CHENNAI, India – The MMSC FMSCI Indian National Racing Championships 2016 for four-wheelers resumes this weekend after a four-week break at the MMRT track in Sriperumbudur, with MRF Formula 1600 along with three categories of saloon cars besides the inaugural event for Formula LGB, making for a card of 12 races in the second round commencing on Friday, March 4.
The MRF F1600, with 15 cars on the grid, will no doubt highlight the weekend’s programme with four races, two each on Saturday and Sunday. Last year’s champion Karthik Tharani has enjoyed a head-start, having won both the races in the first round held at the same venue in January.
Tharani will be looking to consolidate the early gains by sustaining the fine form he is in. However, despite his dominating start which has put him 20 points clear of the field, he will have to again deal with some serious competition from the likes of Goutham Parekh, Anindith Reddy and Raghul Rangasamy, all of whom are tied on 30 points, ahead of the talented Sandeep Kumar (22).
It is early days yet in the championship and with plenty more to play for, and the MRF F1600 series promises rich action in the coming rounds.
The winner of the MRF Formula Ford 1600 will qualify for the Mazda Road to Indy shootout in the United States in December.
Adding spice to the proceedings will be the popular saloon car races which have three grids – the top-end Indian Touring Cars, Indian Junior Touring Cars and the Super Stock – with a total of 38 entries that should throw up some exciting wheel-to-wheel competition.
The ITC, like the Formula LGB 1300, join the championship after missing the first round, and it has always showcased the engineering talent given the modifications that are permitted besides race craft.
The IJTC witnessed some keen competition in the first round that threw up two different winners in the double-header with Keith Desouza (UNIMEK Racing) topping the first outing and Anant Pithawalla (Team N1) taking the honours in the next from a reverse grid.
In the Super Stock, Adith KC of Race Concepts (Bengaluru) heads the leaderboard with a win and a second place finish while Alisha Abdullah (RAD Racing), a two-wheeler racer who has moved to saloon cars, performed creditably for two podium finishes to be placed second in the championship.
Reflecting on the championship so far, MMSC President Ajit Thomas said: "The 2016 season in many ways is a high watermark for us at the MMSC. We are happy that the new season started on an exciting note in January, but more importantly, the four-wheeler championship opens up a new avenue for our young racers through MMSC's tie-up with the Mazda Road to Indy. So, I expect some exciting competition, especially in the MRF F1600 which is the feeder series for the Mazda Road to Indy."
About MMSC:
The Madras Motor Sports Club which came into being in 1953 has since grown into one of India’s premier motor sport institutions. Moving on from the days of Sholavaram which is synonymous with motor racing in India, MMSC built its own race track that was inaugurated in 1979 and secured its FIA Grade-2 international certification in 2015, making it the only club which owns such a facility. MMSC can be justifiably proud of the many activities designed to develop and promote motor sport. Having successfully conducted many international events, both four and two-wheeler, MMSC came up with a new initiative last year that provides a great opportunity for young Indian racing aspirants to participate in the iconic IndyCar Series in the United States. The winner of the 2016 MRF F1600 series will participate in the Mazda Road to Indy shootout, the winner of which will receive a scholarship of USD 200,000 to compete in the 2017 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. In two-wheeler racing, MMSC set a new benchmark by securing participation of leading manufacturers Honda, Yamaha, TVS and Suzuki, with the One-Make Championship. Not one to rest on its laurels, the MMSC has striven to evolve while keeping pace with changing times.
Story and photo kindly supplied by Anand Philar, AP Media Communications.