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Jaden Pariat dominates the opening round of MMSC Car Racing Nationals; Triple for Abhay
Chennai, 18 February 2024: Teenager Jaden Rahaman Pariat of Shillong showcased his immense talent dishing out high speeds that touched 199 kmph dominated the opening round of the National races in the MRF Formula 2000 class. He won the final two races after losing an unexpected first race, which he was leading by over 18 seconds, but lost in the final lap with his engine playing a stop-start game. “I had to switch it on for at least eight times. But I am glad I could salvage the second place an the points,’” quipped the gentle giant who did a few races in the British F4 last year. “I feel this car is much faster and powerful than the ones at British F4,” he revealed.
Diana Pundole, the lady from Pune, bulldozed her way to two victories in the saloon class dominating a male field to begin the season on a promising note. Last year, she ended up second in many races and is raring to go for the champion ship this season.
Meanshile, Bengaluru’s Abhay Mohan, the youngest competitor at 15 years of age, in the MRF Formula 1600 category, swept to a triple crown while as the first round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Car Racing Championship 2024 concluded at the Madras International Circuit here on Sunday.
Diana Pundole flanked by second-placed Anirudha Arvind (left) and third-placed Jai Prashanth Venkat in Race-1 of MRF Saloons. Diana went on notch a double (Feb 18) Photo by Anand Philar Mumbai’s Biren Pithawalla (Team N1 Racing) crowned himself with a grand double in the Indian Touring Cars category as did Angad Matharoo (Buzzing Hornet Motorsport) from Chandigarh in the Super Stock class.
Also notching a double was Pune’s Diana Pundole, a mother of two, in the MRF Saloons (Toyota Etios) category besides one P3 finish, while DTS Racing dominated the Formula LGB 1300 triple-header, with a podium sweep as Nellore’s Viswas Vijayaraj won two races and team-mate Arya Singh, the other with Balaprasath finishing third in all three outings.
Jaden, the 17-year-old from Shillong, displayed impressive pace to win both the races today in the MRF F2000 category to make up for his P2 finish yesterday when he surrendered a massive lead in the last lap due to engine issues. Bengaluru’s Chetan Surineni, the Race-1 winner yesterday, came in second in both the outings today.
Reviewing his performance this weekend, Jaden said: “I did some preparation by watching my onboard videos from my December race. I realised there was plenty in the car. It was a question of putting things together which I did this weekend. I feel there is still a lot I can extract from this car. Of course, my stint in British Formula 4 helped, but the F2000 is far quicker and I felt very comfortable this weekend.”
Abhay Mohan, as in the first race yesterday, was in a league of his own in both the outings today to complete a triple crown and underline his talent and potential. “My only target for this round was to be on top, which I did. The car too was pretty good and so were the MRF tyres. My preparation was to get fit and learn from my Formula LGB 1300 outing last season. Yes, I feel good to have won all three races this weekend,” said Abhay.
Biren, having won a close Race-1 on Saturday, started P4 on the reverse grid in today’s 10-lap Race-2, but in the very first lap, seized the lead, hotly pursued by Ritesh Rai (Arka Motorsport) and, cousin and team-mate Ananth Pithawalla.
The trio quickly distanced themselves from the pack before both Rai and Ananth packed up with punctures. Rai rejoined after a visit to the pit, but it was too late. Ananth suffered yet another tyre-burst to finish the weekend without points. Meanwhile, Biren was in cruise mode and comfortably won the race ahead of pole-sitter Pratik Sonawane (Buzzing Hornet Motorsport) and Deepak Ravikumar (Team Performance Racing).
Down the combined grid, Srinivas Teja (Team Performance Racing) edged out Race-1 winner and team-mate Hatim Shabbir Jamnagarwala in the Indian Junior Touring Cars class, while Matharoo fought his way to his second win of the weekend with a late burst in the Super Stock category.
The results (Provisional):
MRF Formula 2000 (Race-2, 10 laps): 1. Jaden Rahman Pariat (Shillong) (15mins, 44.717secs); 2. Chetan Surineni (Bengaluru) (16:02.706). Tarun Muthaiah (Bengaluru) who finished third was disqualified for a black flag violation. Race-3 (8 laps): 1. Jaden Rahman Pariat (12:35.788); 2. Chetan Surineni (12:50.154); 3. Tarun Muthaiah (13:31.154).
MRF Formula 1600 (Race-2, 10 laps): 1. Abhay Mohan (Bengaluru) (17:14.365); 2. Zahan Commissariat (Mumbai) (17:26.618); 3. Monith Kumaran (Chennai) (15:47.911+1 lap). Race-3 (8 laps): 1. Abhay Mohan (13:51.711); 2. Zahan Commissariat (14:00.143); 3. Raaj Bakhru (Mumbai) (14:03.179).
Indian Touring Cars (Race-2, 10 laps): 1. Biren Pithawala (Mumbai, Team N1 Racing) (19:14.983); 2. Pratik Sonawane (Pune, Buzzing Hornet Motorsport) (19:35.983); 3. Deepak Ravikumar (Chennai, Performance Racing) (19:36.365).
Indian Junior Touring Cars (Race-2, 10 laps): 1. Srinivas Teja ((Chennai, Performance Racing) (19:43.845); 2. Hatim Shabbir Jamnagarwala (Chennai, Performance Racing) (19:44.608); 3. Yug Italiya (Mumbai, Team N1 Racing) (19:54.746).
Super Stock (Race-2, 10 laps): 1. Angad Matharoo (Chandigarh, Buzzing Hornet MS) (21:03.892); 2. Manan Patel (Mumbai, Redline Racing) (21:04.737); 3. Anirudha Arvind (Chennai, Redline Racing India) (21:13.128).
MRF Saloons (Toyota Etios) Race-2 (10 laps): 1. Anirudha Arvind (Chennai, Redline Racing) (20:47.868); 2. Jai Prashanth Venkat (Coimbatore, Redline Racing) (20:54.145); 3. Diana Pundole (Pune, Redline Racing) (20:54.735). Race-3 (8 laps): 1. Diana Pundole (16:31.795); 2. Anirudha Arvind (16:33.562); 3. Kesara Godage (Sri Lanka, Redline Racing) (16:43.645);
Formula LGB 1300 (Race-1, 8 laps): 1. Viswas Vijayaraj (Nellore, DTS Racing) (14:57.600); 2. Arya Singh (Kolkata, DTS Racing) (15:00.136); 3. Balaprasath (Coimbatore, DTS Racing) (15:14.379). Race-2 (8 laps): 1. Arya Singh (15:07.040); 2. Viswas Vijayaraj (15:11.098); 3. Balaprasath (15:15.423). Race-3 (8 laps): 1. Viswas Vijayaraj (14:56.286); 2. Arya Singh (15:01.417); 3. Balaprasath (15:06.693).
Feature photo caption: Jaden Rahman Pariat, who scored a double in the MRF F2000 category, has dominated the opening round of the 2024 season at MIC which concluded on 18 Feb 2024. Photo by Anand Philar
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Indian team on podium in FIM e-Xplorer World Cup; Sandra Gomez excels for Indian team
E-Xplorer season opener dominated by newcomers with Team HRC and INDE Racing in the top three.
