The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : School centenary drives alumni to celebrate it with car rally

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Monday, Feb 09, 2009
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School centenary drives alumni to celebrate it with car rally

Staff Reporter

Exposure of youth to motor racing increasing: Narain Karthikeyan

— Photo: R.Ravindran

Wishing Godspeed: Formula one driver Narain Karthikeyan interacts with a participant at the car rally organised by the alumni association of Sacred Heart Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai on Sunday.

Chennai: As part of the centenary celebrations of the school, the alumni association of Sacred Heart Matriculation Higher Secondary School organised a car rally under the banner of the Madras Motor Sports Club on Sunday.

The country’s first Formula one driver Narain Karthikeyan flagged off the rally along with actor Arjun. “The event is significant as it is a fun-filled experience to cherish for the alumni of this school,” said Mr. Karthikeyan.

He said that the economic downturn had hit motor racing. “It is difficult to find sponsors now in a condition of financial crunch,” he said.

However, he said the exposure of youth in the country to motor racing was increasing and was optimistic of a change in the condition with more sponsors in the days to come. “The rally, in which 72 cars participated, was an innovative mix of TSD rallying, questionnaire and scavenger hunt,” said Ashish Gupta, one of the organisers.

“It is a wonderful experience coming back to our school. All the participants enjoyed the routes and the rally,” said Tahsin Chacko, secretary of the alumni association.

In the alumni category Anita Srinath won the first prize. The second and third prizes were won by Surekha Reddy and Sonali Seth respectively.

The winner in the general category was Akshay. Rajeswari came second and Rajan won the third prize.

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