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Author: INDIAinF1 Desk
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Triple podium for Rajini Krishnan in Malaysian SBK; finishes second runner-up in the championship
Rajini Krsishnan….triple poidium in Malaysian SBK. Photo: RACR Kuala Lumpur, 10 October 2018: India’s leading rider, Rajini Krishnan, riding a Yamaha YZF R1, enjoyed a fruitful weekend with three podium spots, including one win, as he ended his campaign in the 2018 Malaysian Superbike Championship by finishing third in the series at the Sepang International Circuit here on Sunday.
The 33-year old Azlan Shah Kumaruzaman of Chia PJ Kawasaki Racing team riding a Ninja ZX-10R won the championship.
The weekend saw the fourth and fifth rounds being run with a total of four races. In Saturday’s Round 4 double-header. Rajini qualified second and finished second in Race-1 and won Race-2. Krishnan was the 2015 1000cc champion of the Malaysian SBK. He also finished runner-up in 2017.
On Sunday, he again finished second in Race-1, but pulled out of the second race which cost him a second place in the championship and he eventually ended up second runner-up by a mere one point.
Reflecting on Sunday’s fiasco, Rajini said: “As the weather wasn’t bad, I went out on Slick tyres. However, once I reached the grid, it started to rain. The Race Control declared the race as wet and gave a time of 15 minutes for the riders to change their tyres from slicks to wet.
“As we did not have a spare wheel, I decided to go out again on the same slick tyres. During the sighting lap, I couldn’t ride my bike and it was a huge risk to ride with the slick tyres in the rain. So we decided to withdraw from the race.
“I ended up in losing my first runner-up position in the championship and finished second runner-up champion by just one point.
“I would like to thank my sponsors and friends who backed me for this season. I hope to do much better in the next season. The results could have been better with more sponsorship funding. We needed a better braking system as we had severe issues with brakes during the season including a major crash due to brake fade. Also, a lack of a spare wheel cost me the second place in the championship by just one point.”
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Dayinsure Wales Rally GB: Gill and MRF finish 12th; Ogier survives Latvala challenge for title
Gaurav Gill and MRF Tyres had plenty to cheer after finishing 12th in RC2 at the Wales Rally GB. Photo: MRF Racing Llandudno, 7 October 2018: Gaurav Gill and MRF Tyres had reasons to feel satisfied after finishing 12th in the RC2 class in the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB, the 11th round of the FIA World Rally Championship which ended here on Sunday with Sébastien Ogier winning the title after a pulsating final leg.
Gill and MRF who are focusing more on tyre development in preparation for a full WRC 2 season next year, maintained good pace, if opting to err on the side of caution in view of the treacherous conditions.
Yet, Gill, partnered by Australian Glenn Macneall and driving the M-Sport prepared Ford Fiesta R5, was on anything but a leisurely Sunday drive as he progressed through the standings, moving from overall 15th to 14th to 12th over three consecutive Stages before holding position in SS-22. MRF did not run SS-23, the concluding test, following changes in the wake of a motorbike accident not related to the rally.
“It is great to reach the end of the rally – it has been a challenging rally because of the slippery conditions and the changing weather,” Gill said. “Wales Rally GB is much different to Rally Finland and Rally Italy so it was a new experience for us and the team.”
Gaurav Gill negotiating a treacherous section. Photo: MRF Racing The crews did not return to service on Sunday, rather relying on a tyre fitting zone, meaning that any damage would have to be repaired by the crews. For Gill and Macneall, they would not have to worry about this as they skilfully navigated their way through the stages.
“Like the other days, today was tricky because of the narrow and slippery muddy stages,” Gill said. “We concentrated on getting through the stages and getting the data needed to develop our product.
“It is a shame we didn’t get to do the second run on Great Orme Llandudno due to the injury of a bike rider and our thoughts are with him. However, it was great to be able to rally in front of the massive Welsh crowd.”
Next up for Team MRF Tyres is Kennards Hire Rally Australia on more familiar roads. Joining Gill and Macneall in action on MRF Tyres will be the Australian Rally Championship, where MRF Tyres is the control tyre supplier.
SEBASTIEN OGIER HANGS ON TO POUCH TITLE
Sebastien Ogier had every reason to smile after winning the Wales Rally GB. Photo: WRC Meanwhile, in the WRC battle, Jari-Matti Latvala snatched Ogier’s slender overnight lead before the Frenchman fought back to regain the initiative in the penultimate speed test and win the four-day gravel road encounter by 10.6sec in a Ford Fiesta.