Honda Racing Corporation (Team HRC) has claimed victory in its native Japan at the opening round of the 2024 FIM E-Xplorer World Cup, stamping its authority in electric off-road racing in only its first competition.
As a new entry in the all-electric off-road motorcycle series, Team HRC entered the competition surrounded by formidable opponents, many of whom have an entire year’s worth of experience in the inaugural 2023 championship.
However, with consistently strong performance throughout the day of racing in Osaka, Team HRC managed to not only keep up with its rivals but also finish Round 1 at the top of the tables.
Team HRC’s competitors were not giving the newcomer an easy ride however, and with 132 championship points, Round 1 was secured by the factory team by just one point.
Hot on their heels and finishing the weekend in second place was Robbie Maddison Racing (renamed from Madwill in 2023) achieving 131 points. RMR riders Zaragoza and Germond pushed Team HRC right to the end but were ultimately pipped to the post.
Just behind RMR in third place came the second of the new 2024 teams, INDE Racing with 121 points. Achieving a podium position on debut laid down a strong marker for the Indian-based outfit and they will look to retain their pace throughout the season.
HRC riders Francesca Nocera and Tosha Schareina battled 14 other riders over three individual races at Osaka’s Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, putting in consistently fast times despite the unique conditions and challenges.
Despite the cold weather, Hirofumi Yoshimura, Governor of Osaka prefecture joined the inspiring crowd of 1750 motorsport fans who attended the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park to watch E-Xplorer Season 2 kick-off.
The success of the event must also be credited to the cohesive relationship between the FIM and FMJ who sanctioned Round 1.
In the rider stakes, INDE Racing’s Sandra Gomez took the honours as the weekend’s fastest female rider, while RMR’s Jorge Zaragoza stood on the top spot as the fastest male rider.
Topping off a momentous day, Gomez taking the honours in the female standings marked the first victory for an FIM-sanctioned Indian motorsport team in a global series.
With close racing from start to finish, there was all to play for in Japan and the result came down to the final race in both male and female categories.
Despite Osaka’s narrow track, the male riders managed a clean and tidy start with all riders making it onto the main track without incident. With a near-perfect start, RMR’s Zaragoza got to the front and stayed there for a clear win.
Congestion at the start of the women’s first of three races caused an altercation between AUS-E rider Jess Gardiner and Team HRC’s Nocera, pushing both riders to the back of the pack. That left Gravity’s Tanya Schlosser and Gomez to fight it out for first with the INDE Racing entry crossing the line first.
With another clean start, Schareina led at the start of the men’s second race but had the lead snatched from him at turn two as a dominant Zaragoza capitalised on small errors. As the RMR rider defended the front spot, a second battle emerged in the mid-pack with Alex Andreis of Gravity, Bonnell rider Dylan Woodcock and INDE’s Spenser Wilton exchanging places right up to the line.
German rider Schlosser’s consistently fast and flawless starts shot the Gravity rider into the lead during the second of the women’s heats, but Nocera’s aggression and experience soon closed the gap and the Italian rider passed to take the lead, while Gomez also managed to push past into second.
However, Nocera held onto the lead and claimed a win in the second heat, securing Team HRC’s first-ever win in an electric series and a historic milestone in the venerable brand’s motorsport story.
An unstoppable Zaragoza quickly established the lead in the third and final Men’s race, finding his way to the front and staying there. Despite a consistently paced ride from Schareina and Woodcock, the Spanish RMR rider pulled out an impressive 20-second lead over the eight-minute race.
The women’s final race for the day appeared to be a carbon copy of the second with Schlosser blasting into the lead at the start before being hunted down and passed by Nocera. Simultaneously, a fired-up Gomez overtook third-place Bonnell rider Kristie McKinnon for wall-to-wall action across the track.
In the individual standings, Gomez dominated for an overall first place, Nocera finished the day in second, while Schlosser was the day’s third fastest female rider.
Both Gomez and Schlosser ran on Stark, giving the manufacturer a double podium in the Women’s individual category.
With almost unbeatable pace, Zaragoza was the fastest male rider, Schareina ended the day in second place while Woodcock took third place on the podium – a particularly impressive feat given the British rider had switched to a less powerful spare bike for the day.
With the first round of the 2024 FIM E-Xplorer World Cup successfully wound up, all eyes look to round two which returns to Europe and Norway in early May.
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CEAT Supercross league finale shifted to Bengaluru
Pune, 15 February 2024: Bengaluru will host the grand finale of the CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL), India’s first franchise-based Supercross league on February 25 at the APMC ground in Byatarayanapura.
The organisers announced a change in venue for the highly-anticipated Season One finale on Thursday. Originally slated for Delhi, the event will now move to Bengaluru, a hot-bed of motorsports events and fans.
Due to unforeseen circumstances after authorities put in place some stringent resolutions that could potentially create logistical challenges, the organising committee made a conscious decision to relocate the event to Bengaluru. The decision is made to ensure the seamless execution of the season finale and to prioritise the safety of all involved.
The huage APMC ground located at Byatarayanapura, opposite to Pheonix Mall of Asia in Bangalore has been selected as the new venue for the third and final round. The first round was held in Pune on January 28 and the second round was hosted by Ahmedabad on Feb 11.
Veer Patel, Director and Co-Founder of Supercross India said: “We acknowledge the anticipation surrounding the Season One finale, and we extend our apologies for any inconvenience caused by this adjustment. However, after careful consideration of various factors, including the prevailing circumstances, we believe that relocating the event to Bengaluru, that is considered the epitome of motorcycle events, will bolster the confidence of our partners and draw exceptional crowds. We are confident that the culminating event will offer an exhilarating Supercross racing experience to its fans.”
The CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering a world-class experience for fans and participants alike. The league looks forward to showcasing the excitement of Supercross in Bengaluru and creating lasting memories for all involved.
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All set for 2024 FIA Junior WRC – Rally Sweden
Umea (Sweden), 14 February 2024: The eagerly awaited 2024 FIA Junior WRC season kicks off this week at the legendary Rally Sweden (15 – February).
Based out of the university city of Umeå, Rally Sweden welcomes the largest FIA Junior WRC line-up in two decades, with a record-breaking 19 crews registered for round one. They will pilot identical Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evos, exclusively equipped with Pirelli tyres and Wolf Lubricants, through the frozen forests of the Västerbotten region.
As the only pure snow and ice fixture on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar, Rally Sweden presents the ultimate winter challenge. Studded tyres are essential and provide remarkable grip as drivers ‘lean’ their cars against the snowbanks at ultra-high speeds.
Diego Domínguez finished as last year’s championship runner-up, and the Paraguayan will be aiming to put all of his past experience to good use in pursuit of the top spot. Other returnees include Eamonn Kelly, Roberto Blach and Tom Rensonnet.
