 19th overall in a field filled with male drivers.

Imran Pasha winner of Supersport 260cc

2W NATIONAL RALLY, COIMBATORE

Abdul Rehman winner of Supersport 165cc

anything go out of hand and lead by over 16sec and managed to win the rally and as well as the championship.

Arun T finished second while Sachin D, also from Petronas TVS Racing came third with a difference of 52sec. Sachin's teammate Banteilang Jyrwa missed the podium by four seconds. Karan Kumar from Hero Motosports finished fifth with a 31­sec deficit. Kali Mohan from Petronas TVS Racing was sixth.

Supersport 400cc Group B:

Rajesh Narajan Swami from Raigad won the Supersport 400cc Group B class. He has already sealed the championship in this class. Local rider Venu Ramesh Kumar finished second with a difference of over 3 minutes. Rajesh Kumar R from Bengaluru came third another 6min 10sec behind.

Supersport 550cc Group B:

Suhail Ahmed who already clinched the championship in the Supersport 550cc Group B class before entering the final round, made it a winning finish taking the class victory in 1hr 1min 50sec. Former champion Sinan Francis from Ernakulam was the runner­up, about 10sec behind.

Bengalurian Suhas S finished third with another 2min 35sec difference. Sharath Kumar S from Bengaluru was fourth and Arun Joy M came fifth with a

Syed Asif Ali winner of Scooter class

difference of 13 and 18 seconds, respectively.

Scooter class upto 210cc Group B:

Syed Asif Ali from Petronas TVS Racing retained the Scooter class upto 210cc championship title by winning this rally with a difference of 45sec over his teammate Karthik N, who had to be content with a second.

Suhail Ahmed winner of Supersport 550cc class

Ladies class Group B:

Tanika Shanbhag from Hero Motosports won the Ladies class championship in style. She was followed by Privateer Tanaya Singh in second.

Superstock upto 450cc Group D:

Shivam Thakur from Kullu was the winner of SS Upto 450 class by 17sec over Pradeep C from Bengaluru. Saravan Kumar K from Coimbatore finished in third with a difference of 1min 51sec. Bengalurians Goutham Rao and Abhishek J finished in fourth and fifth positions respectively. AJ Jose from Cochin came sixth.

Rajesh Swami winner of Supersport 400cc class

Star of Coimbatore:

S Ricarius defeated Tharun Rinaldo D by 27sec to win the Star of Coimbatore class. G Elango finished third a further 15sec behind. Vikram K came fourth as Abhishek Shivakumar finished in fifth and S Shankar was sixth.

Tanika Shanbhag winner of Ladies class OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 35

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36 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

4W RALLY NATIONALS, R-3, COIMBATORE

Overall winners Aditya Thakur and Virender Kashyap along with sponsors and tuners

Aditya and Virender make a comeback The Himachal pair take the overall win in the INRC Rally of Coimbatore PHOTO BY: SRINIVASA KRISHNAN / GHANSHYAM A TIWARI

T

he Himachal Pahadi boys Aditya Thakur and Virender Kashyap from Chettinad Sporting, supported by MRF and Sidvin, also the 2021 National champions, came back to limelight with a convincing win at the Rally of Coimbatore, the third round of the BlueBand FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship 2024.

Karna Kadur and Musa Sherif from Arka Motorsports, supported by MRF and Sidvin, finished second while Harkrishan Wadia and Kunal Kashyap also from Arka Motorsports settled for third.

Coimbatore, supposed to be one of the dustiest rally terrain, with a thick cloud of dust along with every action, retained its strong show.

This impression did take a hit during the first stage as the overnight rain tried to douse the dust, but from the repeat run onwards it was the original Coimbatore coarse in the menu, with the dusty trail thrilling the photographers, that were present in plenty.

Run on a total distance of 270km which included 8 special stages out of which six were run on day one at SM Agro near L&T bypass and two on the final day, the rally was held in the Windmill sections at Kethanur.

OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 37

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Overall first runner­up Karna Kadur and Musa Sherif

Gaurav Gill thrills before logging another DNF; Aditya, Virender take lead on Day 1 After missing his fourth straight overall win in the championship at Nashik, Championship leaders, Harkrishan Wadia along with Kunal Kashyap duo, from Arka Motorsports opened the route and was unable to capitalise as the surface as it was not fully dry.

Adding up his experience to the drive, the Arjuna awardee Gaurav Gill along with co­driver Aniruddh Rangnekar, supported

by JK Tyre, thrilled with another stunning stage as they clocked the fastest time but fate had it as they suffered another DNF, and the mechanical failure crops up once again as they are reeling under a series of bad luck.

Midway on Stage 2, he had to pull out as the wheel bolts sheared off.

With 4­sec difference, the 2021 INRC overall champions, currently running fourth in the championship were the

38 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

Himachal Pahadi boys Aditya Thakur and Virender Kashyap from Chettinad Sporting, supported by MRF and SIDVIN. They were the second fastest in stage one. But later on, were unstoppable. They were fastest in all the remaining five stages run on the day and with a very huge lead of over 1min 16sec they finished their day one in the lead.

Defending champion from Mandovi Racing Arjun Rao from Mangaluru and Satish Rajagopal from Bengaluru, supported by MRF, were fourth fastest in the first stage. But they had to pull out in the same stage, in the repeat run as their lower arm got cut after hitting a strayed boulder at the apex of a corner.

The teammates from Arka Motorsports, Amittrajit Ghosh from Kolkata and Ashwin Naik from Mangaluru, after their good show at Nashik, just brought a new car but managed to clock only the third fastest time in the first stage. There on, they were consistently running second and finished the day behind Aditya

who appeared uncatchable.

to

be

Currently running third in the championship, Bengalurian Karna Kadur and Musa Sherif from Kasargod, representing Arka Motorsports supported by MRF and SIDVIN, were finding it difficult to carry forward the winning spree of Nashik. They were leading in third place with 8sec difference to the second­ placed pair.

Mumbaikar Daraius N Shroff and Bengalurian Arjun Dheerendra from Chettinad Sporting who were running second in the championship, were 10 seconds behind in 4th.

There was a tie between the two Arka Motorsports teammates Delhi's Philippos Matthai and co­ driver Bengalurian Murthy PVS, who were supported by MRF. Harkrishan Wadia with the same penalty of 9 sec finished in fifth position.

Keralite Younus Ilyas and Nitin Jacob from Hyderabad, representing Snap Racing, were trailing in seventh by 100th of a

second difference to the sixth­ placed drivers. Jeet Jhabakh, also from Hyderabad, in just his second season of rallying, along with V Sekar from Erode was 10sec behind in 8th place.

The Bengalurian's pair of lady driver Pragathi Gowda along with Sujith Kumar had a 6­sec deficit and stood ninth.

Sheshank Jamwal from Himachal and Aseem Sharma from Chandigarh representing Arka Motorsports were 10th with a further difference of over two sec.

INRC2

Running third in the championship, Aditya Thakur was the leader of the class while Philippos Matthai and Harkrishan Wadia both with same 1min44sec difference were in joint second. Pragathi Gowda was fourth with a 16­sec difference. The pair of Adith KC from Kerala and Harish KN Gowda from Bengaluru were fifth. The championship leader in the class, Fabid Ahmer, had to

4W RALLY NATIONALS, R-3, COIMBATORE

Sheshak Jamwal and Aseem Sharma first runner­up INRC3

pull out after just completing one stage due to drive­shaft issues.

INRC3

Daraious N Shroff, the championship leader, was ahead of Jeet Jhabakh with a difference of 20 sec. Sheshank Jamwal was in third with a further 8­sec deficit. Arka Motorsports pair of Chandan M Gowda from Bengaluru and localite Venu Ramesh Kumar was in fourth.

Jagbir Nirwan and Dr. Dinesh S were in fifth as six seconds separated the two. Lady driver Phoebe Nongrum from Shillong and the celebrity Aravind KP from Bengaluru had to pull out in Stage 2 due to fuel­pump issues.

FMSCI Classic Class

Bengaluru husband and wife pair of Aneehnath S and Aneesh Amitha from A&A Motorsports were the leaders as they were 5­ sec ahead of the pair of Brian Michael from Trivandrum and Prakash M from Erode. The second Bengaluru pair of Tehejas S Reddy and Ravindra Kumar from Snap Racing were running third.

Overall winners

second position.

