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A dream formula

A weekend of thrills as some of the top names in Indian racing will scorch the Kari circuit in Coimbatore

GEARING UP For the racing season

With new entrants, new machines and new tyres the season ahead promises to be different and exciting. Indian motor sport has never had it so good.

Thanks to JK Tyre's strategic alliance with automotive giants Maruti, General Motors and Hyundai, the tenth edition of the JK Tyre national racing championship will see LGB Formula Swift, Formula Rolon Chevrolet and LGB Formula Hyundai scorching the Kari Motor Speedway circuit in Chettipalayam, near Coimbatore, this weekend (Aug 19 and 20).

Only when these cars hit the track can one say how effectively B. Vijayakumar, Managing Director of LGB Balakrishnan and Bros, has designed these formula machines.

Race enthusiasts believe that it will put India technologically on a par with level-three races in the world.

It will also provide the much-needed exposure to the youngsters.

"It will take at least six to eight months for these cars to evolve into sophisticated racing machines you find abroad," says Vijayakumar.

He was initially apprehensive that the cars would not be ready in time for the championship, but not anymore. "The delay is due to various reasons but I am happy in a way that this situation has brought in all the teams together for a common cause. The delay has caused the bonding that we haven't seen over the last 15 years."

It has been an uphill task financially for the young guns to realise their dreams of being racing champions.

No one can deny that JK Tyre has been providing the platform for these talents through its racing programmes. The new deal is timely.

The men at the helm of affairs of JK Tyre feel that the support from the automotive giants will not only impel the sport to a new high but also help discover new talents with the potential to excel in domestic as well as the international arena.

New entrants

This year's championship will also see the emergence of new teams like WSRF, Meco Motorsports, Prime Racing and Rams Racing.

Not to forget - Team NK Racing comprising quality drivers like Ameya Walavalkar, Aditya Akkineni, Akhil Khushlani and Aditya Patel. The awesome foursome, carefully picked by Formula One racer Narain Karthikeyan, have blazed the circuit on many an occasion and won several titles. But, this time around they have tough competition from other teams. And so, the spectators are assured of a lot more thrill.

There will be about 40 drivers from various parts of the country taking part in this `historic' event.

Motor sport buffs are thrilled that the new development is taking place in this part of the country, considered the motor sport capital of India.

Team Meco Racing will see Akbar Ebrahim, former international racer and father of racing prodigy Armaan Ebrahim, leading the challenge. `Akku', as he is fondly called, knows the circuit like the back of his hand. All these years he has been giving vital driving tips to the younger generation. This time, for a change, he will put his skills to test. The seven-member team includes two talented drivers in defending champion Rayomand Banajee from Pune and Ashwin Sunder from Chennai.

Rayomand has been keeping a low profile for quite some time but not Ashwin. The Chennai lad has been on a spree winning almost everything that has come his way. The oldest participant of the championship is Harivijay Bahia, who chose a BMW in the Himalayan Rally.

With B. Vijayakumar, the man behind the dream machines also at the wheels, the crowd is sure to be treated to a glimpse of some old world charm.

RAYAN ROZARIO

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