However, the 13 Junior WRC newcomers will be hot on their heels, with hotshots including Romet Jürgenson, Bruno Bulacia, Norbert Maior and Mille Johansson all eager to prove themselves on the global stage.
Crews will have to be on form from the outset. ‘Wolf Stage Wins’ mean a single championship point is awarded for every stage victory throughout 2024 as the drivers fight for a life-changing prize which includes an arrive-and-drive package to contest four European rounds of the 2025 WRC in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 car.
Also up for grabs this season is the ‘Craig Breen Spirit of Rallying Award’, named after the 2011 champion who tragically passed away last year. At the season’s conclusion, an independent judging panel will select the recipient based on who they feel best epitomises the never-give-up attitude and passion for the sport that Breen was universally admired for.
The rally begins on Thursday afternoon and includes 18 special stages totalling more than 300km before Sunday afternoon’s finish.
Maciej Woda, FIA Junior WRC Championship Manager, said: “Rally Sweden is a truly magical event on a surface which every rally driver must master if they are to progress to the top echelons of the sport. Add to that the huge field of M-Sport Poland-built Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo cars, and I think we’ve got all the ingredients for a very, very exciting week.
“Predicting a winner from the 19-car entry is an impossible task, but I can’t wait to see the battles unfold out on the stages. Above all, I hope that every crew enjoys their experience of this extraordinary rally.”
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Aussie Reid Taylor stars for Big Rock; After fireworks Jordi-Matt duel ends in peace
Ahmedabad, 11 February 2024: Top Australian motocross rider Reid Taylor of Big Rock Motorsports stole the show with a double and a second place to turn out as the Best rider of the day in the second round of the CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) which was inaugurated by the Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel at the Eka Arena, here on Sunday.
However, it was the big fight between the nine-time Australian champion Matt Moss of Big Rock Motorsports and French rider, two-time former World champion Jordi Tixier, of BB Racing that reached a crescendo as both shared honours winning a Moto each, but not before a tough tussle on the track and a war of words off it.
Tixier, the current ISRL leader in the individual leaderboard, trailing in the feature All-star race, boxed the Aussie rider in an aggressive move and his back tyre hit the front of the Big Rock rider. Moss took a tumble as a result and lost the lead and was visibly disturbed. Jordi Tixier won the race but the duo had an ‘exchange of words’ at the finish line but soon Tixier, explained his case and rendered an apology. Moss, was clearly denied a double win today but the Australian accepted the apology and thanked his team, Big Rock Motorsports, for the wonderful bike and all the arrangements. “I am pleased with the Ahmedabad track here and happy to see a huge crowd. We have prepared well and I am very happy to take the lead in the team championship,” said Moss, after the races.
Seven motos were held on Sunday. There were two motos for the 450cc bikes for international riders. Then there were two motos each for the 250cc international riders and 250cc motos for a mix of Asia and Indian riders. The final race was the All Stars Race for both 450cc and 250cc riders.
The BigRock Motorsports continued to dominate the team championship table as its riders took many podium places. Matt Moss, the star athlete of BigRock Motorsports, riding the Kawasaki KX450S, secured first place in the 450cc international race. Reid Taylor, also from BigRock Motorsport, astride a Kawasaki KX250, won the 250cc international race and went on to take a second-place in the all-star race, competing against 450cc bikes. Punching above his weight, Taylor kept Big Rock in good stead after Moss had a fall and his second place points helped the team very much. Ben Prasit Hallgren of Mohite’s Racing riding the Kawasaki won the 250cc India Asia Mix category. The electrifying races drew a crowd of over 8,000.
French rider Thomas wins the First moto of the day
French rider Thomas Ramette, astride a Kawasaki KX450S, began with a bang winning the first moto of the day in the 450cc SX1 for international riders. He took the hole shot and kept a marauding Matt Moss as bay for the initial laps and won with a comfortable race at the end. Germany’s Nico Koch also on a similar bike came third making it two podiums for Reise, which is now second in the team standings.
In the second moto of the day for the 250cc Asia and India mix of riders, Thailand’s Thanarat Penjan, who won a double in the first round in Pune, began with a win beating compatriot Ben Prasit Haligren but Ben came back and took the victory in the second moto. Athison Ruadero, another Thai rider, who stood third in the first moto, took another podium with a second place in the second moto. While Penjan had a hole shot and lead all the way, Athison gave a scare Ben and almost pipped him in the final lap, but fell short, losing time just before the flag.
French rider Thomas Ramette, astride a Kawasaki KX450S, begins the day with a big win in the 450cc International race Moto1 on Sunday. Grand double for Reid Taylor
In the 250cc race for International riders, Reid Taylor got good points for Big Rock Motorsports with a double win. He got the hole shot in the first moto and won comfortably. However, in the second moto, after leading the race and building up a gap, he lost the front and took a nasty fall, but recovered quickly and still emerged as the race winner. French rider Julien Lebeau of Mohite’s Racing came second in both the motos.
Chief Minister thrilled
Earlier, Chief Minister, Bhupendrabhai Patel, inaugurated the second round of the three-round franchise based league, the first of its kind in the world. Patel said:”Today, it is thrilling to witness this Supercross event in Ahmedabad. Gujarat is honored to host the CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League, showcasing our commitment to sportsmanship and excellence. This event ignites passion, inspires champions, and elevates Gujarat’s global standing in motorsports.”
Veer Patel, Managing Director Lilleria Group and Co-Founder of CEAT ISRL, said:“I’m grateful to Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel and the Gujarat Sports Ministry for their invaluable support in promoting motorsport. Their visionary leadership and passion helped us to organise this event successfully. The crowd’s enthusiasm was unmatched and it is our vision of establishing India as a global hub for Supercross.”
Freestyle motocross stunt riders thrilled the audience at a packed stadium.
ISRL Ro2 Ahmedabad Provisional Results:
A freestyle rider, Paul, thrills the audience. 1. SX1:- 450cc International, Moto1:
1. #206 Thomas Ramette, France, Reise Motorsports, 7:14.634; (Kawasaki KX450S);
2. #102 Matt Moss, Australia, Big Rock Motorsports; 7:16.648; (Kawasaki KX450S);
3. #20 Nico Koch, Germany, Reise Motorsports, 7:23.810; (Kawasaki KX450S);
Fastest lap: Matt Moss 36.930sec;
2. SX2: 250cc India Asia Mix, Moto1:
1. #71 Thanarat Penjan, Thailand, Big Rock Motorspors, 6:54.686; (Kawasaki KX250);
2. #31 Ben Prasit Haligren, Thiland, Mohite’s Racing Team, 6:57.710; (Kawasaki KX250);
3. #112 Athison Ruadero, Thailand, BB Racing, 7:11.274; (Honda CRF250R);
Fastest Lap: Ben Prasit 38.925sec; Penjan 38.976 seconds.