Seasoned driver Sanjay Agarwal and Dheeraj Manae hit lot of troubles right from the start but rectified the issues midway and were able to clock a few fastest stage timings. But they once again lost time in the final stage of the day and were clinging on to the third position.

Dr. Akarsh Sundar and Ravi Kumar both Bengalurians from A&A Motorsports running second in the championship had to pull out at about 1 km before the Stage 1 finish. They were driving on three wheels as their rear right wheel was completely detached after hitting a tree 4kms before the finish.

The fastest first stage time setters, the pair of Kariappa Mekerira from Kodagu and Vignesh Mahalingam from Coimbatore, toppled the vehicle in the second stage, a km before the finish.

INRC2 winners

INRC3 winners

Pragathi Gowda and Sujith Kumar overall sixth Overall second runner­up Harkrishan Wadia and Kunal Kashyap

Gypsy Class

The Kodagu pair of Kavan Kariappa KG along with Gaurav Aiyappa MS took a lead of 13sec after Day 1 to get on to the top while the championship leaders Baljinder Singh Dhillion from Delhi and Goutham CP from Bengaluru were trailing in OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 39

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Jeet Jabakh and V Sekar from Chettinad Sporting the winners OF INRC3

Aditya Thakur and Virender Kashyap stay cool to clinch honours on Day 2 MRF and Sidvin supported pair of Aditya Thakur and Virender Kashyap from Chettinad Sporting kept their cool on the final day. They had to just finish the rally without any overdoing and they did just that, as the lead they had accumulated was improbable to be breached as only two stages were run on Sunday. Clocking a total time of 1hr 50min 11sec they managed to win the rally of Coimbatore with a lead of 1min 14sec. Gaurav Gill and Anirudha Rangenakar, supported by JK Tyre, took a start on Day 2, but found themselves once again in the non­finishers list due to gearbox issues. But they did stamp their dominance before they pulled out, by clocking the fastest first stage timing and kept their followers behind by a huge gap of 11 seconds.

It is a tragic 200 metres from the

40 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

transport start and the chances of finishing on the podium were shattered for the pair of Amittrajit Ghosh and Ashwin Naik from Arka Motorsports.

They had a very bad day, as they had to retire due to engine­ mount issues after beginning the day in second position.

Karna Kadur and Musa Sherif from Arka Motorsports, supported by MRF and Sidvin managed to climb a position.

They finished second after reducing the day­one margin by 11sec over the winner.

Aneehnath S and Aneesh Amitha winners of FMSCI Classic class

Harkrishan Wadia and Kunal Kashyap from Arka Motorsports were the fastest in the final stage of the day and were able to reduce the difference from 20sec on Day 1 to 10sec till the finish on their teammate Karna but had to settle for third.

Younus Ilyas and Nitin Jacob from Snap Racing were unable to clock a better timing then Wadia who was just 100th of a second ahead. They missed the podium

Harshitha Raj Gowda and Pramod Raman winners of LADIES CLASS

4W RALLY NATIONALS, R-3, COIMBATORE Junior INRC

Baljindar Singh Dhillon and co­driver Goutham CP from Mandovi Racing winners of GYPSY CUP

with a difference of 32 seconds and finished fourth.

Philippos Matthai and Murthy PVS from Arka motorsports also were unable to capitalise on the tie with Wadia and 100th of a second lead on Younus on the day's start. They started in fifth and finished fifth.

The Chettinad Sporting pair of Pragathi Gowda and Sujith Kumar were supported by MRF and Sidvin. They managed to finish a creditable overall sixth with a 20­sec difference.

INRC2

The final day results were more or less the same as the day's start Aditya Thakur and Virender Kashyap from Chettinad Sporting, supported by MRF and Sidvin, won their class defeating Harkrishan Wadia and Kunal Kashyap from Arka Motorsports by 20sec. Philippos Matthai and Murthy PVS were third after beginning the day with a tie. The lady driver Pragathi Gowda along with Sujith Kumar from Chettinad Sporting missed the podium by 20 seconds. Adith KC and Harish KN Gowda from Snap Racing came fifth.

INRC3

Jeet Jabakh and V Sekar from Chettinad Sporting were the winners in INRC3 class. They were really lucky as their vehicle came to a standstill at about 4th

km in the final stage but after repeated cranking it started again. But they had lost a lot of time and but were safe enough with a 2­sec lead for this top slot.

Sheshank Jamwal and Aseem Sharma from Arka Motorsport finished second.

Chandan M Gowda and Venu Ramesh Kumar from Arka motorsports finally got themselves on the podium in third, after years of struggle.

Jagbir Nirwan and Dr Dinesh S finished fourth. The Bengaluru pair of Nikhil J and GM Manjunath came fifth. The Day 1 leaders and the front­runners of the championship, Daraious Shroff and Arjun Dheerendra pulled out.

Mandovi Racing, were unable to hold on to their Day 1 lead of 14 seconds and slid to second position. Sanjay Agarwal and Dheeraj Manae from Bengaluru completed the podium in third.

Abhin Rai and Moideen Jasheer from Ideal Racing won the class in their first season after graduating from INRC4 class.

Ajay Sankar and Vybhav Mukund Rao from Mandovi Racing came second. Aditya Kousgi and Deeksha Balakrishna, the just­ formed pair from Bengaluru were third. The championship leader, Arjun Rajeev and Vinay Padmashali, had to pull out on Day 1 due to mechanical issues and rejoined on Day 2 and finished the rally.

Ladies class

The pair of Harshitha Raj Gowda and Pramod Raman from Bengaluru were the lone finishers in this class. They won ahead of Nikeetaa Takkale and Arvind Dheerendra.

Drivers press conference

FMSCI Classic class

The husband­and­wife team of Bengalurians Aneehnath S and Aneesh Amitha from A&A Motorsports won the class defeating first­timer Brian Micheal from Trivandrum and co­driver Prakash M from Erode.

The Bengaluru pair of Praveen Dwarkanath and Kariyappa KB finished third.

JINRC winners

Gypsy Class

Baljindar Singh Dhillon and co­ driver Goutham CP from Mandovi Racing won with a lead of over two seconds. Kavan Kariappa KG and co­driver Gaurav Aiyappa MS, also from

GYPSY Class winners OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 41

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Chiranth, Sarthak dominate Pro-Stock categories Good wins for Savion Sabu, Rakshitha Dave, Abdul Basim

PHOTO BY: ANAND PHILAR

T

wo of country's best and brightest riders, Chiranth Vishwanath from Bengaluru and Pune's Sarthak Chavan, came up with sensational rides to win a race apiece in the two premier Pro­Stock categories as the third round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian

42 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 – Powered

by STORM concluded at the Madras International Circuit, near Chennai on August 4.

Pro­Stock 301­400cc

Pole­sitter Sarthak led from the Race 1 start and was closely

shadowed by Chiranth. The pair pulled away from the pack with Sarthak hanging on to a slender lead. On the last lap, the pair exchanged positions in the span of two corners before Sarthak managed to get back into the front. Going into the final turn, a right­hander, Chiranth made a

desperate move, taking the risky outside line and crashed leaving Sarthak a clear winner. Chiranth managed to get up and finish P10, earning valuable points.

Second behind Sarthak was Hyderabad's Rahil Pillarisetty from KTM Gusto Racing India, ahead of teammate Alwin

2W RACING NATIONALS, CHENNAI

Savion Sabu winner of the Stock 301­400cc (Novice)

Sundar. Chiranth, starting from P10, dished out a stunning ride to win the Race 2, all but destroying a high­quality field that included multiple National champion Rajini Krishnan from RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate, riding in his 23rd season after a year's break.

Chiranth made some six places in the very first of the six­lap race and continued to progress through the field like a hot knife through butter to burst into the lead for a sensational win ahead of Rajini Krishnan and Alwin Sundar from KTM Gusto Racing India. Sarthak, starting from

Winner of National Championhip Girls race

pole, came in eighth after stalling in the very first lap and then rejoining the race. The loss ended Sarthak's streak of five wins but he continues to provisionally lead the championship table. Chiranth leapfrogged to second spot, 39 behind Sarthak. Chiranth was followed by Alwin in second and Rajini finished third.

