Bangalore: It was a day of disappointment for rally drivers on the opening day of K-1000, the fourth round of the Indian National Rally Championship. After 13 vehicles (six Gypsies and seven Esteems) had completed the super-special stage, the event came to a grinding halt as it was causing a hazard for the air traffic at the Jakkur Airstrip.

The Karnataka Motor Sports Club (KMSC) had received permission to conduct the super-special stage at Jakkur as long as it did not interfere with the air traffic from the airstrip. After the gypsies and some competitors from the Rally Star Cup had finished, the cars had lined in sequence to participate.

Apparently one of the cars (it is not confirmed whether it was a novice or a spectator) was speeding in the restricted area and at that time, former Prime Minister Deve Gowda was taking off for a tour of one of the districts in the State.

Pilot complains

The pilot of the plane in which Deve Gowda was travelling complained and the super-special stage was halted.

From around noon to 2 p.m., the Clerk of the Course, Praneeth Perumal and his team made frantic efforts to re-start the event. A little later, Bharat, President of the KMSC arrived at the starting point and said the issue had been sorted out and the super-special stage would resume.

At this point however, the police had swung into action. Apparently acting on the complaint from the pilot, the police disallowed the event to continue. Officials of the KMSC went to the police station and tried to get the sanction, but it was to no avail.

No restart

Finally Perumal returned to the venue and announced that as some VVIP flight was expected to take-off any time within an hour from 2 p.m., it would not be possible to restart the special stage.

Most of the drivers expressed their disappointment in not being allowed to participate in the Super Special Stage. Team JK Tyre will be running a Mitsubishi Lancer Cedia (2000cc) in the above 1600cc class. Gaurav Singh Gill (co-driver Farook Ahmed) will be in the Cedia and its performance in the rally will be watched with great interest.

The special stages of the rally will be conducted at Pandit's Farm near Maddur on Saturday and Sunday.

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