3. SX3: 250cc International Moto1:
1. #86 Reid Taylor, Australia, Big Rock Motorsports; 7:52.289; (Kawasaki KX250);
2. #259 Julien Lebeau, France, Mohite Racing; 8:03.738; (Kawasaki KX250);
3. #851 Clement Briatte, France, Gujarat Trailblazers; 8:06.223; (KTM 250SX-F);
Fastest lap: Reid Taylor 36.968 sec;
4. SX4: 250cc India Asia Mix, Moto2:
1. #31 Ben Prasit Haligren, Thailand, Mohite’s Racing Team, 7:43.652; (Kawasaki KX250);
2. #112 Athison Ruadero, Thailand, BB Racing, 7:44.459; (Honda CRF 250R);
3. #71 Thanarat Penjan, Thailand, Big Rock Motorspors, 7:54.527; (Kawasaki KX250);
Fastest lap: Ben Prasit Haligren 39.347sec;
5. SX5: 250cc International Moto2:
1. #86 Reid Taylor, Australia, Big Rock Motorsports; 7:19.866; (Kawasaki KX250);
2. #259 Julien Lebeau, France, Mohite Racing; 7:24.126; (Kawasaki KX250);
3. #335 Enzo Polias, France, Gujarat Trailblazers; 7:27.215; (KTM 250SX-F);
Fastest lap: Reid Taylor 36.958sec;
6. SX6 – Moto2: 450cc International (12 laps/7minutes +2 laps):
1. #102Matt Moss, Australia, Big Rock Motorsports, 7:50.077; (Kawasaki KX450S);
2. #911 Jordi Tixier, France, BB Racing, 7:51.621; (Honda CRF450R);
3. #491 Paul Haberland, Germany, Mohite’s Racing Team, 8:03.206; (Kawasaki KX450S);
Fastest lap: Matt Moss 36.320 seconds.
7. SX7: All Stars Race
1. #911 Jordi Tixier, France, BB Racing, 9:49.543; (Honda CRF450R);
2. #86 Reid Taylor, Australia, Big Rock, 9:52.635; (Kawasaki KX250);
3. #225 Charles Lefrancois, France, Mohite’s Racing; 9:55.992; (Kawasaki KX450S);
Fastest lap: Jordi Tixier 36.743sec;
Chief Minister, Bhupendrabhai Patel, (centre) and Veer Patel (to CM’s left) in the VIP gallery on Sunday. -
Indian duo of Saneem Payyaakkal and Musa Sherif win MERC4 category
LUSAIL (Qatar), 3 Feb 2024: Indian rally drivers Saneem Payyaakkal and co-driver Musa Sherif won the Rally4 category in the Middle East Rally Championship which concluded here today. Another Indian pair of Fabid Ahmer and co-driver Milen George Cherian, did well and were leading in the second place, when disaster struck as their car stopped and could not start the Super Special Stage. The resulting 10-min penalty for a re-start cost them heavily and they ended up finishing overall 12th. Saneem and Musa, were overall 14th but won their class which had only one vehicle.
In the main class, Pierre-Louis Loubet and Loris Pascaud delivered a masterclass performance on their desert debut and overcame late damper issues and a couple of time penalties for contact with stage surround fencing to secure a memorable victory at the Qatar International Rally on Saturday.
Norway’s Mads Ostberg and his Swedish co-driver Patrik Barth delivered a late charge over the afternoon loop of three short stages but missed out on the win by just 4.6 seconds.
Loubet became only the second non-Arab driver since Björn Waldegård in 1986 (Vojtĕch Štajf – 2018) to win the event outright. Sports Racing Technologies (SRT) duly earned a 1-2 finish with their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2s.
Loubet said: “We can be very pleased with what we have done. It has been a great time, a great rally and I really enjoyed it. Thanks to everybody. We had a damper issue and we are happy to be at the end. It has been tough and very demanding.”
Østberg won nine of the 13 special stages. He added: “We had to do the afternoon with a completely different setting of the car. It was really hard. Pierre (Loubet) had a problem as well. It was dramatic for both of us. We had a good afternoon and we pushed as much as we could. It was another very enjoyable weekend.”
Abdullah Al-Rawahi and his Jordanian co-driver Ata Al-Hmoud proved that winning last year’s regional title was no fluke and they climbed from fifth to the bottom step of the podium in an Autotek-run Škoda, the Omani picking up valuable MERC points into the bargain.
Al-Rawahi said: “This result is good for the championship and good points. Today was fantastic. We did some small mistakes yesterday but we managed to get back from fifth to third. We pushed hard. It is a good result. The team worked really hard to give me a better car today and it worked.”
The result meant that no Qatari crew featured on the podium on their home event for the first time since the mid-1990s.
QMMF-backed Qatari Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Irish co-driver James Fulton slipped back from third to finish fourth in their Sarrazin-supplied Volkswagen Polo GTi. Former event winner Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya and Lebanon’s Ziad Chehab were a distant fifth in their Motortune Ford Fiesta MkII.
An overnight 30-minute time penalty obliterated Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah’s chance of winning his home event for an 18th time but the Qatari and his co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini pushed hard to climb through the tail end of the field. Nasser made it as far as ninth overall but the finish in Lusail Boulevard was a bridge too far and the winner of three stages broke a damper and retired on the last stage to cap a miserable weekend.
Al-Attiyah said: “I was really disappointed with the decision (time penalty). It was completely wrong. We couldn’t really stop in the middle of the highway otherwise someone could hit you. We decided to move. I am really disappointed. It is not a professional way. We tried to make some good points. I did my best to jump at least two or three positions and to have a good time.”
The Jordanian crew of Shaker Jweihan and Mustafa Juma completely dominated the MERC2 category in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. They finished sixth overall and 9min 04.5sec ahead of their nearest production class rivals, Shadi Shaban and Samer Issa.
Husam Salim and Nancy Al-Majali came home in eighth and third in MERC2 and Qatar’s Rashid Al-Muhannadi teamed up with Omani Taya Al-Zadjali to finish ninth. The Jordanian duo of Ihab Al-Shorafa and Yousef Juma rounded off the top 10.
After Khalid Al-Muhannadi withdrew with broken front suspension on his Polaris and Stefano Marrini (Can-Am) stopped for a time in SS12, Filippo Epis (Yamaha) pressed on to snatch victory in the T4 category from his Italian rival. He finished 11th overall.
Emirati-based Indian Saneem Payyaakkal and his co-driver Musa Sherif have registered for the MERC and are competing in the new MERC4 category for two-wheel drive machines in their Ford Fiesta Rally4. They finished 14th, one place ahead of the QMMF-backed Khalid Al-Suwaidi and Ross Whittock, who had retired with electrical issues early on Friday and were too far back to mount a serious challenge on Saturday.
Saturday – as it happened
Loubet headed into the opening stage to the northwest of Al-Khor with a 22.7-second lead over Østberg after Al-Attiyah had incurred his 30-minute time penalty and plummeted down to 18th and out of contention on Friday evening. Al-Kuwari was 39.6 seconds adrift in third.
Al-Attiyah was permitted to start the first stage from sixth on the road as he aimed to amass as many MERC points as he could. The only non-starters were Kuwait’s Jassim Al-Muqahwi, who had succumbed to differential woes on Friday, and Oman’s Zakariya Al-Aamri, who failed to leave the service park. Lebanon’s Ahmad Khaled stopped on the road section to the opening stage.