Latvala, driving a Toyota Yaris, finished 24.5sec ahead of team-mate and fellow-Finn Esapekka Lappi.
In the battle for the FIA World Rally Championship, Thierry Neuville’s final day surge to fifth left him with a seven-point advantage (189-182) over Ogier with two rounds remaining.
After narrowing Ogier’s overnight lead to 1.7sec with second fastest time in the opening Elsi speed test, Latvala threw caution to the wind in the following Gwydir special stage to move into a 3.6sec lead and claim maximum bonus points.
Ogier fought back in the following asphalt Great Orme Llandudno test to claim fastest time and defeat the Finn by 3.4sec – reducing the Toyota Yaris pilot’s advantage to a tantalising 0.2sec with two stages remaining.
The gravel forest roads were treacherously slippery after cold overnight temperatures and Latvala’s face at the finish of Gwydir revealed just how much of a roller coaster ride it was.
“An extremely difficult stage. It was very, very low grip and on the asphalt there was a lot of mud. I went flat over a crest, the car was already sideways and I thought I was going to hit the impact, but luckily I got away with it. It was a big push,” he said.
Ogier, who was third in both forest tests, admitted: “It was a difficult morning, the feeling wasn’t really great in the first two stages so I couldn’t push. The Toyota is very strong but we’re going to keep pushing until the end.”
Lappi was fastest in Elsi and the Yaris driver watched the lead battle from a safe third place after Craig Breen’s hopes of a podium took a knock when the Irishman spun his Citroën C3 in Gwydir and dropped 10sec.
Andreas Mikkelsen overhauled Mads Østberg to climb to fifth in his Hyundai i20, while team-mate Thierry Neuville’s scramble for vital championship points improved when he moved ahead of Hayden Paddon by a tenth of a second into seventh. He trails Østberg by 6.9sec.
After yesterday’s problems Ott Tänak and Neuville were desperate for Power Stage points to boost their three-way championship battle with Ogier. Tänak fared best to claim four bonus points while Neuville took two, one fewer than Ogier.
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Dayinsure Wales Rally GB: Gill consolidates to finish Leg 2 in 15th; Ogier leads as Tanak retires
Gaurav Gill on way to consolidating his gains. Photo: MRF Racing Deeside Rally Village, 6 October 2018: India’s Gaurav Gill showed plenty of pluck and pace to survive tricky conditions to finish Leg 2 15th in the RC2 category for R5 cars and 24th Overall in the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB on a marathon Saturday that also witnessed overnight WRC leader Ott Tanak retiring to leave Sebastien Ogier in the lead, albeit by just 4.4 seconds.
It was an eventful Saturday for Team MRF Tyres as the day’s running saw 150km competitive over nine stages with packed spectator areas on the legendary stages of Sweet Lamb Hafren and Myherin.
Gaurav Gill negotiates treacherous conditions. Photo: MRF Racing Conditions were challenging with the morning being run on wet and slippery stages before the afternoon weather cleared, providing a much drier surface. The challenge was compounded by the drivers not returning to service, rather having to make any changes themselves at a tyre zone between the two loops.
For the driver combination of Gill and his Aussie co-driver Glenn Macneall, who were in a M-Sport prepared Ford Fiesta R5 car, it was important make the most of the stage conditions and gain valuable experience.
“It was a tough day – rallying for nine stages without coming back to service is tough so we were careful in the morning,” Gill said. “The wet conditions made the first look quite slippery and we had to be careful not to damage the car in any way.”
Gaurav Gill ups the ante. Photo: MRF Racing Fortunately for the crews, the change in the weather coincided with the tyre fitting zone so the team could fit a fresh set of MRF Tyres for the sunny afternoon loop. “The conditions for the second loop were very different from the first. It is unusual to have such sunny weather in Wales for this rally and the road conditions changes a lot from the first run to the second run.
“I am happy with our progress and we are learning a lot new about rallying in these WRC conditions and gaining data for the development of MRF Tyres.”
After the first loop, the Gill and Macneall were sitting in 15th in the RC2 class and 24th overall. They were able to consolidate their position by the end of the day.
The final day on Sunday will feature five stages over 55.64 Kms of competitive running, including two new speed tests in Snowdonia one of which – Gwydir, close to Betws-y-Coed – acts as the event’s critical Power Stage. This offers the fastest five drivers extra championship points which could prove pivotal in this year’s edge-of-the-seat WRC title race.