Pro­Stock 165cc Open

Chiranth literally scrapped his way to his maiden win of the season in Race 1. Though starting from pole, Chiranth, nursing a painful left leg after a

Chiranth Vishwanath, winner Pro­Stock 165cc Open

heavy fall in this morning's Pro­ Stock 301­400cc Open race, fell behind his seniors, Jagan Kumar and KY Ahamed, after surviving a contact with Sarthak who crashed. Later in the race, Chiranth went past Jagan and Ahamed for his maiden win of the season. Sarthak recovered from the fall to finish fifth and fetch some important points.

Chiranth was followed by Ahamed in second and Jagan in third.

Sarthak scrambled to a brilliant victory in Race 2, starting from P5. The two 17­year­old TVS

Racing team­mates, in the process, headlined a fresh crop of young riders who have been making a mark in the National Championship this season.

Pole­sitter Chiranth led in the initial laps before being overtaken by his teammates KY Ahamed and multiple National champion Jagan Kumar, and later, by Sarthak. In the latter half of the race, Sarthak moved to the front and notched his second win of the season in this category. Finishing second behind him was Jagan Kumar and the late­charging Chiranth.

Chiranth Vishwanath winner Pro­Stock 165cc Open OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 43

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Abdul Basim (36) en route to winning the Novice (Stock 165cc)

Stock 165cc (Novice)

Chennai teenager the 17­years­ old Abdul Basim RS from Rockers Racing maintained his unbeaten run in the class by notching a fifth consecutive win.

Tasmai Cariappa from Mysuru representing Motul Sparks Racing finished in second while his teammate from Mizoram Lal Nunsanga finished third. It was Abdul once again finishing on top in Race 2, followed by Chennai's Kamal Navas from Team Rockers Racing as Cariappa finished third.

Girls (Stock 165cc)

Former National champion Ryhana Bee from Motul Sparks Racing recorded her first win of the season after the Race 1 was reduced to three laps from 44 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

scheduled five due to an on­ track incident involving pole­ sitter Ann Jennifer from Alpha Racing India in the very first lap.

Rakshita Dave also from Chennai representing RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate finished second and Jagathishree Kumaresan from One Racing finished third.

Torque Racing was elevated to first place, ahead of Chennai's Shyam Sundar K from Tachyon Motorsport in second and Savion finished third. This is the maiden win for Kumar, who is spearheading the new team, RDX this season.

Stock 301­400cc (Novice)

Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R)

The 15­year­old Rakshitha Dave topped Race 2 as Jagathishree finished second and Ryhana came third.

Savion Sabu, who turned 17 three days back, won the Race 2 with a dominating performance.

Raj Kumar finished second and Shyam finished third.

Bengaluru's Savion Sabu from Mad Rabbit Racing had in his bag what appeared to be a commanding 'win' but he was demoted to third due to a 10­ second penalty for a jump start.

Consequently, Raj Kumar from Coimbatore representing RDX

Mohsin Paramban, the 22­year­ old from Mallapuram, consolidated his top position on the leader board by recording his third consecutive win in the class after overcoming early challenge. Finishing second

and third behind him were Kolhapur's Siddesh Sawant and Prakash Kamath from Bengaluru.

Kolhapur's Siddesh Sawant scored his first win of the season in the Race 2 by a comfortable margin. Savion Sabu from Bengaluru came in second, ahead of Hyderabad's Beedani Rajender for whom it was his first podium finish this season.

Championship leader Mohsin Paramban failed to complete the race but still enjoys a 36­point cushion over AS James from Bengaluru in the provisional standings.

TVS One­Make Championship

RR310 Open class: Chennai's Manoj Yesuadiyan notched his second consecutive win in Race 1 after holding off Raj Kumar C

2W RACING NATIONALS, CHENNAI

Parichay Sharma in Stock 130­165cc Novice class

Sarthak Chavan celebrating his win in the Pro­Stock 301­400cc Open

from Coimbatore while Ajai Xavier M from Nagercoil finished a distant third.

Coimbatore's Senthilkumar C notched his fourth win of the season in Race 2 to move to the top of the provisional points table in the class. Manoj Yesuadiyan finished second as Ajai followed him in third.

Rookie (Apache RTR 200)

Bengaluru's Harshith Bogar raced to his fifth win in as many starts in Race 1 surviving a close battle with second­placed CS Kedarnath from Tirupati.

CS Kedarnath from Tirupati recorded his first win to end the unbeaten run of Bengaluru's Harshith Bogar who failed to finish the Race 2 but continues to provisionally lead the points table on the back of his five

consecutive wins this season.

Saranjith KM from Thrissur finished second and Rajivsham AS from Tirupur finished third.

Girls (Apache RTR 200)

Abhinav Raj Malla in Stock 130­165cc Novice class

Saimah Ajaz Baig from Pune scored her second win in the category ahead of Tiruchi's SP Shuriya and Aisvariya V Coimbatore.

Electric RTE (4 laps)

Pune's Sarthak Chavan had a comfortable win as Chiranth Vishwanath from Bengaluru finished second and Chennai’s Alwin Sundar finished third.

Aravind Ganesh R in Prostock 130­165cc Open class

Media (Apache RTR 200) 5 laps

Praveen Kumar from (Chennai was the winner followed by Charan karthik G from Pune in second, Pratheek Kunder from Mumbai finished third.

Raja Shree Harsha in Stock 130­165 Novice class

Ryhana Bee, winner of the Girls (Stock 165cc)

Savion Sabu, winner of the Stock 301­400cc (Novice)

Sarthak Chavan, winner of the Pro­Stock 165cc Open OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 45

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Power Drive

The launch of Windsor is next in line in the MG EV Portfolio, following ZS EV and Comet EV.

46 autotrack.ind.in SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024

FEATURE

JSW MG Motor India launched India's first Intelligent CUV, the MG Windsor. The launch of Windsor is next in line in the MG EV Portfolio, following ZS EV and Comet EV. This is the first model released by the company after its recent joint venture with JSW to bring more new energy vehicles to India. Windsor is the first in a long list of launches with the company promising to bring in a new model every six months. MG Windsor EV is an intelligent CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) that combines the comfort of a sedan and the expanse of an SUV at the price of a manual compact SUV. It is built on 'Pure EV Platform' offering a luxurious business­class experience.

TEXT: AKSHAYA MATHRUBOOTHAM INPUTS BY ASHOK TIWARI PICTURES: S M BOOTHEM

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 47

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18­inch Rib diamond­cut alloy wheel

Aero­Lounge' seats that recline to 135­degree

The car comes with a 604­litre boot

We recently had the opportunity to drive the new MG Windsor EV and came back pleased with its performance

battery. This flexible ownership program eliminates the upfront cost of the battery, enabling customers to pay only for its usage. Buyers pay a nominal fee per kilometre driven, which is 40% of the fuel costs of conventional vehicles. This model significantly reduces the initial acquisition cost and lowers the per­kilometre expense, ensuring an economical and hassle­free ownership experience.

commanding presence, robust safety features, smart connecti­ vity, and exceptional driving comfort, all complemented by advanced technology. A standout element is the

For the first time in India's passenger vehicle segment, JSW MG Motor India is introducing an innovative ownership plan through a Battery­as­a­Service (BaaS) offering, which makes owning a full­size capable electric CUV at the price of a manual engine­based compact SUV possible. With BaaS, MG Windsor is offered at INR 9.99 Lakhs + 3.5 Rs/km for the

The MG Windsor boasts an aerodynamic design, luxurious and spacious interiors, a

48 autotrack.ind.in SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024

15.6­inch touchscreen head­unit

segment­first 15.6­inch 'Grand­ View Touch Display,' a central hub for entertainment, navigation, and vehicle settings.

Elevating the cabin experience further is the 'Infinity View Glass

FEATURE

Roof,' offering a panoramic vista that enhances both aesthetics and spaciousness. This expansive glass roof allows occupants to connect seamlessly with the outdoors, whether driving through bustling cityscapes or tranquil country­ side. Additionally, the MG Windsor features segment­first 'Aero­Lounge' seats that recline to 135°, providing an unparalleled atmosphere of luxury and relaxation.

The car's total length is 4295mm and width of 1850mm and height of 1677mm and 2700mm wheel base. This aerodynamic car comes with an 18­inch Rib diamond­cut alloy wheel. MG Windsor comes with a 38 kWh Li­ ion battery pack, which is IP67 certified, delivering an impressive performance of 100KW (136ps) power and 200 Nm Torque through four driving modes (Eco+, Eco, Normal and Sport) that results in a 332 km** ARAI certified range on a single charge. The Windsor CUV is available in three variants: Excite, Exclusive, and Essence; and four vibrant colour options: Starburst Black, Pearl White, Clay Beige,

and Turquoise Green.

