The Hindu : Sport : Ajay Kini emerges overall champion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 05, 2006

Sport

Sport

Ajay Kini emerges overall champion

Sports Reporter

PHOTO: K. PICHUMANI

Ajay Kini.

CHENNAI: Team Valvoline's Ajay Kini emerged overall champion in the inaugural JK Tyre Junior Racing Cup, which concluded at the MMST Track at Irrungattukottai near here on Sunday.

Requiring one point or a finish at the top eight to bag the overall title in the sixth and final round, the 16-year-old Ajay Kini of Chennai made no mistake as he drove to a facile win in Race 1 and third in Race 2 of the Formula Maruti category.

Starting from pole in Race 1, Ajay lost the lead in the very first lap to R. Deepak. In an engrossing duel for the first place with Deepak, Ajay grabbed the lead after lap 4. Ajay then drove well to ensure that he held on to the lead till the last lap and take the chequered flag. Deepak finished second, while Saran Vikram Tmars finished third.

His "toughest competitor" Saran put up a spirited effort in Race 2 getting off to a fine start to take lead in the first lap. In the battle between Deepak and Vignesh Devarajan for the second and third places, Ajay was pushed to the fourth place. Ajay, however, clawed his way back to third position in lap six and retained it till the end. Deepak finished second, while Vignesh had to settle for the fourth place.

The results (provisional): Formula Maruti category: Race I (eight laps): 1. Ajay Kini 10:10:826, 2. R. Deepak 10:11:385, 3. Saran Vikram Tmars 10:11:566; Race 2 (eight laps): 1. Saran Vikram Tmars 10:14:107, 2. R. Deepak 10:16:599, 3. Ajay Kini 10:17:005; Overall championship: 1. Ajay Kini (103 points), 2. Saran Vikram Tmars (80), 3. Vignesh Devarajan (55).