SEBASTIEN OGIER PROFITS AS OTT TANAK RETIRES
Sebastien Ogier on a charge. Photo: WRC Ogier enjoyed a dream day in the penultimate leg, climbing from fifth to grab top spot in his Ford Fiesta when title rival and overnight leader Tänak parked his Toyota Yaris with mechanical problems.
The top four drivers are blanketed by just 14.5sec, but Thierry Neuville, the third man in the captivating FIA World Rally Championship battle, is not among them. The series leader slid into a ditch and is scrabbling for vital points in eighth.
Tänak’s overnight lead was almost doubled when second-placed Neuville dropped 45sec while his Hyundai i20 was lifted out of a boggy Sweet Lamb Hafren gully this morning. “At one point it has to come when you’re driving on the edge since the beginning of the year. I made a mistake and paid for it,” he admitted.
Tänak was more than 40sec clear when he stopped 4km into the afternoon repeat of the same speed test. The reason was unconfirmed, but it is believed a heavy landing may have damaged his car’s sump guard and broken the radiator.
His demise was Ogier’s delight. Three wins from nine increasingly drying gravel forest road special stages left the Frenchman 4.4sec clear of Latvala, an unlikely prospect little more than 24 hours earlier when first and second gears broke.
“It’s a big fight since the beginning of the day. I’m flat out and happy with what I’ve done. I gave it everything I have and will carry on tomorrow. It’s a shame for Ott, he was definitely on another level this weekend,” said Ogier.
Esapekka Lappi. Photo: WRC Toyota’s Latvala overhauled team-mate Esapekka Lappi this morning and remained on Ogier’s heels all day. He ended frustrated after losing vital seconds when blinded by the sun at the start of the last stage and stalling his engine.
Lappi trails his fellow Finn by 7.4sec with Craig Breen also in contention a further 1.7sec behind in a Citroën C3.
Team-mate Mads Østberg was fifth after winning a stage this morning, while a rejuvenated Andreas Mikkelsen climbed to sixth at the head of a trio of i20s. The Norwegian won three stages to head Hayden Paddon and Neuville.
WRC 2 leader Kalle Rovanperä and Skoda Motorsport team-mate Pontus Tidemand completed the leaderboard.
Sunday’s final leg comprises five stages covering 55.64km in north Wales and unusually the live TV Power Stage takes place in the second test in Gwydir. The rally culminates with a second pass over the asphalt Great Orme Llandudno stage, which winds around the coastal headland before diving into Llandudno’s streets to finish on the promenade.
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Dayinsure Wales Rally GB: Gaurav Gill placed 14th in RC2; Dominant Tanak leads WRC
Ott Tanak….a dominant show on Friday. Photo: WRC Deeside Rally Village (Wales), 5 October 2018: India’s Gaurav Gill and Australian co-driver Glenn Macneall of MRF Tyres made steady progress to be placed 14th in the RC2 category and 23rd Overall at the end of Leg 1 in the Dayinsure Wales Rally GP, the 11th round of the FIA World Rally Championship on Friday.
Meanwhile, Ott Tänak mastered wet and muddy conditions to dominate Friday’s proceedings as he chased a fourth consecutive FIA World Rally Championship victory.
Tänak, who won the previous rounds in Finland, Germany and Turkey, ended a tough day in the north Wales forests with a 28.8sec lead in his Toyota Yaris over series leader Thierry Neuville.
Gaurav Gill….Solid and steady. File photo: MRF The highpoint of Gill’s performance came in the afternoon when he clocked the fourth fastest time on the second loop of the 1.70 Kms-long Slate Mountain stage driving the Ford Fiesta R5. After the regroup, the competitors returned to the repeat three of the morning Stages with Gill clocking faster timings to finish the day on a satisfactory note.
Through the day, Gill maintained a steady pace in the M-Sport prepared car and stepped it up during the second loop in the afternoon when he was noticeably quicker even as he shaved off precious seconds on his morning run.
Tanak reeled off a hat-trick of speed test wins this morning, building a near-10sec cushion that allowed for caution in the next two foggy and rain-soaked tests. He won two more this afternoon when the first three stages were repeated.
Frequent surface changes and inconsistent grip in the constantly changing conditions left drivers struggling for confidence on the predominantly gravel roads, but improved afternoon weather played into Tänak’s hands.
“It was a really good day,” said the Estonian, whose recent form has propelled him into a three-way title fight with Neuville and five-time champion Sébastien Ogier. “It looks like we’ve made a good step with the car and in the really low-grip conditions we were competitive.”
Local hero Elfyn Evans scored his maiden win here 12 months ago and was Tänak’s closest challenger until an engine misfire stopped his Ford Fiesta en route to the afternoon stages.