We had the opportunity to experience the Windsor recently and the vehicle delivered on all fronts. It provides a premium driving experience with luxury and practical performance, especially with details like electronic flush­fitting door handles and ventilated front seats. The spacious interiors with

the 135­degree reclining rear seats are comfortable, and there is plenty of legroom and headroom to let the passengers relax in style on short or long journeys. The tech features on the infotainment system with a 15.6­inch touchscreen head­unit and wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, connected car tech, OTT apps transform the

vehicle into a hub of enter­ tainment, gaming, and learning.

The car comes with a 604­litre boot with an added 60:40 option to increase it by folding the back seats; which is great for family outings.

It is the ideal vehicle for those seeking to navigate busy urban roads and tight spaces in smaller towns with comfort and style.

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Abhay Mohan, winner of all three races in MRF F1600 category

Jaden Pariat, Abhay Mohan top in MRF Formula races

Biren Pithawala unbeaten in ITC class; Big wins for Viswas, Aditya

PHOTO BY: ANAND PHILAR

A

khil Agarwal, a 29­year­old from Mumbai and a first­ time racer, was handed a victory in the marquee MRF Formula 2000 race following disqualification of Jaden Pariat in the third round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Car Racing Championship 2024, powered by Storm­X at the Madras International Circuit, Chennai on July 20.

Two teenagers, Jaden Rahman Pariat in MRF Formula 2000 and Abhay Mohan in F1600, continued their assault on the

50 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

titles with splendid victories. It was a triple delight for Biren Pithawalla, Viswas Vijayaraj and Aditya Patnaik. Dhruv Chavan excelled in Polo Cup as the curtains came down on the third round.

MRF F2000

In Race 1, Jaden, the 17­year­old from Shillong, was penalized for a jump start and “failure to comply with a drive­through penalty” after he won the race by the proverbial country mile. The penalty moved Akhil Agarwal to P1 while the Bengaluru pair of

Chetan Surineni and Tarun Muthaiah was placed second and third, respectively.

Jaden also won the Indian Oil special award for clocking the fastest lap (1min, 33.155secs) of the weekend across all categories. He came up with two super­aggressive drives for a double on Sunday to add to his five wins in the previous two rounds in February. Jaden won Race 2 and was followed by Chetan Surineni from Bengaluru in second and Akhil Agarwal from Mumbai in third. Jaden

remained the winner in Race 3 and Chetan took second ahead of Akhil in third.

MRF F1600

Bengaluru's 16­year­old Abhay Mohan, in only his first season in single­seater racing, completed a sweep of nine consecutive victories, including a triple crown this weekend.

Abhay raced to his seventh consecutive win in Race 1 that was run on a combined grid with the MRF F2000, with Chennai's Monith Kumaran coming in

second, ahead of Mumbai racer Raaj Bakhru.

In Race 2, Abhay was followed by Zahan Commissariat from Mumbai in second and Monith Kumaran from Chennai came third. Abhay was the winner again in Race 3 followed by Monith in second and Saishiva Sankaran from Pune in third.

Touring Cars category

Mumbai's Biren Pithawalla from N1 Racing achieved a triple without facing much of a challenge to remain unbeaten.

Starting from pole position in Race 1, Biren Pithawala from Team N1 Racing, enjoyed a trouble­free run and was the lone finisher in the race. His rivals, cousin Ananth Pithawalla and Chennai ace Deepak Ravikumar encountered mechanical issues. Neither driver was classified.

Race 2 once again went Biren's way as Deepak Ravikumar from Team Performance Racing finished second. The final race of the class was once again dominated by Biren followed by Deepak in second and Anant Pithawalla, also from N1 Racing, finished third.

Indian Junior Touring Cars

Chennai's Hatim Shabbir from

Performance Racing also won all the three races in the highly­ competitive category to come within three points of leader and teammate Srinivas Teja.

In Race 1, Chennai's Hatim Shabbir led a 1­2 finish for Performance Racing with Srinivas Teja following him home while Mumbai's Yug Italiya from Team N1 Racing completed the podium at the end of an entertaining race marked by wheel­to­wheel racing through the eight laps.

In Race 2, Hatim was followed by Mumbai's Yug Italiya from N1 Racing in second and Mangaluru's Dean Mascarenhas from DB Motorsports finished third. In Race 3, Hatim was once again the winner followed by Srinivas Teja in second and Yug in third.

NATIONAL 4W RACING, R3- CHENNAI

Winners of MRF Saloons Race­2

Super Stock

Redline Racing's Justin Singh from Gurugram drove well enough to win two of the three races this weekend which provisionally placed him six points behind championship leader Bala Prasath of DTS Racing from Coimbatore, who won the other race in the triple­ header.

Dhruv Chavan who winner of four races in the Polo Cup

Gurugram's Justin Singh of Redline Racing easily topped

Biren Pithawalla, winner of the Indian Touring Cars Viswas Vijayaraj who scored a triple in the Formula LGB 1300

OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 51

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Race 1 displaying impressive pace, well clear of Chandigarh's Angad Matharoo and Coimbatore's Bala Prasath from DTS Racing.

Bala won Race 2 as Justin finished second and Angad Matharoo from Chandigarh came third. Justin managed to win the final race of the class as Angad finished second and Bala settled for third.

Formula LGB 1300

DTS Racing's Viswas Vijayaraj from Nellore extended his championship lead to 63 points by completing a treble, showcasing his skills and maturity in no uncertain terms.

Abhay Mohan a triple crown in the MRF F1600

DTS Racing team achieved a podium sweep in Race 1 where Nellore's Viswas Vijayaraj scored his fifth win of the season. Behind him Diljith TS and Bala Prasath finished in that order after a fierce battle.

His best outing came in Race 2 that he won after starting from P5 on the reverse grid, Thrissur's Diljit TS from DTS Racing finished second and Neev Datta from New Delhi representing MSport finished third. Viswas also won the final race as Diljith came second and Coimbatore's Bala Prasath from DTS Racing finished third.

Viswas Vijayaraj, winner of the Formula LGB 1300

MRF Saloons

Pune's Diana Pundole, a mother of two, picked up sufficient points in the three races over the weekend to lead the points table though she failed to win any of the outings during the weekend.

Chikkamagaluru's 20­year­old Tarushi Vikram also enjoyed a good weekend, with a P3 finish in one race and top­five in the other two that has provisionally placed her third in the championship.

NATIONAL 4W RACING, R3- CHENNAI Kesara Godage, the youngster from Sri Lanka, took the honours in Race 1 that was run concurrently with the Polo Cup. Championship leader in this class, Diana Pundole, finished second followed by Sri Lankan Kalim Iqbal.

Kesara Godage from Sri Lanka, Redline Racing India was the winner followed by Chennai's Anirudha Aravind in second and Chikkamagaluru girl Tarushi Vikram from Redline Racing finished third. The third race once again went Kesara way, followed by Anirudha in second while Pune's Diana Pundole from Redline Racing India finished third.

Polo Cup

The Polo Cup races witnessed fierce competition up and down the grid.

Lonavla's Dhruv Chavan and Aditya Patnaik from Mumbai shared the honours by winning two races apiece.

Mumbai teenager and former National Karting champion Aditya Patnaik notched a handsome Race 1 win in the Polo Cup without breaking sweat leaving Bangladesh's HM Tauhid Anwar Avik and Romir Arya from Mumbai to scrap for P2 and P3.

Dhruv won Race 2 followed by Ojas Surve from Mumbai in second and Aditya Patnaik also from Mumbai in third. Race 2 belonged to Aditya who was followed by Dhruv in second and Ojas finished third.

In Race 4, it was once again Dhruv on top followed by Aditya in second and Ojas in third.

“I had a good start and opened up a big lead. Thereafter, I eased off completely. I am very happy with the win as it was just my second outing in this category,” said Aditya.

