BHUBANESWAR 11-Dec-2011 8379
Odisha made its mark in motorsports by hosting the Indian National Rally Championship for the first time in Bhubaneswar and at Gurudijhatia, 50kms from here from Dec 9 to 11. With a facile win at the Rally of Odisha, Delhi driver Gaurav Gill along with co-driver Musa Sherif of Team MRF won the Speed 2011 with a round to spare, taking an unbeatable 72-point lead over the nearest rival Amittrajit Ghosh and Aswin Naik.
For the 30-year speed maestro, who is arguably the fastest rally driver in the country, the victory at the maiden National rally event in Orissa helped him achieve the third national title. He won the earlier two INRC titles in 2007 and 2009.
Jointly organised by Kalinga Motor Sports Club and Bengal Motor Sports Club, the Rally of Odisha, the sixth of the seven-round Speed Indian National Rally Championship, was held under the aegis of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI). Former Sports Minister Praveen Chandra Bhanjadeo, Mayurbhanj Maharani Rashmi Rajalaxmi Bhanjadeo, Rajamata Bharati Rajalaxmi Bhanjadeo and Kahanandi Rajmata Padma Manjari Devi presented the trophies at the closing function here.
Earlier, Gill thrilled the 1,000-strong audience with his characteristic `sliding turns’ at high speeds to kick-up a cloud of dust and received a thunderous applause at every turn as the motorsports fans of Odisha got their first taste of a National event at the spectator friendly Super Special Stage held here at Vani Vihar Stadium here. Gill drove his Mitsubishi Lancer Cedia with aplomb to clock 2 minutes 30.72 seconds to emerge fastest after finishing the 1.5 km two-lap section.
ABOUT KMSC: Kalinga Motor Sports Club was formed in the year 2009 at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district to promote motorsports in Eastern part of India. It is the only registered motorsports club in Odisha. The Club consists of members who are young as well as old and very much interested in Motor Sports. Former Sports Minister Praveen Chandra Bhanaj Deo is the founder member of the club.
The club participated in the Indo-Bhutan Car Rally for 2009 as the co-sponsors. It organised three events in the year 2009 and one event in 2010. The first was the 2nd Indo-Bhutan Friendship Car Rally, which started from Kolkata touching Siliguri, Phuntsholing and finally terminating at Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. This was the first event to have got International recognition in Eastern India and was part of the FIA Calendar.
Results (Final classification):
Overall - 2000 cc N+: 1. Gaurav Gill-Musa Sherif (Team MRF) 1 hour 13 minutes 02.5 seconds; 2. Dr Yogeshwar Gill-Jeevarathinam 1:19.20.8; 3. Amittrajit Ghosh-Ashwin Naik (Team MRF) 1:19:33.8.
2000cc N+: 1. Gaurav Gill-Musa Sherif (Team MRF) 1 hour 13 minutes 02.5 seconds; 2. Amittrajit Ghosh-Ashwin Naik (Team MRF) 1:19:33.8.
2000cc N: 1. Dr Yogeshwar Gill-Jeevarathinam 1:19.20.8; 2. Karna Kadur-Somonnita Ghosh 1:20:25.9; 3. Dr Dhirendra Kumar-Honey Narulla 1:29:26.4.
1600 cc: 1. Hanoosh Surapaneni/-Ravindra Kumar 1:24:47.4; 2. Aniruddha Rangnekar-Anoop Kumar 1: 28:26.1; 3. Ajgar Ali-Debashis Ghosh 1:30:28.8.
1400cc: 1. Dean Mascerenhas-Shruptha Padival 1:22.08.2; 2. Vikram Rao Aroor-AG Somayya 1:22:58.6; 3. Karan AM-Shanmugha SM 1:24:15.6.
Gypsy: 1. Shafeeq Ur Rehman-Ajith KP 1:28:10.7; 2. Sachin Singh-Sri Latha 1:37.44.1; 3. Sanjay Agarwal-Ramesh Kumar V 1: 41:54.7.
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PHOTO: Gaurav Gill (left) and Musa Sherif Celebrate after winning the INRC title in Bhubaneswar on Dec 11, 2011.
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