Neuville capitalised to take second after a frustrating start in his Hyundai i20. The Belgian’s car would not handle as he wished and he overshot a junction and hit a chicane before set-up changes did the trick and he climbed from fifth.
He headed a quartet of drivers covered by less than 10 seconds. Jari-Matti Latvala briefly held second in another Yaris, but ended 2.5sec behind Neuville after losing his rhythm in this afternoon’s long Brenig stage.
Esapekka Lappi recovered from an early spin to make it three Yaris cars in the top four. The Finn was 4.6sec adrift of his fellow countryman and 2.3sec clear of Ogier’s Fiesta.
Ogier was third until first and second gears broke which, combined with two spins, relegated him to eighth before a late recovery. Craig Breen completed the top six in a Citroën C3.
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Dayinsure Wales Rally GB: Gill opens with tied 16th; Lappi tops timesheets after SS-1
Gaurav Gill – file photo courtesy MRF Racing Tir Prince (Wales), 5 October 2018: India’s Gaurav Gill of Team MRF Tyres, driving a M-Sport prepared Ford Fiesta R5, finished a creditable tied 16th, just 4.5 seconds off the pace after completing last night’s 1.70 Kms Special Stage as the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB, a round of the FIA World Rally Championship got off to a spectacular start.
The action switches into the north Wales forests on Friday. Three early morning tests are repeated in the afternoon following mid-leg service in Deeside, with two short fan-friendly tests at Slate Mountain completing the pre-lunch loop. The eight stages cover 110.76km.
Gill, partnered by his long-time Australian co-driver Glenn Macneall, clocked one minute, 28.3 seconds, the same as British pairing of Rhys Yates-Elliot Edmondson in a Skoda Fabia R5 while Skoda factory driver Kalle Rovanpera (Jonne Haltunnen) was the quickest in the RC2 group with 01:23.8.
Meanwhile, Esapekka Lappi (01:21.6) headed a Toyota Gazoo Racing 1-2 in the WRC category after edging team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala (01:21.9). Lappi completed the dusty 1.70km stage at the Tir Prince trotting track 0.3sec quicker than fellow Finn Latvala. Both were at the wheel of Yaris World Rally Cars.
Championship leader Thierry Neuville matched Latvala’s time in his Hyundai i20 to tie for second, ahead of title rivals Sébastien Ogier (01:22.3) and Ott Tänak (01:22.5). Ogier finished 0.4sec behind the Belgian in a Ford Fiesta, with Estonian Tänak a further 0.2sec adrift in his Yaris.
Tänak recovered from a frustrating start to the day when he crashed in his first pass at this morning’s shakedown test in Clocaenog. After missing the braking point on slippery gravel roads, he slid straight on into a bank and returned to the Deeside service park where his team replaced the cooling package.
Thursday evening’s curtain-raiser was a short floodlit blast at Tir Prince trotting track and included a slalom section, donuts and two eye-catching jumps. After a high-speed lap around long and flowing bends of the oval horse racing track, the stage ended with a twisty section on adjoining roads.
Gaurav Gill’s Ford Fiesta R5 at the MRF bay ahead of the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB. Photo: MRF Racing A view of the MRF service bay at the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB. Photo: MRF Racing
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Dayinsure Wales Rally GB: MRF, Gaurav Gill looking forward to an improved show
Photos: Courtesy MRF Racing Tir Prince, 4 October 2018: Team MRF Tyres is looking forward to getting back on the World Rally Championship stages at the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB which will take place on 4-7 October. The Dayinsure Wales Rally GB is the third WRC round the team has entered this year as they prepare for their 2019 assault.
Having competed on the rough roads of Rally Italia Sardegna and the fast roads of Neste Rally Finland, the classic stages in Wales will prove to be another challenging and unique test.
The M-Sport team will again be running the Ford Fiesta R5 and their home-ground experience will be valuable for the continued development of the MRF rally tyre range.
Gaurav Gill….all set for Welsh challenge India’s Gaurav Gill will again be in the driver’s seat. He competed in Wales Rally GB in 2008 in a Group N spec car and is excited to return the stages that saw his debut into global rallying.
Australia’s Glenn Macneall is back in the co-driver’s seat and has also made one start in Great Britain, having rallied to a PWRC class podium in 2009.
Gill said: “I am looking forward to jumping back in the MRF Tyres Fiesta at Wales Rally GB. The team in India have put a lot of effort into this rally and we have new developments with the MRF Tyres that we are bringing here. I competed here once in a production rally car in 2008 and I am looking forward to the challenge that these roads will present.”