Aditya Patnaik, winner of the Polo Cup race

Jaden Rahman Pariat who notched a double in the MRF F2000 52 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

Mumbai's Aditya Patnaik, winner of the Polo Cup race

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2W RALLY, NASHIK

Shamim wins Monsoon Scooter Rally Syed Asif clocks fastest stage time

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Nilesh Thakare comp no. 17 winner of S0 class

Sportscraft carries forward the legacy of founder Shrikant Karani PHOTO BY: SACHIN NIRANTAR

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he Monsoon Scooter rally, known for its toughness when it comes to slush, water logging and slippery surface, regained its life after years of struggle for not finding a suitable track, sponsors and rains. Sportscraft, Nashik, carries forward the legacy of late Shrikant Karani. The 29 participants who were in fray for this edition of the TVS NTORQ Sportscraft Monsoon Scooter Rally of Nashik 24, ran on a 6.28­ km stage which was taken on thrice.

Overnight heavy rain and light showers during the rally made the event more exciting and

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challenging. Shamim Khan riding a TVS NTORQ 125 led this edition of victory parade for TVS Racing as he won the overall tag with a lead of two seconds over his team mate Karthik N who followed him in second. Previous year winner, Mumbaikar Venkatesh Shetty, riding a Aprilia SR150 came third with 26­sec difference.

The Bhopal rider, Muzzaffar Ali, and Tejas Prashant Kadam from Mumbai, both riding a TVS NTORQ 125, finished in fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Local rider Darshan Chaure riding a Suzuki Access 125 came sixth.

Mohammed Saeed winner of S6 class

Pooja Sopan winner of Ladies class

80 to 115cc 2 Stroke class

Seasoned local rider Nilesh Thakare, astride a Kinetic Honda, won the class beating Rohan Navin Chandra Thakur from Mumbai on a Kinetic Marvel by 1min 21sec. Mohammed Anwar from Bhopal, riding a Kinetic Honda came third another 1min 30sec behind. Vikramjit Boparai from Thane, and Abhijit Ajay Raut from Satara, both riding a Kinetic Honda, finished in fourth and fifth positions respectively.

80 to 110cc Group B geared Scooter

Mohammed Anees from Bhopal riding a LML Vespa won with a total time of 33min 02sec. He

2W RALLY, NASHIK

Darshan Chaure from Nashik riding a Suzuki Access finished fourth. Mohsin Mehboob Faki from Mumbai, riding an Yamaha RAYZ, was fifth.

Ladies Class Both the riders were from Nashik, Pooja Sopan Karhe riding a TVS Wego, won the class beating Geeta Patil, astride a Honda Activa, to second.

Vetran Class Private Open Group B class Mohammed Saeed from Jaipur riding a TVS NTORQ 125 was the winner followed by Raju Laxman Rao Mate from Pune riding a Aprillia SR150 in a distant second

Overall winners honoured by Shyam Kothari

“ In spite of our busy schedule I ensure my participation in this event to keep my passion alive. It keeps our morale high with the Monsoon scooter rally making it’s way for the fourth time in Nashik and also it feels great to carry forward the legacy of the founder Shrikant Karani.”

Nilesh Thakare, Nashik was the lone finisher in the class as another seasoned rider from Nashik Hiten Thakkar pulled out in his final run due to chassis issue. The third rider in the class, Hemant More from Pune, also pulled out in the final stage.

Upto 210cc 4 Stroke Shamim Khan from TVS Racing riding a TVS NTORQ125 won defeating teammate Karthik N. Devendra Gunjal from Nashik, riding a Aprilia, finished a distant third. Syed Asif Ali, the third TVS Racing rider, and the 2023 INRC scooter class champion, missed the podium as he faced mechanical issues in the first stage and lost over 40 minutes.

He got back on the track and went to prove his class by clocking the two fastest stage timings in both the remaining stages.

Upto 210 4 Stroke Private Open Venkatesh Shetty fom Mumbai riding an Aprilia SR150 won the class with a total time of 23min beating Muzzaffar Ali from Bhopal by 1min 35sec. Tejas Prashant Kadam from Mumbai riding a TVS NTORQ 125 came third another 9sec behind.

position. Purushottam Mate, also from Pune, riding a Aprillia SR150 finished third. Babbudin Ansari from Nashik riding a Kinteic Honda came fourth.

Karthik N first runner­up

Venkatesh Shetty second runner­up OCTOBER 2024 autotrack.ind.in 55

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EX- IPS OFFICER & BJP STATE PRESIDENT SRI. ANNAMALAI HONOURS THE BEST RIDER OF THE DAY SHLOK GHORPADE

Shlok Ghorpade earns 'Best Rider' tag

The 16-year old Satara rider excels at MRF Mogrip Supercross Nationals

PHOTO BY: VIKRAM SUNDARAMURTHY

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hlok Ghorpade dominated and excelled at the MRF Mogrip National Supercross Championship 2024 held at Coimbatore to earn the Best Rider tag.

The 16­year­old Satara boy, Ghorpade, just returned from USA after participating in the LCQ round and he continued his winning spree here in India. He won both the races representing KTM Racing India, thus giving a maiden win for the team in their very first outing.

Bengaluru boy Prajwal Vishwanath from TVS Racing finished second in both the races while Ikshan Shanbhag was third in both the races.

Rugved Barguje finished fifth in the first moto and was fourth in the second. CD Jinan, the senior most on the grid, was fourth in first moto and fifth in the final moto.

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SUPERCROSS NATIONALS, COIMBATORE

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Motosports won the single moto event followed by Subramanya T, a privateer from Bengaluru. Abhi S Nath from Thrissur, also a privateer, managed to be on the podium in third. Nithyan L from TVS Racing was fourth and another privateer Arfaz Ahmed from Chamrajnagar came fifth.

Group B upto 280cc Local boys: Abhishek J won the class followed by Sabrish R in second and Kathiroli S in third. Nanda Kesore and Karthik A finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Karan Kumar winner Novice class

Thus, the dominant Shlok Ghorpade from KTM Racing India, with 40 points from two straight wins was the winner of the round while the TVS Racing winners Prajwal Vishwanath from Bengaluru with 34 points was second and Ikshan Shanbhag from Satara completed the podium. The defending champion Rugved Barguje from Pune finished fourth and CD Jinan from Kerala finished fifth. Thus, TVS Racing secured four of the top­five places.

In the Group A upto 500cc class, Ryan Haig from Kochi won both the motos and took the round with 40 points. Zabi Mulla, a trainer from Goa, came second with 28 points which included a second finish in the second moto. Suhail Ahmed, who is also the 550cc class champion this year with 26 points was third.

Suhail Satar from Kochi with 21 points was fourth and Amal Verghese from Ernakulam finished fifth with 21 points.

Novice Group B upto 280cc: Karan Kumar from Hero

Chananya Joshi winner of JRSX3 upto 65cc 58 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

Indian Expert Group B upto 260: The two­Moto race was dominated by TVS Racing riders.

Imran Pasha from TVS Racing dominated both the races and won the round with a total of 40 points. Kali Mohan with a second­place finish in second moto and a total of 27 points

Jinendra Sangave winner JRSX1 150 to 250cc

Ryan Haig winner Sx2 GroupA upto 500cc

SUPERCROSS NATIONALS, COIMBATORE

finished second. The third position was bagged by Jayden WN with 22 points. Arun T from Hero Motosports with 21 points finished fourth and Sailesh Kumar T with 20 points from TVS Racing came fifth.

Yash Shinde winner JRSX2 GroupA upto 85cc

Private Expert Group B upto 260: Arshad Muhammed from Cheruthuruthy was the winner followed by Subramanya T from Bengaluru in second. Abhishek J from Coimbatore finished on the podium in third. Sabrish R and Nanda Keshore, both from Coimbatore, finished in fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Junior SX1 150 to 250cc Group A: Jinendra Sangave from Khalkaranji was the winner with 40 points from two straight wins.

Ector Ezak from Kochi with two second­place finishes and 34 points was second. Pune's Faiz Sayyed with 30 points from two third­place finishes was third.

Arshad Muhammed comp no. 99 winner of Private Expert

Nithila Das from Bengaluru with two fourth­position finishes was fourth with 26 points.

Junior SX2 Group A upto 85cc: Pune's S Shinde won the round with 37 points. He won one moto and came second in the other.

Akshat Hupale, also from Pune, with similar 37 points finished second. Darshit Chavan, also from Pune, came third with 26 points. Sujan J from Coimbatore finished fourth and Aleena Shaikh from Bengaluru came fifth.

