Naren drives to Asian Zone glory

COIMBATORE, APRIL 1: The rivalry between India's champion rally driver Naren Kumar and the former Asia Pacific champion from Malaysia, Karamjit Singh and the intense competition it would generate was the hype around which the Asia Zone round of the Servo Mill and Monsoon rally was packaged.

In the end, however, Naren Kumar, in his Honda Civic, displayed driving skills that reduced Karamjit and his car, the Proton Satria, to an also ran, here today at the end of the 432 km stage, which comprised ten special stages of 146.2 km over cross country gravel.

Naren, finished a comfortable winner by over 80 seconds. Hari Singh, who had a poor second leg, finishing third. It was celebration time for Team MRF as it made a sweep of the titles at stake in this event, the first leg of the Indian National Rally championships, winning all the three national titles at stake, besides the big one.

The title for cars up to 1600 CC was lifted by N. Leela Krishnan, five time former national champion.

The crown for cars up to 1400 CC went to Jagat and Anita Nanjappa. The husband-wife duo, a legend in two-wheeler racing with nine national title to their name, upstaged a field of young drivers to lift their maiden four-wheeler title.

Having started the day with a 16-second lead Overnight, MRF's Naren and co-driver Ram Kumar, the local heroes, scorched the dirt tracks with their brave driving. Carrying on from where he had let off on Saturday, Naren did the first stage on Sunday 15 seconds faster than Karamjit.

However, taking into consideration the rough second stage he let off a bit, losing the 15 seconds he had gained.

But once into the third stage, there was no stopping Naren.

Sporting red gear and ably supported by co-driver Ram Kumar, he treated the enthusiastic motor sport fans to a breathtaking display of skills where man and machine understood each other well.

Defending champion from Chandigarh, Hari Singh was unfortunate to have flat tyres on two stages. Though trailing Naren by over 50 seconds, and with the lead widening, the lost time in changing tyres put him completely out of the picture.

lFinal placings:

Asia Zone: Naren Kumar and Ram Kumar (India, MRF); Karamjit Singh and Jagdev Singh (Malaysia, J K Tyre); Hari Singh and Gurinder Singh (India).

National Rally championship up to 1600 CC: N. Leela Krishnan and Farooque Ahmed (Team MRF). Up to 1400 CC: Jagat and Anita Nanjappa (Team MRF).

Rally Star Cup for novices: Lohit Urs and M. K. Bopanna.

- UNI

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