MRF Tyres’ commitment to being competitive in the WRC is evident by their continual development of the WRC tyre range.
The Team MRF Tyres Ford Fiesta R5 will be competing with 23 other R5 entries in what will be a very competitive field.The Dayinsure Wales Rally GB sees a return to the central service park in Deeside and gets underway with the Shakedown and blast through the 1.7km Spectator Super Special on 4 October.
Friday’s stages will see eight competitive stages over 110km in the Brenig, Alwen and Penmachno forests of North Wales. A grueling Saturday will see nine stages and 150km of running. Legendary stages Sweet Lamb, Myherin and Dyfi all await the crews. The crews will have a remote service in Newtown before coming back to Deeside in the evening.
Sunday’s stages will see five stages and 55km of running with the coastal run around Great Orme Llandudno being the final stage of the rally. In total the crews will rally on 318.34 of competitive stages.
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Dayinsure Wales Rally GB: Thrilling three-way battle involving Neuville, Tanak and Ogier
Photos: Courtesy Dayinsure Wales Rally GB official website Tir Prince, 4 October 2018: A dramatic opening night under the floodlights; challenging new speed tests in the legendary Welsh forests and a stunning finale with cars racing through the closed streets of Llandudno – the first free-to-attend WRC stage in the UK for more than 20 years. Then there’s the added excitement of thrilling three-way title fights for both Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ WRC Championships as well as a local Welshman – Elfyn Evans – gunning for back-to-back GB victories after his 2017 success. It all adds up to an absolutely unmissable sporting spectacle.
More than 150 competitors will be based in the Deeside Rally Village with those contesting round 11 of this year’s 13-round FIA World Rally Championship facing 23 speed tests totaling nearly 200 miles (312kms) spread over four days of epic high-speed action.
The introduction of an awesome new generation of turbocharged, four-wheel-drive cars attracted record crowds to last year’s event and, as a result, an even more fan-friendly route has been devised for 2018.
It all blasts off under the lights at the Tir Prince Raceway on Thursday evening and concludes with the history-making Great Orme Llandudno Street Stage on Sunday morning – the first time World Championship motor sport has ever been seen on closed roads in Great Britain.
“There really is something for everyone,” enthuses Ben Taylor, managing director of Dayinsure Wales Rally GB. “We have an unsurpassed breed of stunning cars, the most exciting title race in memory, a local hero in Elfyn Evans, all the classic stages in the Welsh forests plus an amazing finish on the streets of Llandudno – it adds up to an incredible four days of epic entertainment. Even the weather seems to be set fair!”
The Welsh Government’s Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Lord Elis-Thomas, is equally excited. He says: “North Wales is very familiar with adventure, and for a weekend in October – Wales Rally GB becomes part of the family and adds to the adrenaline and excitement. Wales is home to some of the world’s most legendary rally stages – and this year’s route is a showcase of our fantastic Welsh scenery – with a spectacular finish along the coast during the Year of the Sea. We look forward to another successful event as some of the sport’s legendary drivers take on the challenges of the Wales Rally GB.”
TITLE FIGHT REACHES FEVER PITCH
Not for 15 years has the WRC produced such a captivating title battle among both drivers and manufacturers. With three rounds remaining on the 2018 calendar, just 24 points separate series leader Thierry Neuville, fast finishing Ott Tänak and five-time World champ Sébastien Ogier. With 90 points still on the table, the crown cannot be won in Wales, but, with time running out, all three protagonists will be flat-out in the forests.
A campaign that appeared to be building towards a duel between defending champion Ogier and heir apparent Neuville has been gate-crashed by man-of-the moment Tänak. The Estonian arrives in Wales having won the previous three rounds in Finland, Germany and Turkey in his Toyota Yaris and now finally admits he’s a title threat. “We are in the fight now,” he acknowledges.
Neuville still has his Hyundai’s nose in front but knows he has a battle on his hands. “We are fighting for the championship against some very hard guys to beat,” says the Belgian.
“It’s a three-way fight,” agreed Ogier. “There are still three rallies to go and everything is possible. Nothing is finished yet.” Now fans in Wales can witness the next page-turning chapter in this WRC thriller.
GOOD EVANS: A WELSH WINNER!
While many eyes will be focused on the title fight, local fans will be hoping home hero Elfyn Evans can again upset the form book.
Last year, the Welsh wizard from Dolgellau, made history by becoming the first Welsh driver ever to win a round of the World Rally Championship – a feat he’s now aiming to repeat. “Competing at home always bring a special motivation and we are targeting another victory,” he says. “The fans were amazing last year and I hope it’s going to be same again.”