Junior SX3 Group A upto 65cc: Charanya Joshi from Pune won with 20 points with two wins from two motos, followed by Bhairav C Gowda from Bengaluru with 34 points in second. Nandan Das from Bengaluru with 30 points was third. Vishnu V with 26 points from Coimbatore finished fourth.

Imran Pasha winner Indian Expert GroupB upto 260cc

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KARTING NATIONALS, BENGALURU

Ruhaan Alva, Nikhilesh Raju, in limelight PHOTO BY: SHAHJAHAN

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ormer champion from Bengaluru Ruhaan Alva of MSport clinched the day's honours with a fine double in the Senior Max category as the second round of the Meco Fmsci National Rotax Max Karting Championship 2024 held at the Meco Kartopia, Bengaluru .

Nikhilesh Raju of Peregrine Racing, also from Bengaluru, won the Junior Max final, and Mumbai's Hamza Balasinorwala of Rayo Racing won the Micro Max final.

In the Micro Max pre­finals, Chennai's Rivaan Dev Preetham of MSport bagged the pre­final honours and Arafat Sheik topped the pre­final race in the Junior class.

Alva took a fine victory in the final race but in the pre­final, Akshat Misra of Crest Motorsports finished 'first' before logging a 5­second penalty for causing a collision and was pushed down to second 60 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

place behind Alva. Ishaan Madesh of Peregrine Racing came third in both the races.

In the Senior Max Finals, Bengaluru boy Ruhaan Alva from MSport won with ease and grace followed by Hunner Singh from Gurugram representing Birel Art India. Another former champion from Bengaluru Ishaan Madesh from Peregrine Racing came third.

Earlier in the pre­final of the Junior class, Nikhilesh Raju had to be content with a second place as Pune's Arafath Sheikh of Crest Motorsport notched up a comfortable win. Mumbai's Kiaan Shah of Rayo Racing completed the podium in third in both the races.

In the Junior finals, Bengaluru boy Nikhilesh Raju from Peregrine Racing was the winner followed by Pune's Arafath Sheikh from Crest Motorsports in second. Mumbai's Kiaan Shan from Rayo Racing finished third.

In the Micro Max pre­final, 11­ year­old Rivaan Dev Preetham, took the honours as he edged out Danish Dalmiya of MSport.

Dalmiya had won a second place in the final too. Hamza, of Rayo Racing, who came third in the pre­final went on to win the final

to bag the honours in Round 2.

Micro Max finals saw Mumbai boy Hamza Balasinorwala from Rayo Racing on top followed by his teammate Danish Dalmiya in second and Chennai's Rivaan Dev Preetham from MSport had to be content with a third place.

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COLUMN

Pushing the goal toward getting carbon neutral by 2030

fmsci does its bit for the rise of renewable energy in motorsports

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s the world moves toward a more sustainable future, the motorsport industry is also working to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and embrace renewable energy.

With growing concerns about climate change and the urgent need for energy transition, motorsports is driving innovation to lower its carbon footprint and contribute to a climate­friendly future.

Motorsports is now combining speed with sustainability, using new technologies to lead this change. From the fast­paced action of Formula 1 to endurance racing, the sport has traditionally relied heavily on fuel, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. As environmental concerns grow, the motorsport industry is adopting new solutions, including renewable energy, to reduce its environmental impact.

The United Nations has called on motorsport organisations like the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) and FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) to join the Climate Action Initiative. In 2020, the FIA and Formula 1 signed the UN's Sports for Climate Action Framework, committing to environmental

sustainability, and the FIA has pledged to make Formula 1 carbon neutral by 2030.

The shift to renewable energy in motorsports is picking up speed, with electric energy leading the way. The Formula E series, launched in 2014, highlights the potential of electric vehicles in high­performance racing. India hosted its first Formula E race, the Hyderabad ePrix, in 2023, marking a key step in the country's adoption of electric motorsports. The Indian Rally Sprint 2­Wheeler Championship also introduced a category for electric motorcycles in 2024, promoting sustainable racing.

And the National Motorcycle Racing Championship, too, has a class for electric bikes.

Technological advances have allowed the use of biofuels in racing, which has significantly reduced emissions. In 2022, the 24 Hours of Le Mans race featured cars running on 100% renewable fuel, and the World Rally Championship now uses a fully sustainable fuel blend.

Hybrid engines, which combine traditional engines with electric motors, are becoming more common, while innovations like solar­powered pit stops and wind energy storage are being explored. Researchers are also developing sustainable materials for building race cars, further reducing waste and environmental impact.

PALLAVI YADAV The motorsport industry's commitment to climate action is clear, with renewable energy playing a crucial role in its future.

In India, the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (fmsci) is leading the way in adopting sustainable practices.

As one of the first motorsport bodies in Southeast Asia to receive accreditation for sustainability, the fmsci aims to make India a hub for eco­friendly motorsports. By appointing sustainability officers, conducting waste audits, and promoting green practices, the fmsci is working to reduce the environmental impact of motorsports.

The role of renewable energy in motorsports goes beyond using

electric vehicles on the track. It also includes powering race circuits with sustainable energy, like solar or wind, instead of coal­powered electricity grids.

While challenges like infrastructure and investment remain, the benefits of renewable energy, including better performance, cost savings, and reduced emissions, are clear. With government support and continued advancements in technology, the motorsport industry can create a more sustainable future for itself, its fans, and the planet.

As the motorsports world moves toward a greener future, one thing is certain – the race is on for renewable energy.

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Winners of Rainforest Challenge India 2024

Kerala's Dr Fahed and Rajeev Lal win Rainforest Challenge India 2024

Ujjal Namshum and Chethan Chengappa finish second as Chethan misses 4th title

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from Hyderabad and Cedrick Jordan Da Silva (Mackvin Dias) from Goa also made it to the top­5 with 1802 and 1781 points respectively.

fter a week­long intense competition, Dr Mohammed Fahed VP and co­driver Rajeev Lal from Kerala have emerged as the winners of the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) India 2024 which concluded at Panjim on July 29. The duo won the 10th edition of India's biggest and toughest off­road motorsport competition with an overall score of 2165 points out of 2600. They scored these points after competing in 26 Special Stages (SS) that tested their off­road driving, co­driving skills, their team coordination and their vehicle's capabilities under extreme off­road conditions.

RFC India was launched by Cougar Motorsport in 2014 as the India Chapter of the Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia, which is ranked among the top­5 toughest off­road races in the world. It has regional chapters in over 30 countries worldwide.

Organised annually in Goa, with approvals from Goa Tourism, it is the longest running international off­ road motorsport competition in India.

Ujjal Namshum from Arunachal Pradesh and co­ driver Chethan Chengappa from Karnataka claimed the second position with 2039 points while Anand V Manjooran and co­driver Vishnu Raj from Kerala took the third spot with 1874 points. N Abinav Reddy and co­driver Vishuthi Varun Chakravarthy

The 10th edition of the mega event witnessed participation from 26 teams, consisting of some of the most­evolved off­roaders of the country. The top­three drivers of RFC India 2024 have won free entry to the RFC Global Series 2024 Finale to be held in Malaysia at the end of the year.

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INTERNATIONAL OFF-ROAD, GOA

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N Abinav Reddy and co­driver Vishuthi Varun Chakravarthy from Hyderabad

Apart from the Overall RFC India 2024 champions and category winners, some special awards were also announced. Goan driver Cedrick Jordan Da Silva, the only driver who has competed in all the 10 editions of RFC India, was given the 'Lifetime Achievement Award'.

Digvijay Sinh Parmar from Daman & Diu as well as Subhash Utekar were declared the 'Rookie of the Year' while Rajeev Lal from Kerala won 'The David Metcalfe Jungleman Award' this year. The father­son duo of Daulat Deepram Choudhary and Gaurav D Choudhary from Pune won the 'Most Unique 4X4' trophy. Team Mars won the 'Environment Award', the 'Best Service Team'

64 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

award went to NC Garage from Kerala and Team Steel Heads got the 'Team Award' at RFC India 2024.

Expressing happiness on winning the most coveted off­ road motorsport trophy in the country in his fourth attempt, the 38­year­old Dr Fahed, a paediatrician at an Ayurvedic government hospital in Kerala, said: “It's a dream come true for me. RFC India is the toughest off­ roading event in the country and in order to perform well, you need to be consistent throughout the competition as well as keep your brain engaged to come up with ideas on how to tackle each challenge. Unlike previous years when we played

safe and tried to preserve the vehicle till the end, this year my co­driver Rajeev and I decided to go all out. Moreover, I had my family and my crew's full support and they motivated me throughout to perform to the best of my ability.”

