Historic K1000 to begin 45th edition on Friday; 300th rally start for Musa Sherif

Bengaluru, 9 March 2022: The historic Karnataka-1000 Rally, popularly known as K1000, the longest running rally in India, will see a revival of sorts this weekend when the cream of Indian rallying descends on the dirt stages near Tumkur for the second round of the delayed FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 2021 that will begin with recce on Friday. Motorsports stalwart Musa Sherif will be entering his 300th rally as a navigator.

The thrice postponed INRC, saw the departure of Promoters Champions Yacht Club after the Vizag round became a non-starter due to lack of police permissions. Thus, the 7-round original calendar was reduced to three after the FMSCI took upon itself to host three rounds and successfully completed the Coimbatore leg last month. However, they failed to find a sponsor for the iconic Indian Rally Nationals that acquired a National championship status in 1988. But the tyre giants, MRF chipped in once again, but the pandemic hit corporate got involved only as an Associate Sponsor. The event, which has been continuously organised by the Karnataka Motor Sports Club (KMSC), annually since 1975, save for a couple of years, was hit by the pandemic last year after it was dropped from the calendar in 2020.

However, the 45th edition to be held from March 11 to 13, has attracted 53 entries with giants Gaurav Gill and Musa Sherif beginning as strong contenders. Musa, 50, a native of Kasargod, is knocking on the doors of a huge record as he steps into the Rally car for his personal milestone of 300 rallies, in a non-stop motor sports career of 30 years that began in 1993 as a teenager.

After a ceremonial flag-off in Bengaluru at the Fairfield Marriott on Friday evening, the action shifts to the Special Stages near Tumakuru, about 65 Kms from the State capital, for a two-day competition on Saturday and Sunday. The total distance of the Rally is 159.82 km of which 121.72 km forms the competitive section.

Clerk-of-the-Course (CoC) Praneeth Perumal said: “The Karnataka Motor Sports Club welcomes all the competitors to the iconic Karnataka-1000 Rally which we are organising after a gap of two years. The response has been good, going by the 53 entries we have received.

“Being one of the oldest rallies in India, K-1000 occupies a special place in the country’s motorsport ethos. The event was held every year without a break for over four decades before the pandemic interrupted. The Special Stages, located near Tumakuru, are fairly quick and smooth. We do hope that the competitors have a safe, successful and enjoyable run this weekend.”

The FMSCI INRC 2021 comprises of three rounds – Rally of Coimbatore (Feb 25-27), Karnataka-1000 (March 11-13) and the South India Rally (Chennai, March 25-27).

With barely a fortnight’s turnaround time between the first round in Coimbatore and the Karnataka-1000, the service crews of the competitors have been working overtime to get the cars in shape after many of them received a pounding in the first round which saw 33 retirements across all categories, including seven times National champion Gaurav Gill (co-driver Musa Sherif).

Delhi-based Gill, 40, the triple FIA Asia-Pacific Rally champion and Arjuna Award winner, will be keen to add a seventh K-1000 crown after last winning it in 2017.

Apart from favourite Gill, the performance of Coimbatore round winner (Overall and INRC-3), Aditya Thakur (co-driver Virender Kashyap) from Himachal, will be closely watched. The 32-year old farmer from Rasol showed good pace to pick up 38 of the maximum 40 points and heads the Overall leaderboard, nine clear of second-placed Fabid Ahmer (G Sanath) from Palakkad, with Gurugram’s Sahil Khanna (KN Harish, Bengaluru), a further three points adrift in third.

The leaders in other categories of the National championship, promoted by the FMSCI, after Round-1 are: Fabid Ahmer (co-driver G Sanath) in INRC-2; Aditya Thakur (Virender Kashyap) in Overall and INRC-3; Kasargod’s Mujeeb Rehman (co-driver Ravindra Kumar, Bengaluru)) in INRC-4; Coimbatore’s Raghuram Saminathan (Bharat Sargur, Bengaluru) in Junior INRC.

Gurugram’s Rupender Sheoran (Mohit Malik, Faridabad) heads the non-championship FMSCI Gypsy Challenge category.

About the FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship 2021

The Indian National Rally Championship 2021, promoted by The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India is segregated into five categories based on various specifications, the INRC, INRC-2, INRC-3, INRC-4 and Junior INRC (26 years and below, and without a win).

Competitors are eligible for Overall classification and also separately in their respective categories. The top-15 finishers are eligible for points ranging from 30 to 1. The five quickest on each of the two days (Leg-1 and Leg-2) and in each category receive bonus points (5 points for 1st…, 4 for 2nd, 3 for 3rd, 2 for 4th and 1 for 5th) in the respective Legs only if they complete the Rally and bring the car home (Parc Ferme). The maximum points that can be won in each round is 40. A stand-alone sixth category, the FMSCI Gypsy Challenge, restricted to Maruti Gypsy, completes the grid. The gypsy drivers are not eligible for championship points or classification.