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Wales Rally GB: M-Sport pair Ogier, Ingrassia eyeing a strong result on home turf
All WRC photos courtesy M-Sport Wales, 3 October 2018: Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia are no strangers to the taste of champagne, and especially not in Wales where the World Rally Champions have four victories to their name. Currently locked in an intense three-way battle for a sixth World title, the M-Sport Ford Fiesta pairing will be looking to challenge for victory once again this weekend.
M-Sport Ford’s fleet of EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRCs will be chasing a strong result when the FIA World Rally Championship ventures to the team’s home event this week.
Elfyn Evans and Daniel Barritt know what it takes to tame the tricky Welsh stages and secured their maiden victory on home soil last year. The Brits will have home support on their side this week, and Evans even has a corner named after him on the Myherin stage! Keen to close the latter half of the season with some strong results, the British pairing will be ones to watch.
Teemu Suninen and Mikko Markkula have come to prove that they cannot be discounted at any event. Wales Rally GB might be one of the most challenging events on the calendar, but the young Finn seems to thrive when the going gets tough. Having secured the WRC 2 victory on his first ever appearance in Wales, Suninen took an instant liking to the Welsh forests and could spring a surprise or two next week.Sébastien Ogier said: “Wales Rally GB is one of the classics and an event that everyone wants to win. The stages are steeped in motorsport history and the early starts and late finishes make it a true test of focus and endurance. Win in Wales, and you know that you have mastered the challenge.
“It’s one of the most challenging rallies on the calendar and there is a real art to judging the grip through the forests. The demanding weather conditions can take a bit of getting used to, but we could see a dry rally this year which would be interesting for sure!
“This time 12 months ago, the Welsh forests played host to an incredible story as we claimed all three championships with Malcolm and his team. The title fight could not be closer this year, but the team can rest assured that we will give our very best in pursuit of the strongest possible result to keep our championship hopes alive!”
To best prepare for Wales Rally GB’s notoriously challenging stages, the team completed four days of testing – both at home in Cumbria as well as on-location in the Welsh forests. And with the event’s past five winners all behind the wheel of the Fiesta this week, the team have high hopes of once again challenging for victory.Last year’s victory was particularly special as the Welsh fixture played host to an incredible weekend for the Cumbrian squad who secured the win as well as the FIA World Rally Championships for Manufacturers, Drivers and Co-drivers.
The Championships can’t be secured on Welsh soil this year, but the victory will be hotly contested and could well prove pivotal as the season draws to a close; and M-Sport Ford will be giving their all in pursuit of a repeat performance.
Wales Rally GB is one of the classics – an iconic event that every rally driver wants to win. Steeped in motorsport history, the British round has it all and provides one of the biggest challenges of the year.
Mud, rain, fog, even snow and ice – anything can be expected in Wales. Glorious sunshine could even be a possibility this year and the crews could face a dry Wales Rally GB for the first time in a number of years.
Whatever the conditions this weekend, the challenge remains. Focus and endurance are key and the crews will be tested to the maximum. Make no mistake, a win in Wales will have been hard fought and that’s why every driver wants to add this one to their repertoire.Team Principal, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said: “The competition could not be closer and we’ll be hoping for another strong result on home soil. Nothing will ever top last year when we secured all three titles as well as the rally win, but we are aiming to be in the fight for another victory this year.
“Both Sébastien and Elfyn know what it takes to stand on the top step of the podium in Wales. Sébastien has won this event four times, and Elfyn not only grew up on these roads but also made history when he won the event last year – the first Welsh driver to ever do so at this level.
“This will be Teemu’s first time here in a world rally car and there will be a lot to learn, but time after time he proves what a quick learner he is and I wouldn’t be surprised if he sprung another surprise or two this weekend.”
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Raid de Himalaya 2018: All-women teams set to explore new horizons
The Rana sisters….all set for new challenges. Shimla, 02 October 2018: Delhi’s Shuchi Thakur, a St Stephen’s alumnus and global number one in extreme cross country high-altitude motorsport racing among women, is again taking on the challenge at the 20th edition of the Raid de Himalaya.
The Raid will start from Leh on October 8, and will finish on October 14. Competitors at Raid 2018 will take on mountain roads, hairpin curves and dangerous drop-offs in Kargil, Zanskar and Ladakh sectors, covering approximately 3,000 Kms every year.