Loubet laid down the gauntlet with a time of 8min 50.5sec but Østberg was in no mood to take any prisoners and the Norwegian shaved 2.8 seconds off the Frenchman’s overall advantage. Al-Rawahi managed to beat Al-Kuwari by 10 seconds and reduced the Qatari’s grip on third to 21.4 seconds. With the sole aim of driving as fast as possible to make up as much ground as he could, Al-Attiyah won the stage by 1.6 seconds.
Loubet was then penalised a further five seconds by rally officials for brushing the stage fencing and his lead was down to 14.9 seconds. T4 runner Khalid Al-Muhannadi stopped his Polaris in the stage with broken front-right suspension.
A blast through the 15.93km of the Ras Laffan stage was next on the agenda. Loubet responded with his first stage win of the campaign and beat Østberg by 9.9 seconds to extend his advantage to 24.8 seconds, although the Norwegian had sustained a broken damper. Al-Rawahi continued to eat into Al-Kuwari’s hold on third place and the Omani whittled that lead down to 13.5 seconds. Al-Attiyah was second fastest.
Al-Thakhira (13.48km) was the last stage of a rapid-fire morning loop. Loubet stayed clear of trouble to lead the event after the morning’s loop. Østberg took a wrong route from the stage finish but it mattered not because the rear damper issues had cost him even more time and he trailed Loubet by 41 seconds before the Frenchman was penalised 10 seconds for another brush with the fencing. Al-Rawahi continued to eat into Al-Kuwari’s hold on third place and Al-Attiyah was fastest again. Issa Abu Jamous stopped in the stage, as Jweihan romped clear of Shaban in MERC2.
Loubet said: “It was a good morning for us. We can be pleased with what we have done. Let’s hope it can continue. Now we need to be clever and do the same.”
Østberg added: “We have a broken rear damper quite early on the second stage. We had to drive slowly. This was a shame because we had a good rhythm today. We feel that something happened on the rear damper and we checked it and it’s broken. With these short stages and also a bit of lack of confidence with the car, we know the stages quiet well. We did them last year. I was a bit surprised that we damaged the car. This time it’s on the wrong side for us. We have to fix the car and never give up. We came back from two minutes yesterday so everything is possible. We have to try again and cross fingers…”
The afternoon loop began with a re-run of Al-Khor. Østberg had three short stages to try and squeeze 31 seconds out of Loubet and gain a first win in Qatar at his third attempt. Loubet was 2.3 seconds quicker than his morning’s run but he dropped 9.7 seconds to his determined rival, who benefitted from a replaced rear damper and reduced the lead to 21.3 seconds.
Al-Rawahi delivered a stunning time that eclipsed the one set by Loubet and it was enough for last year’s joint regional champion to displace Al-Kuwari and move into third place. Al-Attiyah was fourth quickest. T4 leader Marrini stopped his Can-Am for a short time in the stage and lost the lead to rival Epis.
The Ras Laffan stage was where Østberg had broken a rear damper in the morning but the Norwegian needed to push as hard as ever on the second pass. Loubet was 1.5 seconds slower than his morning’s pass that had won the stage and he haemorrhaged another eight seconds to stage winner Østberg. He headed to the final Al-Thakhira stage with a lead of 13.3 seconds. Al-Rawahi strengthened his grip on third place.
Could Loubet hang on to seal a memorable win? He clocked a time of 7min 04.9sec and it was sufficient to fend off a charging Østberg, who was only able to beat the Frenchman by 8.7 and missed out on the win by just 4.6 seconds. Al-Rawahi and Al-Kuwari held on to seal third and fourth but Al-Attiyah’s charge through the field ended prematurely with a broken damper on his Volkswagen.
2024 Qatar International Rally – positions after SS13 (unofficial @16.10hrs):
1. Pierre-Louis Loubet (FRA)/Loris Pascaud (FRA) Škoda Fabia RS 1hr 46min 37.9sec
2. Mads Østberg (NOR)/Patrik Barth (SWE) Škoda Fabia RS 1hr 46min 42.5sec
3. Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMN)/Ata Al-Hmoud (JOR) Škoda Fabia Evo 1hr 48min 18.5sec
4. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/James Fulton (IRL) Volkswagen Polo GTI 1hr 48min 50.2sec
5. Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya (QAT)/Ziad Chehab (LEB) Ford Fiesta Mk II 2hr 01min 12.4sec
6. Shaker Jweihan (JOR)/Mustafa Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2hr 06min 56.0sec
7. Shadi Shaban (JOR)/Samer Issa (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2hr 16min 00.5sec
8. Husam Salim (JOR)/Nancy Al-Majali (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2hr 16min 11.6sec
9. Rashid Al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Taha Al-Zadjali (OMN) Subaru WRX-STI 2hr 20min 59.0sec
10. Ihab Al-Shurafa (JOR)/Yousef Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 2hr 22min 32.9sec
11. Filippo Epis (ITA)/Gabriele Zanni (ITA) Yamaha YXZ 1000R (T4) 2hr 22min 36.0sec*
12. Fabid Ahmer (IND)/Milen George Cherian (IND) Subaru WRX-STI 2hr 25min 09.5sec
13. Stefano Marrini (ITA)/Stefano Tiraboschi (ITA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) 2hr 25min 54.2sec*
14. Saneem Payyaakkal (ARE)/Musa Sherif (IND) Ford Fiesta Rally 4 2hr 33min 41.0sec
15. Khalid Al-Suwaidi (QAT)/Ross Whittock (GBR) Volkswagen Polo GTI 2hr 36min 59.4sec
16. Mohammed Al-Atteya (QAT)/Savvas Laos (CYP) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2hr 48min 01.4sec*
* denotes driver NOT registered for the MERC
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Part II: Hamilton, the Last Dance
New Delhi, 2 February 2024: In the words of famous TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, “And on that Bombshell”, Sir Lewis Hamilton has kickstarted the 2024 Formula 1 season with the announcement that he will be driving for Ferrari from 2025 onwards. This is the biggest driver transfer in Formula 1, since Hamilton himself announced he would leave McLaren for Mercedes in 2013, sending shockwaves throughout the paddock.
Part II (You can read Part I here)
The Ferrari Element
John Elkann, Stellantis and Ferrari Chairman has said to have a key role in persuading Hamilton to join the Scuderia. Vasseur already being the Team Principal means Hamilton already has people at Ferrari that he trusts. Further, a marriage between arguably the greatest driver in Formula 1 and the greatest team in Formula 1 is too enticing. When the opportunity came Ferrari jumped at signing the Briton. Just the magnitude of this announcement is a commercial dream. It also coincides with Sainz’s contract finishing at the end of 2024 and Leclerc signing a multi-year deal to continue with Ferrari.
