The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : High speed event in the offing

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Sport - Racing : Motor

High speed event in the offing

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: It will be a sea of red at the Sidhalagatta course on Friday as team MRF and Red Rooster Racing, Bangalore, will vie for honours in the second leg of the Speed INRC, the K-1000 rally for four wheelers.

There are points to be earned and scores to be settled but the drivers all vouch for an exciting and high speed event.

The MRF team had to yield to the strong challenge from Red Rooster Racing at the season opener in Coimbatore. But Gaurav Gill and Arjun Balu do have some aces up their sleeve this time around.

“It was not an ideal start in Coimbatore as I had to retire mid-way through the rally. We have sorted that out and the car is more reliable.

“This is the first time we are fully prepared for a rally, as we had little time to prepare for the Coimbatore leg. The competition from Red Rooster is good but we are confident and the real competition starts now,” said Gill.

Balu added, “The track is a lot smoother and it is going to be a very high speed rally.”

Team MRF’s other drivers — Lohit Urs and Arjun Rao Aroor — also exuded confidence while Group Head Tony Rodricks said: “We are looking to finish 1-2-3.” But then Red Rooster’s home grown talent — Vikram Mathias — who was done in by technical problems in the first leg will try to make amends and be back in the winning mode while Amitrajit Ghosh after his triumph at Coimbatore has his confidence on a high and will not be ready to yield.

And chasing these two front runners will be the Team Thunderbolts from Chandigarh.The ceremonial flag-off was held at the Palace Ground here on Thursday evening with the Karnataka Minister for Co-Operation Lakshman S. Savadi doing the honours.

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