98 entries for inaugural Autocross Nationals
Bangalore, 29 April 2012: The opening event of the inaugural edition of the AOM Indian National Autocross Championship has received a tremendous response with 98 entries and top drivers from across the country with many established rally stars will showcase their skills at the Palace grounds here on Sunday.
Some of the famous Indian National Championships are the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), the Indian National Racing Championship (NRC) and the Indian National Karting championship of the 7 championships. The Indian National Drag Racing championship made a debut last year and this year it would be Indian National Autocross championship, thanks to the interest taken by promoters and organisers.
Autorcross is a miniature version of the rally, where the spectators can enjoy watching the cars rally from a vantage point at one place without moving around for a fraction of the action during a rally.
There are six categories in which participants can drive to gather points. The driver who gets most number of points, overall in the six events to be held across the country this year, will be champion. Many have entered in more than one category, of the six classes that are based on cubic capacity of the engines while a seventh category is only for women.
Like the famous Australian Autocross, the event will see two drivers starting at the same time and competing against each other. They start from two different points and criss cross each other with the wooden bridge acting as a highlight with each driver going over it once and under it to complete the cross-over. However, the best-timed particpant will be on the leaderboard. Points are given to the first ten. The two lanes of the track measure to about 900 metres a lap and will be run twice. After the qualifying to determine the starting order, the Autocross proper will be held on Sunday afternoon and Monday.
The recce on Saturday was a bit delayed but nevertheless entertaining. With both the organisers and participants racing against the clock, to get the cross-over bridge ready, it was an anxious wait, worth it in the end.
Mysore maestro Lohitt Urs, who quit MRF to prove his stuff in INRC last year, Rahul Kanthraj, the jovial tactician, Vikram Devadasen, the technical hero and the evergreen Chetan Shivaram with the pompous Babban Khan will be some stars to watch.
Two cars will race against each other at a time over two laps on a circuit that is a mix of tight corners and fast sections that should test the driver and also the tuner of the car. The autocross has a unique, dirt and tarmac mix as the sections will see a run on both the hard and rough terrains providing a challenge for the tyre performance.
The first place gets 25 points and the one who finishes 10th, one point, just as in Formula One.
Calendar: The six rounds of the Indian National Autocross Championship will take place in Bangalore, Kochi (May 26-27), Coimbatore (July 14-15), Chennai (Sep 15-16) and Mumbai (Nov 3-4) and Bangalore on Dec 8-9.
It’s official: The Federation of Motorsports Clubs in India, the official ASN of FIA, the international federation, has granted a national status to the National Autocross Championship. It would be run under the aegis of Federation Internationale de l’Automabile (FIA) and subject to regulations laid down the international federation. So the FIA Sporting Code and FIA General Prescriptions (GP for Rally) and the FMSCI Autocross Championship Regulations will be under force.
Tarmac Queen returns: Navaz Sandhu, a star of yesteryears, who was dubbed as Tarmac Queen for her prohibitive speeds on hard surface, has successfully conducted as the clerk of the course, the two new rallies in Jodhpur and Orissa in the last two years for Indian National Rally Championship. She will be back, in the drivers’ seat, as she confirmed for the opening leg in Bangalore.
Safety first: Safety of the spectators, participants and everyone is of prime importance. As per the Federation guidelines, organisers have taken strong measures to barricade the entire circuit for spectator safety. Trauma care ambulances and fire engines are all in place, standing by for any emergency that all motorsports events throw up.
Rock your way: Two decades and going strong. Parikrama, will be there to rock the speedsters. The promoters and organisers saw it fit to provide a wholesome entertainment for the motorsport fans. And there you rock. The INAC Rock Hammer Competition is around. Several rock bands are expected to get an opportunity to showcase their talents and to perform alongside the everlasting Parikrama, Palace Grounds will ROCK on Sunday.
The BIG BOYS, we call them PANDHIS: The Bangalore Pandhis are a familiar name in the motoring circles. They don the stunning machines you and me dream of. The Harley Davidsons. Its not just a machine. It is a beast. The BIG BOYS will be here to entertain and show off. The Promoters Wynnsport, made sure that the Harley Davidson Club, showcase at least 25 bikes of their members.
Acrobatics: There will also be an Adventure Zone, complete with rappelling and games as well as an acrobatic show by the group Lakshya of Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bi Karega fame.
ends