Sweeping power unit and technical regulations give a clean sheet where Ferrari could be best placed to capitalise and leap forward of the field. This is what attracted Hamilton to join them. 2025 would be a season where he can bed in and 2026 go all out for the title. Ferrari have not won a drivers’ championship since 2007 and constructors’ championship since 2008. If Hamilton can get one or both, that too with Ferrari his status will undoubtedly be cemented as the greatest.
One could say it is a match made in heaven as both have the immense hunger to not only win again but get their dominant glory days back, especially for Ferrari as it has been long overdue. Since the Maranello squad last won, it has been plagued by mismanagement, bad strategy calls, dirty politics and mediocre engineering given the facilities they have. This is concurred by the failure of great drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso’s inability to win a title with them. Ferrari’s motivation to bring Hamilton would be to get these processes right. It has already started with Vasseur in charge and bringing positive changes in the technical departments. There is no doubt in Hamilton’s abilities, give him a car and he will deliver. Hamilton is being brought in to push and extract the best out of every single team member. His experience and knowledge will be invaluable to the team. The onus is on Ferrari then to help Hamilton and themselves to reach the summit.
Lastly, there is Sainz who is out of contract after 2024 and will not continue with Ferrari. For the Italian squad it is a no brainer, if a driver of Hamilton’s stature is available, they will make him a priority. Sainz was able to match Leclerc throughout his time at Ferrari but was never clearly faster than the Monegasque. Leclerc is the Scuderia’s golden boy but remains to be seen how the dynamic will evolve once Hamilton is there in 2025. Make no mistake Sainz is immensely talented and will land a drive for 2025 somewhere, Mercedes being one of the options. The Spaniard has been heavily linked with Stake F1 team Kick Sauber, which will be rebranded as Audi in 2026. Remains to be seen what plans Sainz has.
The Conundrum facing Mercedes
Mercedes and specifically Toto Wolff have been caught off guard by this bombshell news. Wolff said that he got to know about the news only a day before and that before going in the winter break Mercedes and Hamilton’s ambitions were aligned. Turns out the contract Hamilton signed was a 1+1 year contract which had an exit clause at the end of the first year, which Hamilton used.
A week ago, the future at Mercedes looked very different with Hamilton and George Russell embedded to bring Mercedes to the front again. That is all up in the air as Hamilton has decided agree terms with Ferrari for his future. With Hamilton being there, the team had a clear direction for development which now might be out of the window. This might backtrack Mercedes’ plans to get to the front in the short term.
This agreement between Hamilton and Ferrari has a twofold impact on the German squad. Firstly, Hamilton is still part of Mercedes for 2024. This means that Hamilton will be excluded from certain parts of the team which plan their long-term development. On track strategy and planning will also be affected by this somewhat. Wolff has commented that both drivers will be treated equally throughout the season but clearly Russell is the future for the Silver Arrows. It is a positive situation for Russell as he becomes the de facto leader of the team once Hamilton departs. Secondly, this announcement means Mercedes have to look for a driver to fill their vacant seat. Mercedes is not the formidable team they used tobe; their seat was the most coveted till 2021. Still, they are one of the big names in Formula 1 and a works team so drivers would undoubtedly want to sign for them.
There are multiple candidates for this seat. Sainz will be out of contract and could technically swap with Hamilton. But Mercedes have already been hurt by their man leaving for Ferrari and hence, they may not want Sainz as he is a former Ferrari man. They may look towards Fernando Alonso, but he may not be the right choice for long term future in the eyes of Mercedes. Alex Albon of Williams is a sound choice considering he gets along with Russell and has shown that he can be consistent. Further vacating the Williams seat means Mercedes young driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli could be placed in the Williams who share a good working relationship with Mercedes. Antonelli will be in F2 for 2024, and depending on his performances could make the jump to F1 in 2025. Esteban Ocon is another name that comes to mind as he is managed Gwen Lagrue, Mercedes’ Driver Development Advisor. Factors against Ocon might be that he was beaten by fellow Frenchman Pierre Gasly in their first season as teammates. Daniel Ricciardo is another name linked with Mercedes in the past but there are questions if Mercedes would want him due to his age and whether he would be willing to leave the Red Bull family a second time.Drivers such as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have already signed long term deals with McLaren. Max Verstappen would not move as he is long term contracted to Red Bull and is in the fastest car on the grid currently.
If Mercedes move in too quickly for a driver, they may end up losing an opportunity to sign a driver of a higher caliber later. Make their move too late and all their targets may be locked down to their respective teams.
Hamilton and Ferrari will be hoping for a fruitful outcome of their union from 2025 onwards whereas Mercedes will be hoping to get their new driver and development cards right for the future.
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Lewis Hamilton: The Last Dance!
New Delhi, 2 February 2024: In the words of famous TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, “And on that Bombshell”, Sir Lewis Hamilton has kickstarted the 2024 Formula 1 season with the announcement that he will be driving for Ferrari from 2025 onwards. This is the biggest driver transfer in Formula 1, since Hamilton himself announced he would leave McLaren for Mercedes in 2013, sending shockwaves throughout the paddock.
On Thursday February 1, it was announced that Hamilton will be joining Ferrari on a multi-year arrangement starting in 2025. He will partner Charles Leclerc as Carlos Sainz will make way for the 7-time world champion.
Reports of Hamilton joining Ferrari are not a recent development in Formula 1 paddock. In fact, every time Hamilton’s contract has been up for renewal at Mercedes, rumours of the Briton joining the Prancing Horse have flared up. These rumors had little substance though and looked like a pipe dream, as nothing more than casual talks took place between Hamilton and Ferrari. Possibly, these rumors helped strengthen Hamilton’s contract negotiation with Mercedes. But joining Ferrari never seemed feasible for Hamilton as Mercedes was the place to be. Mercedes produced title winning cars from 2014 till 2021, winning eight Constructors’ Championship. Hamilton himself won six of his seven World Drivers’ Championships with the Silver Arrows.
This time it was different when the news broke. Specifically, the timing was peculiar as Hamilton had just signed a two-year (1+1 year) contractwith Mercedes in August 2023. Further multiple reports coming out of the Formula 1 paddock indicated that this was a story with substance. So, what convinced Hamilton to join the Maranello squad and leave his long-standing family of Mercedes?
A Lewis Hamilton Perspective
Hamilton has been a part of the Mercedes family since he was13 years old. His whole Formula 1 career has been powered by Mercedes engines, first at McLaren as Mercedes supplied them, then at the works team itself. He has achieved some mind-boggling statistics with the Silver Arrows powering him. He has 7 World Drivers’ Championships, 103 wins, 104 pole positions and 197 podiums in 332 grands prix. With Mercedes works team alone he has 6 World Drivers’ Championships, 82 wins, 78 pole positions and 148 podiums in 222 grands prix.
Hamilton is 39 years old now and is at the twilight of his career. It seemed as if Hamilton would hang up his gloves at Mercedes hoping to be crowned Champion for the 8th time, provided the Silver Arrows gave him a car that could challenge for it. He would be a Mercedes man life long, much like Sir Stirling Moss. It only seemed right that what had propelled him throughout his Formula 1 career would the same when closing it as well. Then what is it that made him join the most coveted team in Formula 1?
