INDIA in F1

Tag: AAGC

  • Achintya 3rd in solo rounds; Khyati, Sahil join him as India gets 4th in Team Championship: AAGC

    Achintya 3rd in solo rounds; Khyati, Sahil join him as India gets 4th in Team Championship: AAGC

    Indians (left), who got the 4th place in the Team Championship share the podium with other winners. An AAGC photo

    Bengaluru, 3 Sept 2019: The Indian team comprising of Achintya Mehrotra, Sahil Khanna, and Khyati Mody won the fourth place in the Team Championship at the second round of the Asia Auto Gymkhana Championship at South Korea on August 31 and September 1. Mehrotra also won a bronze medal in the solo rounds.

    Khyati Mody has represented the country in motorsports abroad and returned successfully from this outing in South Korea. She was selected to the Indian team as a female driver, along with Delhi’s Achintya Mehrotra and Sahil Khanna.

    In Asian Gymkhana, the top four nations in the Team championship will be awarded prizes on the podium. India finished fourth in the first round too.

    Indians Khyati Mody (left) Achintya Mehrotra and Sahil Khanna take a selfie with other teams at AAGC in South Korea. FB @Achintya

    Earlier, Khyati was selected to be a part of Team India squad during the trial rounds in Banglore in June along with others. Shivani Pruthvi participated in the first round and Khyati replaced her for this round due to her non-availability.

    “Just a week before South Korea round I got a call from the Federation that one of the team members is not available and I was selected for this round. I was thrilled and anxious since there was barely any time to get any training,” said Khyati.

    Her other two teammates in the Indian squad, Achintya Mehrotra and Sahil Khanna, have registered themselves to do a basic BMW course in South Korea prior to the round and they suggested her too. But unfortunately, the slots were full. However, before booking her flight ticket she checked the availability and was lucky that one slot opened up. She booked it immediately but needed an International driving license to attend this course. Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) assisted her and arranged the permit.

    The Indian Team.

    In Mumbai, it is difficult to find tracks to practice handbrake turns but Ajmera Indi Karting in Wadala was happy to lend her the karting track for her practice. Rayo Racing head Rayomand Banerjee and AAGC committee personal Harshit Merchant helped her in guiding her towards refining her skill in the few hour’s practice that could be managed in the last 2-3 days prior to her flight.

    “I procured the driving suit in the last minute and flew down to South Korea and along with my teammates held the Tricolour during the opening ceremony. It was a feeling that is beyond words to express. At that moment I just felt that we are carrying the dreams of all Indian motorsports lovers. Along with Achintya and Sahil, we gave our best and managed to get the 4th place despite much tough opposition from better-placed countries,” added Khyati.

    “I missed the individual podium by 0.07 second which was heart-breaking but I am happy to have won fourth place in the team trophy along with my teammates. They have been my biggest strength and support system in South Korea and assisted me when I needed them the most. I did not even have a team India T-shirt. Sahil Khanna was kind enough to let me borrow his spare T-shirt. It’s been an emotional roller-coaster and I am glad I was part of the Indian team,” she concluded.

     

  • Thrilling drifts and stunning feats provide a glimpse of the fare in store: Asia Auto Gymkhana

    Thrilling drifts and stunning feats provide a glimpse of the fare in store: Asia Auto Gymkhana

    Mumbai, 28 Sept. 2018: Motorsports enthusiasts were offered a glimpse of the stunning feats and thrilling drifts that is in store for the next two days as the drivers took their VW Polos for a spin ahead of the second round of the eight-round Asia Auto Gymkhana Competition (AAGC) began at the Raymond Drift Track in Thane today.

    The most popular forms of motorsport across the world, Gymkhana makes an entry into India and the Asian event will be held on Sept. 29 and 30. Before addressing the press conference, Gautam Singhania, a specialist in drifting took his Raymond-branded machine for a spin and it was a unique experience of precision and split timing that a skilled driver can showcase. Later, Sirish Vissa (right), head Volkswagen Motorsports, Akbar Ebrahim, FMSCI President, who is the man behind bringing Gymkhana closer to fans in India, and Farad Bathena, the event organiser, joined for a Press Conference.

    Asia’s Largest Gymkhana, AAGC is an FIA-approved event which will witness 32 drivers from 16 Asian countries and is organised by FB Motorsports. The drivers will navigate through a short timed loop that is designed to test their skills and precision rather than sheer speed but the drivers offer enough attractions including stunning 360-degree drifts with picture-perfect precision and timing.

    Apart from Singhania, professional stunt drivers, too, are expected to provide their thrilling fare for two days. Team India A will be represented by Achintya Mehrotra and Aabhishek Mishra.

    Gautam Singhania takes a spin ahead of the qualies at the Raymond Drift Track, Thane in AAGC on Friday. Photos by Rahul Reghu

    Gymkhana serves as a stepping stone for thousands looking to enter the world of Motorsport. The AAGC will have different classes in both stock, modified and purpose-built cars. The drivers navigate through a short timed loop which consists of manoeuvres such as J-Turns, 180/360 Spins, Figure-8s, Box Parks and Slalom that emphasise more on the driver’s skill and technique rather than on speed. “This ease of access and low costs of competing makes Autocross and Gymkhana a great platform for the grassroots development of motorsport,” said Farad Bathena, whose FB Motorsport is organising the event. Farad Bhathena, a celebrated rallyist of yesteryears, is the man behind FB Motorsports which has organised many racing events in India in the last decade including sprint and TSD rallies, track racing and has also conducted driving courses. Bathena is also a key man assisting JA Motorsports in running the Formula cars in the National Racing Championship at Chennai.

    Saturday morning will see qualification rounds for Solo Gymkhana while knock-out sessions will take place in the afternoon. On Sunday, Double Gymkhana, Solo and team Gymkhana finals will be held.