MRF’s Naren Kumar-Ramkumar win Monsoon rally

By George Francis

Mumbai, 6 August 2000: Speeds of over 170 kms on smooth roads, long stages (between 18 and 25 kms) and the scenic setting of the Sahyadri ranges made the rally organised by Western India Automobile Association (WISA) a memorable event in the year.

The top eight cars were sponsored by MRF Limited while four Touring Cars of Group A Modified and 11 Production Cars of Group N unmodified got ready for the start in Mumbai. It was a dream come true for Nazir Hoosein of the Himalayan RallyAssociation (HRA) who now runs the Motorsports Association of India (MAI).

The Monsson Rally was the first of a series of seven Rallys to decide the MAI Indian National Champion of the year 2000. Paul Williams, Rally Australia’s experienced official, was brought in as an observer, the idea being that this would also help MAI reach international standards quickly.

This was also the first National Rally in Mumbai in four years. Since only cars with carburettors were allowed, the JK Tyre Rally Team pulled out. It has recently acquiared two of the fuel-injected Mitsubishi Lancers.

The MRF competitors were all too happy to eb in a rally after a seven-month lay off due to FMSCI versus MAI problems.

On August 5, 15 cars were flagged off from the Flora Fountain Circle in downtown Mumbai, at two minute intervals. The first car was driven by National Champion Naren Kumar and navigated by D Ramkumar. The cars ran a 111-km transport sector to touch Wada, the cars were allowed just 10 minutes of service time before the start of Special Stages.

The first Special Stage (SS) was between Parli and Devgaon in the lush forests of the Sahyadri ranges. Naren Kumar flew down this Special Stage, touching a high of over a 1000-kms per hour. But Leelakrishnan, six-times National Champion, had to pull out soon after this stage began due to gear-box failure.

After a 20-minute service stop at Devgaon, the rallyists proceeded to do the Khodala Devgaon second Specioal Stage of the rally. After all the carshad lined up, a Maharashtra State Transport bus and two jeeps carrying local villagers, requested to be allowed to pass. “We had to allow them to go, to maintain a good relationship. After all, our rally has to pass their villages,” said Nazir Hoosein. “Of course, we could have avoided this, if we had given enough prior notice,” he added.

In fact, the MAI had distributed school books to all the kids in the various villages through which the rally ran. THey had also picked up willing lads in the villages, and made them `spectator control’ and `crowd control’ Marshals.

Special Stage two started 30 minutes late, and the drivers `went flat out’ touching speeds of over 130 kmph at many places, sliding through the bends and curves, to reach Devgaon for the next 20-minute service.

Special Stage 3 between Devgaon and Taj Residency, Nashik, was the dream stage for the Speedsters. The 25.60km stage, the longest in the rally, was spread over green meadows and had all what the daredevils asked for, long straights, fast turns, crests which disguised the oncoming bends and simply `flat out’ terrain.

Rallyists touched speeds of over 170 kmph. Rabbi Madan and Abhishek Datt, in a black Esteeem, missed a turn after a crest, flew into a meadow, flipped and pulled out. AD Jamoshedji and ‘sohrab Zorabian, in the lone Maruti Gypsy (in the Esteem-filled rally), withdrew due to mechanical problems. A curt Madan said: “Our flip was a great experience. I hope you also have one soon.”

“We had to trust our navigators full and full,” said Naren Kumar, at the end of Leg 1, which he led. “It is great fun to go over a crest, not sure what is in store for you on the other side.  Only your navigators’ call can help and save you,” he added.

“It was phenomenal to drive,” said Vikram Mathias, who was on his maiden rally. Running third in Group N, at the end of Leg 1, Vikram was driving his heart out. Sunil Shetty, his navigator, said: “I enjoyed the run every bit.”

“It was just too good,” said Karanddep Singh, navigated by Jaidas Menon, from TEam MRF, who proved his mettle by leading the Group N cars. The day ended at the Taj Residency at Nashik.

The Super Rally format, now being followed in the Indian rallys, allows a competitor who pulled out of a leg, to run the other leg/legs of the event, to gain points for the championship. Further, it also stipulates that 80 per cent of any rally should be run either one of the three terrains, namely, dirt, gravel or tarmac, to avoid unnecessary tyre changes. In keeping with the format, Leelakrishnan and Jamshedji decided to participate in Leg 2.

It was wake up call at 4 am for the rallyists on August 6, as the second leg was to be flagged off at 6 am. After 62 kms of transport to Devgaon, the rallyists took a 10-minute service break before going into Special Stage 4.

The Devgaon-Mokhada stage of over 25-km which was Special Stage 4 was reveresed as the Mokhada-Devgaon sector for Special Stage 5.

The Group N National Champion driver of Team MRF, Vijayant Chowdhry of Chandigarh and Shivu Shivappa of Bangalore would not forget Special Stage 4 for life. “We were driving at 140-kmph and Vijayant was fully on the gas (accelerator) and we were approaching an `easy left’. I really do not know what happened. Suddenly, Vijayant started anti-locking the steering and correcting. The car was now off the road. We went down the road, rolled into a paddy field, and somehow flew out and jammed into a tree,” said a shaken Shivappa.

Both Vijayant and Shivu were badly shaken, but not seriously injured. This stage also saw the end of Vikram Mathias’ challenge as he missed a call, and went off the road on an easy right and landed in the meadow.

The rest of the cars continued their journey to the fifth Special Satge followed by the final stage between Khodala and Bombay service. Then followed the treacherous 128-km journey on the Nashik-Mumbai highway to finish the event at the Flora Fountain in Mumbai. With only on major team, Team MRF, participating, post-event srutiny became a simple affair.

VR Naren Kumar and D Ramkumar won the Overall and Group A top spots, followed by Arjun Balu and KR Kmar. Sagar Muthappa and Sandeep Rao finished third in Group A to make it a 1-2 for MRF.

The Group N victory went to Karandeep Singh and Jaidas Menon. They were followed by Jagat Nanjappa and Anita Nanjappa, the husband-wife duo. While the first two placings in the Group went to MRF, the third spot went to a privateer Vikram Suhrem and BS Sujith Kumar.

Provisional Results:

Overall: 1. VR Naren Kumar/D Ramkumar (Team MRF) (1hour, 27 minutes, 33 seconds); 2. Arjun Balu/KR Kumar (Team MRF) (1: 28:16); 3. Sagar Muthappa/Sandeep Rao (1:29:06); 4. Karandeep Singh/Jaidas Menon (Team MRF) (1:31:42); 5. Jagat Nanjappa/Anita (1:33:07).

Production Cars (Group N) Unmodified: 1. Karandeep Singh/Jaidas Menon (Team MRF) (1:31:42); 2. Jagat Nanjappa/Anita (1:33:07); 3. Vikram Suhram/BS Sujith Kumar (Privateer) (1:37:07); 4. Navaz Bathena/Sherin Balachander (1:38:43); 5. Satyan Kochar./Alistair Woodham (Privateer) (1:41:13).

Touring Cars (Group A) Modified cars: 1. VR Naren Kumar/D Ramkumar (Team MRF) (1: 27: 33); 2. Arjun Balu/KR Kumar (Team MRF) (1: 28:16); 3. Sagar Muthappa/Sandeep Rao (1: 29:06);