Sebastian Vettel once said, “everyone is a Ferrari fan”. In fact, there is no Ferrari without Formula 1 and no Formula 1 without Ferrari. It is every racers dream since a child to adorn the Scarlet Red overalls and drive for the Prancing Horse. Yes, there is romanticism attached to this move. For so long a Hamilton-Ferrari partnership seemed impossible, but now that Hamilton is nearer to the end of his career, it makes sense to take on a new challenge and go for a last hurrah.
The Briton must have looked at the development trajectory of Mercedes and thought that they cannot challenge for a title for another couple of seasons, combined with the sweeping technical rule changes for both the power unit and the car coming in 2026. 2021 was brutal ending as the championship was taken out of his hand on the last lap in Abu Dhabi, yet his resolve remained strong. Come 2022, a rules overhaul ushered in ground effect cars where Red Bull came out of the blocks strong and Mercedes considerably missed their mark struggling to third place in the championship. Mercedes’ car philosophy of the zero-pod and long wheelbase did not work for the new regulations. Yet, the team decided to stick with it for the W14, their challenger for the 2023 season. W14 did not fare better as it lagged behind the Red Bull- the title winners- by a big margin, even though Mercedes managed to finish 2nd come the end of the season.The Briton publicly demanded accountability and said that the Mercedes technical team had not listened to him regarding what the car needs to be at the front of the field. Hamilton would have taken into account the development of the W15 and though progress would have been made, it might not be enough to take on the title charge.
Ferrari on the other hand finished 3rd in the championship but had a better car towards the end of the season, getting narrowly beaten by Mercedes. Plus, Hamilton struggled with his Mercedes at the end of the season to challenge for podiums whereas Sainz was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race. Combined that with Frederic ‘Fred’ Vasseur is the Team Principal of Ferrari. The Frenchman happens to be a close friend of Hamilton and he was the Briton’s team manager in GP3 and GP2, before Hamilton entered Formula 1. Since joining Ferrari in 2023, Vasseur has brought in several technical people from Red Bull and Mercedes over to Ferrari, to strengthen their technical and engineering department. One of the names that has gone from the Mercedes camp over to Ferrari is Loic Serra who was the Head of Vehicle Performance at Mercedes. He will join Ferrari from 2025 and is one of the key factors why Hamilton is joining Ferrari.
Loic Serra was said to be at odds over the zero pod and long wheelbase concept used by then Mercedes Technical Director Mike Elliot. Both Hamilton and Serra seemed to echo the same concerns. Furthermore, changes in the Mercedes structure and significant big-name departures have not only played a role in Mercedes’ downfall but Hamilton leaving as well. It started with departures of Aldo Costa and Mark Ellis in 2018. They were pivotal in design of the Mercedes cars that won them both championships from 2014 to 2018. Mercedes would experience success till 2021 though. Andy Cowell, Head of Mercedes HPP departed the team in 2020. He was regarded as the brains behind the architecture and success of Mercedes’ turbo-hybrid power unit, which used to be the field leader. Mercedes’ Technical Director James Allison moved on to a Chief Technical Officer role in 2021, though he came back as the Technical Director after the team struggled for two consecutive seasons in the ground effect era.Lastly, James Vowles, Chief Strategist and another one of Hamilton’s confidants, left Mercedes to be team principal at Williams F1. Although Allison and Toto Wolff- with whom Hamilton shares a fantastic relationship- have committed their long-term futures with Mercedes, it is reported that Allison wanted Serra alongside him due to the success achieved pre-2022.
All these factors make it look like a tall order for Mercedes to return to the top in the short to medium future. With Hamilton not getting any younger, he has to see where his chances of winning the coveted 8th title are, and his bets are on Ferrari with Mercedes progression plateauing.
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Ex world champ Jordi Tixier bags a triple, provides scintillating start to ISRL
Pune, 28 January 2024: TopFrench rider Jordi Tixier of BB Racing, the 2018 Motocross World Champion, provided an exhilarating start to the inaugural CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) winning a triple but it was BigRock Motorsports from Bengaluru, who gained the lead in the Team Championship with a podium in every race as the historic championship began at the Chattrapathi Shivaji Stadium under floodlights here on Sunday.
With a mammoth crowd cheering and applauding, the French champion, currently in the ADAC Masters Championship, won the first Moto of SX1, the 450cc race for international riders. By the end of the first lap, he took a comfortable 25-metre lead and went on to increase the gap with every passing lap and won the inaugural moto with ease and grace. Later, he made no fuss of the second Moto and took a well-deserved victory, despite a fall, as he was streets ahead of the rest. Finally, he capped a successful day winning the ‘All Stars’ race, a combined event for both the 450cc and 250cc riders.
Jordie Tixier, who bagged a triple in the first round on Sunday. Junior rider, the 13-year old Brian Gyles of Thailand, a Mx Masterkids 2022 vice-champion, riding 567 number bike won the hearts of the crowd and received a huge applause as he lapped everyone with his amazing speed and thrilling jumps. He was streets ahead of the rest in the Junior event and won without a challenge.
In the first moto of the first round, behind him another champion rider, Matt Moss of Australia, from BigRock Motorsports had to be content with a second place after losing the hole shot and an advantage in the initial race. Riding a Honda 450cc, Tixier set the pace for the rest of the motos in the first round of the league. Matt Moss, astride a Kawasaki 450cc began well for the Bengaluru-based BigRock and will be looking to redeem his fortunes in the next two rounds.
Junior Race winner Brian Gyles of Thailand on Sunday at a press briefing. In Race 2 (SX2), Aussie Reid Taylor took the holeshot leaving the two Frenchmen Hugo Manzato and Julien Lebeau, to fight behind him for second place along with American Nick Laurie. After the triple jump in the second lap, Monzato overtook Laurie and later with Taylor pulling off a huge gap, Monzato settled for second and Lebeau took third as Laurie lost his way. Astride a Kawasaki 250cc, the Aussie, Taylor, clocked 11min, 19.680sec, for the 17-lap race.
In Race 3 for the 250cc India and Asia riders, Ben Prasit Hallgren of Thailand took the hole shot and sneaked into the lead with compatriot Athison Ruadero and Thanarat Penjan fighting behind him for a second place. But after a few laps, Hallgren had a fall leaving the lead to Thanarat Penjan, who had a steady race and won comfortably astride a Kawasaki 250cc ahead of Ruadero in second and Sarthak Chavan of India completed the podium. Penjan clocked 9min, 54.877seconds in the 14-lap thriller. Rugved Barguje, the National Supercross champion 2023, could only take a fourth place.
In the Feature Race of the night, the All Stars race for both the 250cc and 450cc riders, Frenchman Jordie Tixier lost the holeshot to Italian Lorenzo Camporese, but quickly recovered and grabbed back the lead before the first big jump and Lorenzo lost his position to Kawasaki riders Matt Moss of Australia and Charles Lefrancois of France taking second and third behind Tixier, who lapped three riders by the fourth lap and went on to increase the gap for a commanding victory, the third crown on the day. Tixier clocked 5min, 59.162sec, for the 9-lap race astride his Honda CRF 450R.