Shuchi has competed at the Raid an astounding 12 times. That is a formidable record, since the Raid is considered among the top ten toughest motorsport rallies of the world. Shuchi, who hails from Dharamshala and now lives at Delhi, first competed in Raid de Himalaya in 2005. She has been racing at the Raid every year since then, except 2016. This makes Shuchi the only woman globally who has raced a 4×4 vehicle over 100,000 Kms of high-altitude dangerous roads in an extreme motorsport event.
Shuchi’s commendable podium finishes include second in T1 category at Raid 2017, first in T2 category at Raid 2015, and second in T2 category at Raid 2013. At the Maruti Suzuki National Autocross Championship 2016-17, she ranked first in North Zone 4-Wheel Drive category.
Shuchi says it is important for a professional rallyist to be fit all the year round. “For cross country endurance rallying, fitness is key. One has to be prepared for long hours of strenuous driving under all kinds of conditions. I run a lot, also do resistance training and high intensity interval workout.”
Shuchi Thakur and her co-driver. Shuchi works in the advertising industry in the creative section. “Everything else that I do is a means to this end – rallying. I am there to compete, not for a fun drive in the hills. I try to do as many events in a year as possible. Seat time is essential. The more seat time you get, the better you get at your craft,” she says.
Shuchi has been competing in other cross-country rallies in the country like the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm and the SJOBA sub-Himalayan Rally. She also races at autocross events in the country.
The other major woman rallyist in the Xtreme category of the Raid is Anu Rana of Chandigarh. Anu has been competing in Xtreme motorsport racing since 2014. This is the fourth time she is competing at the Raid de Himalaya.
In 2015, Anu was second in the T2 category at the Raid. She bagged the Coup de Dames trophy, given to the all-women team that performs best at the Raid, in 2015 and also 2016. Anu was second in the T2 category at the Dakshin Dare 2015, and first in the women’s category at Dakshin Dare in 2016 and 2017.
Anu, a financial consultant, will compete at the Raid with her sister Poonam Rana as navigator. The duo has won various trophies together.
Anu says the Raid is her favourite motorsport race. “Competitive driving for long hours at high altitudes requires completely different set of training and conditioning of your body. The terrain keeps getting steeper with every turn, and you will not know when you will be racing on loose rocks or even sand, which makes the drive tougher with distance. For a racer like me, the terrain looks tempting, but you should never forget limits of your car,” said Anu, a seasoned rallyist now.
Raid de Himalaya is the flagship event of the country’s premier motorsport club, Shimla-based Himalayan Motorsport. President Himalayan Motorsport Vijay Parmar said women drivers who come to the Raid are are really, really tough. “Their level of dedication, fearlessness and outright driving skill is a world apart. Shuchi Thakur has been coming for the Raid for over a decade. She has always aimed for an overall win, beating men and women in her category. Anu Rana, teaming with her sister, can be a formidable combination in Xtreme 4×4. Interesting times ahead.”
For Raid de Himalaya 2018, motorsport adventure seekers will race on the new pass of Kaldang-Kildang La at an elevation of 4.092m in the Ladakh region. The Raid will also have competitive stretches across the daunting stretches of Photoksar and Sirisir La.
This year’s Raid will run its first stage on the never-before traversed section from Lamayuru, called the moonland of Ladakh, to Photoksar. Competitors are going to race on a newly-upgraded road that was earlier a mule track into Zanskar.
Competitors at the Raid will also on the road leading to Umba La, a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.496 meters above sea level. This is one of the most spectacular stretches globally, and is listed on dangerousroads.org. Crossing the Sirisir La at a height of 4,805 meters above sea level, the 20th Raid De Himalaya is going to enter totally unchartered territory.
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Raid de Himalaya 2018: Two amputees to compete on motor-bikes, a global first!
Vinod Rawat…..all set for a new challenge in his life. Shimla, 30 September 2018: In a global first, two amputees are going to compete on motorcycles in the World’s highest cross-country rally raid, the Raid de Himalaya. Setting this global record are Vinod Rawat of Mumbai and Ashok Munne of Nagpur. What makes these amputees take on a rally that is the litmus test for motorsport adventure seekers in the country? The four words that people have thrown at them over the years. ‘You can’t do it’.
The Raid is considered among the top ten toughest rallies of the World. It will take off from Leh on October 8 this year, and finish on October 14. Over 200 competitors participating in Raid de Himalaya 2018 will race over some of the most challenging roads in the Kargil, Zanskar and Ladakh sectors, speeding over rocks, gravel and dust.