Ashish Gupta, Director, Cougar Motorsport, said: “Off­roading is like a cult sport in Kerala and after years of sustained attempts by teams from Kerala, I am glad that the RFC India Champions trophy is finally going to God's Own Country. It's heartening to see that the level of vehicle preparation and competitors' skills are now truly international and at par with anywhere else in the world.”

The 44­year­old Ujjal Namshum, who runs a tea plantation in the Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, was participating in RFC India for the third time.

Recounting his experience, he said: “I have come to compete in RFC India after a gap of five years and this time I had a bigger and more powerful engine in my vehicle as well as the best co­ driver in the country. Chethan is a brilliant strategist and he knows exactly where he has to be at any given point in an SS. This helped us save time and get the fastest timings in 11 of the 26 SS of the competition.

Unfortunately, we had a few topples and since my vehicle was new, it took me a few days to get used to the car. This cost us majorly and we were unable to retain the lead we had taken in the first two days of the competition. It's disappointing that we did not win but I thoroughly enjoyed myself, especially in the Special Stages that had speed runs.”

Ujjal and Chengappa take lead On Day 1 The first competition of 4 out of the 26 SS was full of intense action amidst nonstop rain.

After the completion of four of the 26 Special Stages, Ujjal Namshum from Arunachal Pradesh and co­driver Chethan Chengappa from Karnataka were

INTERNATIONAL OFF-ROAD, GOA

Cedrick Jordan Da Silva (Mackvin Dias) from Goa also made it to the top­5

leading in first position with 363 points out of 400. They scored a perfect 100 in two of the stages and were the second­best in one stage.

Dr Mohammed Fahed VP (co­ driver Rajeev Lal) from Kerala claimed the second spot with 320 points while the third position was taken by the RFC India 2023 Champion Cedrick Jordan Da Silva (Mackwin Dias) from Goa with 306 points.

Ibrahim Firaz Shaik (Imran Husansab Garag) was at the fourth position with 294 points after Day 1 while N Abinav Reddy (Vishuthi Varun Chakravarthy) from Hyderabad were trailing in fifth with 284 points.

Ujjal and Chengappa retain the top place on Day 2 On Day 2, another four Special Stages were completed. Ujjal and co­driver Chengappa continued to lead the table with score of 668 points out of 800.

These points are based on the

team's performance in 8 out of the total 26 Special Stages (SS), four held on Day 2. The duo managed to retain the top rank despite a DNF (Did Not Finish) in one of the Stages. They made up for it by getting a perfect 100 in two of the later SS and 95 points in one Stage.

Dr Mohammed Fahed VP (co­ driver Rajeev Lal) from Kerala also retained their lead in second place with 665 points. Anand V Manjooran (Vishnu Raj), also from Kerala, climbed up the ranking tables to claim the third position with 588 points after two days. The duo worked really hard throughout the day and got 95 points in two of the SS as well as a perfect score in one SS. R a m b a b u M a r e e d u (Kumaraswamy T) climbed up from the 8th position on Day 1 to the 4th position on Day 2 with 556 points while N Abinav Reddy (Vishuthi Varun Chakravarthy) from Hyderabad retained the fifth position with 548 points.

Lead changes hands on Day 3: Dr Fahed and Rajeev Lal on top

days, emerged on top with 993 points out of 1200.

Day 3 on July 23, experienced less rains compared to the earlier days which saw a major shift in the ranking chart after the completion of another four Special Stages, 9 to 12. Dr. Mohammed Fahed and co­ driver Rajeev Lal, who were at the second position on the first two

Ujjal Namshum and co­driver Chethan Chengappa slipped down one spot and ended the day at the second position with 913 points. N Abinav Reddy and co­driver Vishuthi Varun Chakravarthy from Hyderabad and Bijender Singh, along with co­driver Gajender Singh from

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INTERNATIONAL OFF-ROAD, GOA to claim his place in the Top 5 with 1096 points.

Fahed and Lal continue to lead after five days After Day 5 on July 25, the teams completed 20 of the 26 Special Stages (SS). Dr Mohammed Fahed VP and co­driver Rajeev Lal from Kerala continued to keep their lead with 1688 points out of 2000.

Sushant Saini and Rajeev Saini

Delhi climbed up two spots to claim the third and fourth positions with 854 points and 836 points respectively.

Aniruddha Nandakishor Shete (Subhash Utekar) moved up three positions to make it to the fifth with 824 points.

However, the number of water bodies they had to cross while attempting SS9 to SS12 meant that the men and their machines did not have any chance to miss the water. Apart from tackling multiple winching points, including some of almost 90­ degree angle, the competitors had to showcase their vehicle's

capability as well as their own driving and vehicle manoeuvring skills in deep water.

Intense fight on Day 4 as Kerala pair retain top spot The fourth day, July 24, witnessed an intense fight among some of the best off­ roaders in the country. On completion of Special Stages (SS) 13 to 16, the top three teams of the previous day managed to retain their positions.

Dr Mohammed Fahed VP and co­driver Rajeev Lal from Kerala ended Day 4 at the first position

Anand V Manjooran and co­driver Vishnu Raj took the third spot.

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with 1340 points out of 1600.

Ujjal Namshum from Arunachal Pradesh and co­driver Chethan Chengappa from Karnataka have also retained their second spot with 1243 points. N Abinav Reddy (co­driver Vishuthi Varun Chakravarthy) from Hyderabad were place third with 1160 points after four days.

Goan driver and RFC India 2023 Champion Cedrick Jordan Da Silva (Mackvin Dias) has climbed up two spots to take the fourth position with 1135 points. Anand V Manjooran (Vishnu Raj) from Kerala has also come up the ranking order by two positions

Ujjal Namshum from Arunachal Pradesh and co­driver Chethan Chengappa from Karnataka have also retained their second spot with 1515 points to remain at striking distance on the last day.

Goan driver and RFC India 2023 Champion Cedrick Jordan Da Silva (Mackvin Dias) has climbed up one spot to take the third position with 1389 points. N Abinav Reddy (co­driver Vishuthi Varun Chakravarthy) from Hyderabad have slipped down one position to take the fourth spot with 1383 points while Anand V Manjooran (Vishnu Raj) from Kerala has retained the fifth position with 1341 points.

Finally, after a week­long intense competition, Dr Mohammed Fahed VP and co­driver Rajeev Lal from Kerala won the RFC India 2024. Ujjal Namshum from Arunachal Pradesh and co­driver Chethan Chengappa from Karnataka came second. Anand V Manjooran and co­driver Vishnu Raj from Kerala took the third spot.

Digvijay Sinh Parmar and Gurinder Singh

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DRAG NATIONALS, CHENNAI

Hemanth Muddappa in second and Altaf Khan from Hyderabad was third.

The Indian bikes 361 to 550cc class was won by Mumbaikar Jason D'Souza from Mantra Racing as the remaining two places belonged to Bengalurians, Mujahid Pasha from Fast Track Racing was second and Iqbal Shaikh was third.

Prashanth S from Bengaluru was the winner of 166 to 225cc class followed by two Chennai riders Prashanth K in second and Govardhan R in third. 165cc Indian bikes class, Shashi Kiran V from Bengaluru won. Bharathraj J and Abdul Basim both Chennai riders from Rockers Racing finished second and third respectively.

Triple delight for Hemanth Muddappa

Jagathishree sparkles in Girls category

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engaluru ace, Hemanth Muddappa from Mantra Racing, continued to dominate the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship 2024 as he claimed a triple crown in the third round at the Madras International Circuit, near Chennai on July 28.

Consistently crossing the 200 kmh speed barrier, Muddappa, the 12­time National champion, excelled once again at the MIC track. He swept to victories in the Unrestricted, 1051­1650cc and 851­1050cc categories besides finishing second behind Hyderabad's Mohammed Riyaz in the 551­850cc class.

In the process, Muddappa emulated his triple success in the previous round at the same venue last month and looked set to retain his status as the “King of Drag”.

Later, Chennai's Jagathishree Murugesan led a 1­2 finish for One Racing in the Girls Stock 165cc category with SP Shuria from Bengaluru placed second ahead of Coimbatore challenger Aisvariya.

