Subir Roy & Nirav Mehta champs; Aparna-Lalitha claim maiden title: TSD Nationals

David Bodapati March 3, 2023

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Subhir Roy and Neerav Mehta in action in the INTSDRC finals. Photo INDIAinF1

Bengaluru, 26 Feb 2023: Subir Roy and co-driver Nirav Mehta of Kolkata were crowned the National champions for 2022 winning the Overall honours in the finals of the ProSports FMSCI Indian National TSD Rally Championship 2022 (INTSDRC) while Bengaluru pair from IT sector, Aparna Pathak and Lalitha Gowda, clinched their maiden National title in the Ladies Class here on Sunday.

The National Championship is run as part of Southern Safari. The Nationals is promoted by PROSPORTS and the Grand finale is organized by Karnataka Motor Sports Club.

Another Bengaluru pair Harish and navigator Chandrashekar won the INTSDRC2 class while Aritra Chakraborthy and navigator Soham Pal from Kolkata won the Novice class National title. With the completion of the TSD Nationals, FMSCI has successfully completed 12 Nationals for the year 2022.

Veteran pair, Subir and Nirav hit jackpot

Subhir Roy (left) and Neerav Mehta after receiving the National Championship Overall winners award for 2022 in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Subir Roy and Nirav were rallying together for 12 years now and the 59-year Subir, who made his debut in the local Kavi Guru rally at Kolkata in 2002, is a veteran of many events including some cross-country rallies like the Desert Storm, Dakshin Dare and the Himalayan rally. He has also participated in the Indo-ASEAN Rally organized by the Ministry of Defence. From 2016, he has been taking part in the TSD Nationals with consistent podium finishes but the title has been eluding the duo. Finally, the Kolkata duo laid their hands on the National Championship in a Volkswagen Polo 1.6 with 12 zeros and managed 24 secret TCs and difficult Time Controls to pip defending champions, compatriots Ajgar Ali and Mustafa, on a tie-breaker. The result shows the tough competition for a TSD rally where navigation plays a crucial role with or without a ‘tabulating’ meter.

“It was a pleasure to win the National title. Nirav and I stood on the podium many times in the 12 years we were together, but this is special. I want to give many thanks to the Karnataka Motorsports Club and CoC Sujith for organizing such a technical and transparent rally with great hospitality. I thank my family and all my supporters,” said Subir Roy, in his hour of glory.

Maiden title for Aparna & Lalitha as they dominate ladies class

Aparna Pathak and Lalitha Gowda, the two lady drivers from Bengaluru are a well-known team in TSD scene.

Though no one in their families is into motorsports, a chance drive in the Times Women’s Drive in 2018 saw Aparna get hooked to the rallies and she found Lalitha, who began her career with the Mumbai to Lavasa TSD rally in 2009 in Mumbai, as her navigator. The pair won many rallies and partnered together for a number of podiums after coming together for the Rally of Chikkamagalur in 2019. They made their debut in the TSD Nationals in 2021 at Siliguri and clinched their maiden title this year. They also become the inaugural Ladies Class National winners.

Aparna Pathak (left) and Lalitha Gowda after receiving the National Championship winners award (Ladies Class) from Sujith Kumar BS, Head of PROSPORTS, the Promoters.

“We feel very delighted to win the first INTSDRC women’s championship. It was a very close competition and all the teams have given their best. The route was extremely scenic and well-planned. It gave a glimpse of the rich landscape of Karnataka from dams to coffee estates, and the green cover,” said Aparna Pathak.

“We would like to thank FMSCI, Women in Motorsports (WIM), all the motorsport clubs for organising qualifying rounds and bringing the national-level championship back. A special thanks to ProSports and KMSC for the exciting grand finale,” echoed Lalitha and Aparna together.

Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) has changed the nomen clature of the TSD Championship and went back to the old, INTSDRC for 2022. Last year, the name was Indian National Regularity Run, which was sponsored by JK Tyre and was held in 17 qualifying venues. However, FIM Asia Vice-President and multiple National TSD Champion navigator Sujit Kumar BS, did all the hard work behind the screens as Promoter ProSports salvaged the dying Nationals by accepting to conduct the delayed Nationals. They took up the responsibility and successfully completed the three zonal qualifying rounds in South, East, and West and the finals.

With a thrust on improving the opportunities for women through Women in Motorsport concept, the Federation, for the first time provided the status of a National Championship to the Ladies Class. The other Championship were the Ladies Class was given the National status this year is Sprint (2w).

This year there were 20 qualifiers and the Finals were held in Bengaluru. “The Club”, on Mysore road near Rajarajeswari Nagar, an old venue which saw, the start and end of, many a National rally in their halcyon days, was once again the venue where the ceremonial start was held. After the flag-off on Friday, the 700-Km rally went to Hassan on Saturday and the novel night stage was introduced after many years again and it went through the coffee estates in a loop nearby Hassan on Saturday night. On the second leg on Sunday, the participants went through scenic routes and picturesque locales passing through Virajpet and returned to Bengaluru, where the Prize Giving was held at “the Club” again.

The 40 undisclosed Time Controls (TC) were placed strategically, and many provided surprises to make the rally a thrilling experience. The route was set by experienced Sujith and Bhaskar of Karnataka Motor Sports Club, who organized the Southern Safari, the name given to the final round of the TSD Nationals.

Novice class National Champions Harish and Chandrashekar with the Chief Guest.

Clerk of the Course and multiple former National TSD champion Sujith Kumar said: “The popular TSD Nationals received huge response in all the three zones and 20 finalists fought for honours in the Grand Finale which ran from Bengaluru to Hassan and back to the Garden City. We are happy to keep the TSD culture alive as it is the entry-level gateway to bigger things in motorsports.”

The Nationals sponsored by Annapoorneshwari Developers, Maithri Estates, Sidvin, Vamcy Merla and Vammudi Vijay offered a total Prize money was about Rs. 2.3 lakhs and four National titles.

INTSDRC is one of the 12 National Championships conducted by fmsci in different motorsports disciplines, for both 2-wheelers, four-wheelers and Karting. Gymkhana, Dirt Track, four-wheeler Drag and Sprint Nationals were not held this year.

Final Results: (Car # number)

1. INTSDRC: 1. #4 Subhir Roy and Neerav Mehta (Penalty time: 00:01min, 33seconds); 2. #10 Ajgar Ali & Mustafa (01.33); 3. #6 Ganesh Moorthy & T Nagarajan (02.26); (Tie broken by number of zero TCs: Subir 12; Ajgar 9)

2. INTSDRC-2: 1. #18 Harish & Chandrashekar (02.03); 2. #8 Anil Abbas & Amal Abbas (02.22); 3. #9 Aparna Pathak & Lalitha Gowda (02.32);

3. INTSDRC –WOMEN: 1. #9 Aparna Pathak & Lalitha Gowda (02.32); 2. #11 Sheena Sabarwal & Trupti Gupta (03.38); 3. #14 Gitika Pant & Neena Jain (04.03);

4. INTSDRC- NOVICE: 1. #24 Aritra Chakraborthy & Soham Pal (27.17); (Lone finisher).

Fmsci Indian National Champions (TSD):