The amputees, Vinod Rawat and Ashok Munne are competing in the toughest category at the Raid – Xtreme Moto. Racing motorcycles at high-altitude roads and mountain passes is a task few can accomplish.
Munne is a Nagpur man, and nobody who knows him is surprised that he is going to compete at the Raid de Himalaya. Munne is a para-athlete whose achievements can dazzle any able-bodied individual. The 34-year-old is a mountaineer, an expert para glider, a scuba diver, a marathon runner, a black belt in martial arts, a skilled gymnast and kayaker, yoga expert and ace swimmer.
Munne climbed the Everest in 2016, and is planning to repeat the feat in 2019. He lost his leg in a train accident in 2008, but didn’t let the handicap limit his life. His current passion is finishing the Raid de Himalaya. “I was 24 when I lost my leg in a train mishap. People said my life was over. I proved to people that I can and will do everything in life. There is no physical limitation. I will live my life the way I want to.”
Ashok Munne…..living his dream Munne, who uses a blade leg, is the brand ambassador for two multi-national artificial limbs companies. He climbed the Mera Peak in Nepal, at a height of 6,476 meters, without oxygen. In 2013, he rode 3,000 Kms through Ladakh on his motorcycle. He is ecstatic, he says, to be fulfilling his dream of participating in the Raid de Himalaya.
“Now everything is a surprise in life. Everything is a new joy. It feels so wonderful that I am competing in the Raid this year. I had never thought I would live such an exciting life,” said Munne.
Rawat has lived the Raid dream in his head for nine years. His leg was amputated when he was child. He got his driving license in the year 2000, and has been an avid motorcyclist since. “I came to know about the Raid in 2010. Since then, it has been my most cherished dream to compete at the Raid and finish it,” he said.
Rawat was not the one to take his Raid dream lightly. He has been going to Leh since 2011 at least once a year, practicing motorcycling there so that his body got used to the demands of high-altitude terrain.
In 2017, as part of his Raid preparation, Rawat went to Leh on a cycle all the way from Manali via Khardung La. Rawat says he undertook the rally to check his stability and stamina. “Like we test the power of the bike, I wanted to test myself. Machine doesn’t take the man. The man takes the machine,” said Rawat.
Rawat is driving a 150cc four-stroke Indian bike at the Raid. Experienced motorsport champions know that finishing the Raid successfully is a challenge. Rawat is confident that he will be a Raid finisher. “You may call it overconfidence, but I believe in it 100 per cent. For 18 years, ever since I became a motorcyclist, people scared me because I am an amputee. I have always stood my ground. I will prove them wrong this time too,” said the determined 43-year-old.
Rawat’s Raid dream is being sponsored by Jaipur Foot, the artificial-limb providing company that gave him the rubber-based prosthetic leg to enable normal movement. “We want to reach the disabled and fill them with hope,” said Rawat. “When I compete at the Raid, people with disabilities will know that they don’t have to live restricted, fearful lives,” said Rawat.
The Mumbai man admits that he could have chosen to be the first amputee globally to participate on a motorcycle in a rally as formidable as the Raid de Himalaya. “But I thought I should take another amputee along who is a high-achiever. This would be such amazing inspiration for the disabled,” he said.
Raid de Himalaya is the flagship event of the country’s premier motorsport club, Shimla-based Himalayan Motorsport. President Himalayan Motorsport Vijay Parmar said that their club has always promoted the spirit of excellence in life, of achieving against all odds, by supporting para-athletes like Deepa Malik, Arun Bareja and now Ashok Munne and Vinod Rawat. “At the end of the day, without the possibility of an impossible challenge the human being is nothing at all! We are amazed by their determination, and what they have achieved,” said Parmar.
The Team MRF Tyres Ford Fiesta R5 will be competing with 23 other R5 entries in what will be a very competitive field.
Teemu Suninen and Mikko Markkula have come to prove that they cannot be discounted at any event. Wales Rally GB might be one of the most challenging events on the calendar, but the young Finn seems to thrive when the going gets tough. Having secured the WRC 2 victory on his first ever appearance in Wales, Suninen took an instant liking to the Welsh forests and could spring a surprise or two next week.
To best prepare for Wales Rally GB’s notoriously challenging stages, the team completed four days of testing – both at home in Cumbria as well as on-location in the Welsh forests. And with the event’s past five winners all behind the wheel of the Fiesta this week, the team have high hopes of once again challenging for victory.
Whatever the conditions this weekend, the challenge remains. Focus and endurance are key and the crews will be tested to the maximum. Make no mistake, a win in Wales will have been hard fought and that’s why every driver wants to add this one to their repertoire.