In the 131 to 165cc 2stroke class, Syed Imran from Bengaluru from Fast Track Racing won beating Prashanth S also from Bengaluru to second. Balasubramanian from Chennai ACCSYS India Rookies Racing came third.

Shahrukh Khan from Mumbai won the 2Stroke upto 130cc class followed by Syed Imran from Fast Track Racing in second and Ashok S from Bengaluru finished third.

In Unrestricted class, Hemanth Muddappa from Mantra Racing was followed by Attaulla Baig in second and Mujahid Pasha from Fast Track Racing in third. In 1051 to 1650cc class Hemanth Muddappa the winner was followed by Attaulla Baig finished second and Aymaan Baig finished third.

With this win in 851 to 1050 cc class, he went on a hat­trick of wins as Niranjan R Kumar from Bengaluru finished second and Khaja Awais Ahmed from Hyderabad was third.

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POWERING AHEAD

The Battery Show and Renewable Energy India 2024

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nforma Markets in India, a premier B2B exhibitions organizer, inaugurated the highly anticipated 17th edition of the Renewable Energy India (REI) Expo at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida.

Concurrently, the 2nd edition of The Battery Show India is being co­hosted, creating a dynamic platform for the convergence of the renewable energy, battery storage, and electric vehicle (EV) sectors, fostering collaboration

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and innovation across both industries. The co­located shows were held at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida from 3rd to 5th October 2024. The grand inauguration was held in the presence of key dignitaries including Hon'ble Shri Heera Lal Nagar, Minister of State, Energy Department, Government of Rajasthan, Shri. Manu Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary, Power and Renewable Energy Department, Government of

POWERING AHEAD- THE BATTERY SHOW INDIA

Madhya Pradesh; Mr. Shantanu Jaiswal, Head of India Research, Bloomberg NEF; Mr. Alex Whitworth, Vice President & Head of Asia Pacific Power & Renewables Research, Wood Mackenzie; Mr. Peter Hall, President, IMETA Region, Informa Markets; Mr. Yogesh

Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India and Mr. Rajneesh Khattar, Sr. Group Director, Energy portfolio, Informa Markets in India.

We had the privilege to attend these two important events for the future of the energy sector in I n d i a . W e re p ro d u c e d t h e glimpses of the shows in our 17th anniversary issue of Auto Track.

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Double for Sinan, while Asad is fastest FB Motorsports successfully completes 2nd qualifier of the 2w Sprint Nationals

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he FMSCI Indian National Rally Sprint Championship 2024 South Zone 2W Qualifiers was successfully held at the Stella 23 Farms in Sarjapur.

Promoted by FB Motorsports, it had 140 participants for qualifying in 12 classes.

Highlight of the event was number of entries for the Ather 450X class which had over 20 entries in its debut one­make venture at Bengaluru .

Open class upto 550cc: Asad Khan from Chikkamagaluru won outright and was declared the

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fastest rider of the day as he clocked 7min 36.5sec, the best time of the day. The second finisher Suhail Ahmad from Bengaluru was 8sec behind him.

Nataraj R with over a second deficit came third. Sinan Francis missed the podium by half a second and Sanjay Somashekar with over three seconds difference was fifth.

Group A upto 550cc class only for privateers was won Sinan Francis, riding a Yamaha WR 450F as he defeated Nataraj R

astride a KTM 450 EXC by 2seconds. Suhail Ahmed was further 5sec down but managed to settle for third. Asad Khan came fourth another 2­sec in deficit.

In the Open Class Up to 550cc, Bengaluru's Asad Khan (7:36.500) achieved the top position. Suhail Ahmad (7:44.500) followed closely in second while Nataraj R (7:45.600) completed the podium.

The 131cc upto 165cc class saw

Yogesh P win the class with a time of 8:07:900 beating Abdul Rahman to second by a second.

Abdur Pasha with over 8­sec deficit finished third. Bharath L and Varun Kumar finished within the same second about 3­sec behind in that order.

In the 166cc to 260cc class, Coimbatore's Karan Kumar bagged the top slot as he managed to keep the Bengaluru boy Sachin D behind him by a mere half a second. Uday Kumar was 5­sec behind but was

comfortable enough to hold on to the podium. Sanjay Somashekar and Arun T finished in fourth and fifth positions respectively.

260cc upto 400cc: Donesh Deepak Joshi riding a KTM ADV 390 won the class in 8min 11sec defeating Hemant Gowda by 4 seconds. Venu Ramesh Kumar from Coimbatore came third another 29 seconds behind.

Bullet class: Sinan Francis, riding a Royal Enfield Himalayan, clocked 8:00.500 to win the class beating Suhail Ahmed from Bengaluru by 8 seconds. Naresh VS also from Bengaluru completed the podium in third with a further difference of over 5 seconds. Arun Joy and Sreekant Kormana were fourth and fifth respectively, in deficit by over 3­ sec further difference.

Scooter class: N Karthik from Bengaluru won the class defeating Gautham N by over 3sec while G Ganapathy was a further 36 sec behind in third.

Dilip Kumar and Mohammed Arif logged DNF.

dominated the class as Mohammed Zaheer with a lead of over 3 seconds was the winner followed by Subramanya T in second. Varun Kumar was behind by another 4sec to settle for third. Suhail Ahmed finished fourth and Bharath L was fifth.

SPRINT, SOUTH ZONE

Star of Karnataka: Sanjay Somashekar clocked 7:54.000 to win the class ahead of Bharath L whom he beat by 19sec. Abrar Ahmed finished third with less than a second difference. Sathish S and Mohammed Zaheer finished in fourth and fifth positions respectively.

The Veterans class, a new addition this season, saw Jose AJ with 2­sec lead was the winner while Venu Rameshkumar finished second.

In the Ladies Class Up to 260cc, Panchami LS won with a lead of 15sec over Tanaya Singh who finished second. Lani Zena Fernandes finished third another 27sec behind. Vandyashree completed the line­up taking another 11sec to complete the course.

Upto 260CC Group D: Yogesh P was the fastest in the class by clocking 8:13.400. He clinched first place beating seasoned rider from Chikkamagaluru Asad Khan by two seconds. Sanjay Somashekar finished the podium in third, another second behind.

Yuva Kumar came fourth missing the podium by 100th of a second and Uday Kumar came fifth.

261cc to 450cc Group D: Bengalurians dominated the class as Sharath Kumar was the leader with over six­second lead.

Naresh finished second and Suhail Ahmad came third less than a second behind.

Mohammed Zaheer was 6 sec in deficit to settle for fourth. Sathish S with a further 13­sec difference was fifth.

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KARGIL DRIVE

25th Kargil Vijay Diwas motor expedition, a grand success

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he 13­day trip was more than just a drive for the 17 car convoy to pay tribute to our brave soldiers on this historic 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas. A round­trip convoy drive for 3,000 km from Delhi and back was organised by Kalinga Motor Sports Club in association with the Army Adventure Wing and fmsci. The itinerary was designed to pass through India­Pakistan border, War Memorials, and tourist destinations.

Graced the occasion on day one from Delhi to Ludhiana was the former chief minister of Uttarakhand and Lok Sabha MP T S Rawat, along with Rajya Sabha MP Dedashis Samantrai, accompanied with KMSC President and former minister Government of Odisha Praveen Bhanjdeo, and KMSC General Secretary Ramesh Mahapatra.

The convoy passed through Amristar covering Atari Wagah Border, BSF Museum and Golden Temple. On the next day, the journey was to Patni Top via Pathankot and Udhampur, and there on the next day was break 72 autotrack.ind.in OCTOBER 2024

The 13-day event celebrates the spirit of valour and sacrifice

journey at Srinagar. The drive, which took approximately five hours, unfolded through some of the breathtaking landscapes of the Kashmir Valley.

The Journey to Kargil for the Kargil war Memotial from Srinagar was through Sonamarg after covering a distance of

200km.

The convoy had Kargil War Veteran, Col Naresh Bishnoi SM. It was really touching to see Col Bishnoi explaining about his experience at the Tiger Hill and other tough mountain peaks during the operation. One could see his moist eyes feel the pain,

when he was reading out the names of his colleagues who had laid their lives during the battle.

The return journey was through Leh, Jispa, Mandi and to Delhi.

Enroute, several significant stops were at the LoC Viewpoint and Hunderman, the last Indian Village before the border.

RNI No. KARENG/2007/21952, Pages 72+4