FMSCI announces ambitious 8-round INRC for 2013
Chennai, 19 Dec 2012: After a challenging couple of seasons, the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) seeks to re-invigorate the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) with the announcement of an exciting eight-round championship set to take off in March. In what has been a purple patch for Indian motorsport overall, the FMSCI looks set to create a bigger and better season of rallying in 2013. The announcement was made on 19th Dec 2012.
The truncated 2012 INRC saw only two rounds and Amittrajit Ghosh of Kolkota managed to earn more points in the 2000N class after a penalty for delay in getting the car out of service cost young Karna Kadur his first National title. Though one is not sure if the two events would be considered for the National championship title, on record Amittrajit Ghosh and co-driver Ashwin Naik (in pic)
were the toppers after winning the Chikmagalur Coffee Day Rally.
The new season will also see the re-introduction of Tarmac stages with two rallies, one in Nashik and also September’s Cochin Rally running on sealed surfaces. The INRC will comprise of two major classes: the Group N 1601-200cc cars and another class for cars upto 1600cc. The FMSCI homologation of new machinery this year will also mark the entry of Maruti SX4 and Volkswagen Polo to the national rallying arena for the first time.
Vicky Chandhok, President of the FMSCI was looking forward to a positive year ahead and said, “There’s no hiding from the fact that 2012’s INRC didn’t go to plan but all the clubs involved are putting in a solid effort to ensure we come back strong with heightened preparation for 2013. It’s also good to see more manufacturer interest and we look forward to seeing some new cars on the dirt in 2013.”
With an eye on identifying and further developing young rallying talent in the country, the Junior Indian National Rally Championship (JINRC) returns once again with drivers under 27 years of age eligible to contest for the Championship in Group N cars under 1600cc.
The Indian Rally Championship (IRC) is also set to return and is open to foreign participation in homologated Group N4 cars. The series for 2013 has received plenty of interest from Asia Zone drivers and will see drivers from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka battle it out for the silverware.
The INRC kicks off with the MMSC’s historic South India Rally in Chennai on the 22nd of March 2013.
IRC/INRC Calendar for 2013
Round 1: 22-24 March: MMSC Chennai (Gravel)
Round 2: 12-14 April: Northern Motorsports, Bhuj (Gravel)
Round 3: 17-20 May: Kolkata , RRPM (Gravel)
Round 4: 07-09 June: WISA, Nashik (Tarmac) (TBC)
Round 5: 19-21 July : CASC, Coimbatore (Gravel)
Round 6: 20-22 September: KASC , Cochin (Tarmac) (TBC)
Round 7: 25-27 October: K1000, KMSC Bangalore (Gravel)
Round 8: 29 Nov -01 Dec: MSCC, Chikmagalur (Gravel)
ends
