Record entries and Gill’s choice tyres make a keen contest

Record entries and Gill’s choice tyres make a keen contest

PUNE: The 2019 Indian National Rally Championship has been infused with a zing on two accounts--first a new promotor in Champions Yacht Club promising driver centric programme and second Gaurav Gill appearing in new livery and on tyres that have become a cause of much debate--all in all making the season-opener starting this weekend in Sriperumbudur to look out for.

The South India Rally, which is to have one stage on the Madras Motor Race Track, the FIA homologated course, will serve as the first round of the National Rally Championship for four wheelers and with record entries Champions Yacht Club (CYC) is hoping that more and more rally enthusiasts will participate.

Over 50 participants have already registered for the opening round making it a record of sorts.

“We have introduced two new categories this year and want to make it possible for more enthusiasts to come and take up rallying. As a matter of fact to make it even more attractive for women and newcomers, we have decided to give a collective waiver of Rs 2.5 lacs to them for the entire season. We have come into the sport to create more champions and I believe by taking a step like this, we could herald many champions in future,” said Vamsi Merla, Director & CEO of CYC.

“We have doubled up the prize money and our main focus will be to keep them happy. We spoke to drivers as soon as we came onboard and took their advice as to how to make INRC bigger and better. We have tried to implement most of their suggestions and in future also shall take their opinion into account,” Vamsi pointed out.

Having a new promotor on board may be livening up the rallying sector, but given that motorsports is cost intensive the CYC is tightening up the loose ends to make sure that sponsors are in place considering one of the key sponsor till last year, Fortune 500 firm, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has backed out this year.

STAGES TO TEST DRIVERS
This season the stages will be longer to test the drivers to the hilt. Also this year, the timings would be done live and streamed across various platforms to make it for viewer friendly as well as keep the drivers and the teams updated on a real time basis.

As part of CYC’s agenda to revolutionise the rallying culture in the country, Merla said he was willing to travel any distance required to achieve the dream.

“My primary aim is to attract more drivers to the championship. For the same, we have introduced two new categories for this year - the women’s class and the junior INRC,” he said.

“This is not all. We have also devised an extensive plan to scout talent. Any newcomer or women driver who shows potential, we will provide them with free tyres and service. Eventually, if we feel that they are talented enough and can emerge as future champions will get a chance to drive for Team Champions,” said Vamsi.

The inaugural round of the INRC 2019, the 11-stage rally, begins on Friday and has received over 50 entries including 22 entries from Team Champions, promoted by Subhakar Rao.

RALLY ROUTE EXTENDED
The course of the rally has been increased the by roughly 10 percent and it’s going to be fast flowing, which will see better timings.

The course is smooth dirt track with some good width. The finish part will be flat out on the tarmac. The Super Special Stage will be on tarmac and the rest will be on dirt and there will be some tight corners too.

GAURAV GILL ON JK TYRES
There was speculation as to what tyres Gaurav Gill would be running on his Mahindra Adventure rally machine in the 2019 season, after his switch from Team MRF to JK Racing and a compromise has been arrived at with Gill’s rally machine sporting JK Tyre rubber for the duration of the season.

Gill will drive a Mahindra Adventure XUV300 R2 Petrol for the 2019 season of the INRC having come on board with JK Racing after 12 years.

His team-mate, Amittrajit Ghosh, will continue to run with MRF Tyres on his Mahindra Adventure rally machine. MRF and Mahindra Adventure have had a long term partnership that has continued on for several seasons now.

NATIONAL RALLY CALENDAR
- Round 1: June 28-30 (Sriperumbudur)
- Round 2: August 9-11 (Coimbatore)
- Round 3: September 20-22 (TBA-North)
- Round 4: November 1-3 (Kochi)
- Round 5: November 22-24 (Bengaluru)
- Round 6: December 13-15 (Chikamagalur)

Enjoyed reading The Bridge Chronicle?
Your support motivates us to do better. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated with the latest stories.
You can also read on the go with our Android and iOS mobile app.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
The Bridge Chronicle
www.thebridgechronicle.com