“The Indian League is very successful and it proved a big success for me too. This is the first time in India for me and I am super happy with the winning start. It always feels good to start with three big victories,” quipped the Frenchman after winning the final race of the day.
BigRock ahead in Team Championship
BigRock Motorsport surprised the Pune crowd by taking the podium in all categories at the first CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL), a pioneering franchise-based Supercross competition, held at Pune.
Season 1 first round held at Pune displayed an impressive line-up of international champions and emerging Indian stars across four categories: 450cc international riders, 250cc international riders, 250cc India-Asia mix, and the fiercely competitive 85cc junior class. With top riders from around the world converging in India, the series is expected to serve the Indian riders to reach the next level.
Veer Patel, Co-founder and Director of the CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League, expressed his satisfaction at the successful completion of the first round of Season 1. “We are overwhelmed by the response we received from the Pune crowd and the enthusiasm was unbeatable. The CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League, aims to establish India as the focal point for Supercross for the world. The riders displayed their unmatchable skills and the commitment for the sport. We appreciate the strong participation and grit to win the race by all individuals. We congratulate the winners and the teams for their amazing participation. At CEAT ISRL, we look forward to delivering an exceptional experience for fans in Ahmedabad too in the next round.” The final round will be in New Delhi.
Overall Team Standings after Round 1:
1. BigRock Motorsports = 213;
2. BB Racing = 153;
3. Mohite’s Racing team = 145;
4. SG Speed Racers = 132;
5. Gujarat Trailblazers = 114;
6. Reise Motorsports = 101.
Disclosure: This reporter’s trip to the first round of the ISRL in Pune was sponsored by the organisers of ISRL. The hotel stay and flight tickets were sponsored by them. However, all the news and details are checked and verified and directly reported by the reporter without an interference as per high journalistic standards.
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CEAT Indian Supercross League makes historic debut at Pune
Pune, 27 January 2024: The vibrant city of Pune, a cradle for top Indian motocross riders, witnessed an extraordinary day of excitement and thrill as the CEAT Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) made its much-awaited debut to create a memorable milestone in the history of Indian motorsports. The free-practice under floodlights, here on Saturday, saw the cream of talent from around the world, with 24 international riders joining the top Indian riders ahead of the first round of ISRL on Sunday.
The world’s first franchise-based Supercross league, in collaboration with the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), is a groundbreaking initiative with six teams in fray and is all set to revolutionise motorsports in India. Supercross, the thrilling motorsport spectacle that marries off-road motorcycle racing with gravity-defying jumps, has quietly been making its presence felt on Indian soil. While it may not have yet reached the zenith of recognition enjoyed by its international counterparts, the winds of change are sweeping across the subcontinent’s motorsports landscape and the launch of ISRL is set to revolutionise the sport in India.
Promoter Eeshan Lokhande, an FIM coach and Asia race official, talking to media on Saturday in Pune. The only discipline in India which attracts huge crowds of over 20,000 for every event, provided an awe-inspiring spectacle, on the tight and technical track which was hurriedly created within 48 hours after overcoming many a challenge that a first-time big event undergoes. Around 650 trucks of black soil and the toil of hundreds of dedicated workers saw the track become ready in a jiffy, and the riders thoroughly enjoyed the practice run with a few of them catching the cynosure, playing to the gallery with huge jumps and speedy runs.
“The league provides a safe and competitive environment for riders of all ages and skill levels. The league believes in giving back to the community and partnering with local organisations to promote youth development and environmental sustainability,” said Veer Patel, the double Indian National champion in Motocross. Along with brothers Eashan Lokhande and Ashwin Lokhande, the trio, made their dream a reality on Saturday. “The idea was brewing from 2015. I am so happy that finally the day of reckoning is here,” quipped Eeshan Lokahnde after the practice session.
Jordi Tixier of France, the 2018 World Champion will be riding for BB Racing. CS Santhosh, Dakar star and mentor Big Rock Motorsports “This is a fantastic concept that provides a springboard for the youngsters to not only showcase their talent but also to rub shoulders with the top riders and learn the tricks of the trade, and to polish their wares. Success is a by-product but as a racer myself with all the experience, I understand them well and we provide an environment for safe learning and blossoming their talent. I am looking forward to a good season,” said CS Santosh, the architect of Team BigRock Motorsports.
“Honestly it is a new team but definitely the exciting days are back. I started as a factory rider for TVS in Motocross and now being on the other side managing the team I understand the mindset of the youngsters and have the experience to give whatever gyan I can give. It is a team game and a best chance for the youngsters to learn and display their skills,” said Arjuna Awardee Gaurav Gill, who is the mentor and team ambassador of Gujarat Trailblazers.
The driving force behind this endeavour was an unwavering love for the sport. Eeshan Lokhande, reflecting on the journey, notes: “The sport has given a lot of identity, a lot of character to all three of us.” It was this sense of indebtedness to Supercross, coupled with an unshakable desire to give back, that propelled them beyond mere spectators and into the realm of game-changers.
Arjuna Awardee Gaurav Gill speaking to media at the Gujarat Trailblazers pits on Saturday. Gill is the mentor and brand ambassador for the Gujarat team. “The Supercross League was more than a mere event; it was a manifestation of a profound commitment to nurturing the sport’s growth in India.” Instead of basking in the glory bestowed by Supercross, the trio set out to forge a lasting legacy. Eeshan Lokhande succinctly encapsulates their mission, stating: “Our whole idea has always been to give something back to the sport. Not to walk away from something that gave us so much.”
Format
There will be six teams in fray with four foreign riders and four Indian riders. Each team will have two riders each inn four classes. There are two classes for international riders and two classes, including the Junior 85cc class for Indians. The 450cc class will be the top class only for international riders while the two 250cc classes will be for both Indian and foreign riders. The teams will garner points at each of the rounds and the table toppers will be declared champions at the final round in Delhi. The auction last month saw the teams grab the top players, who will all benefit for the first to get returns out of the sport they love so much.
Teams
The five teams in the fray are Panchshil Racing, BigRock Motorsports, Gujarat Trailblazers, Reise Motorsports, SG Speed Racers and Mohite’s Racing Team.
Some of the top Indian stars in fray are Rugved Barguje, Prajwal Vishwanath, Ikkshaan Shanbagh, Shlok Ghorpade, Jinendra Sangave and Sarthak Chavan along with Junior riders Nithila Das, Aleena Shaik, Bhairav Gowda, akshat Hupale, Sujan Jeeva, Yash Shinde and Bhairav Gowda. The top foreign stars include Jordi Tixier, Nick Laurie, Matt Moss, Cedric Soubeyras, Reid Taylor, Tyler Bowers, Jake Preston, Thomas Ramette, Nico Koch, Anthony Raynard, Lorenzo Camporese, Boris Maillard and Charles Lefrancois
The races at 6pm on Sunday will be live telecast by Viacom Sports18 channel and will also be live streamed on the Jio App.
