Aniruddha Rangnekar fastest; Ruthuparna bags a triple: Autocross Nationals

Pune, 2 April 2023: Talented Pune driver Aniruddha Rangnekar clinched the Overall honours as he won the fastest driver tag and led his team Slideways Industries to a rich haul in the IARC fmsci Indian National Autocross Championship promoted by Bangalore Motorsports Club at the Nanoli Speedway on April 1 and 2. Rangnekar clocked 1min, 15.265 seconds in the INAC2 open covering about 1 Km, of a lap on the dirt track in his Chettinad Sporting prepared Polo shod on JK Tyres.

Promoter Umesh Pandey of Bangalore Motorsports Club said: “We saw new talent and a lot of enthusiasm in the first round and the championship is becoming bigger and better. This year we have eight rounds in different regions of the country and the finals are likely in Bengaluru again in December.” Pandey, the brain behind the whole Championship, made it a truly ‘National’ event, in geography too, by spreading the Zonal rounds around the country including one round in North East. The Pune round is the first of the eight rounds and the qualified drivers will fight it out for National Championship titles in eight classes. A non-championship support event, “Time Attack” was also held to promote the sport.

Aniruddha won INAC2 Open with a faster time than Rutuparna Vivek, who won the INAC1 Open. But Ruthuparna Vivek of Snap Racing clinched three big victories as he claimed all three INAC1 categories. However, Aniruddha bagged the INAC3 Open too, and clocked the fastest time beginning 2023 on a grand note.

Another INRC lady driver Shivani Parmar displayed enough skills in this shorter format which calls for precise movements and car control and won the INAC2 upto 1650cc class beating both Ruthuparna Vivek and Aniruddha Rangnekar to hoist the Women in Motorsports (WIM) flag. Nikeeta Takkale, who scored points in the APRC Asia Cup round earlier in Chennai, was the other woman who notched up four podiums. Competing with men and beating them is a huge achievement for these women behind the wheel.

Munjal Savla and Umesh Rane were the other National Category winners while another veteran Mazdayar Vatcha, a yesteryears star from Hyderabad, showed glimpses of his talent, with a podium in INAC3. Zahan Commissariat, another racing talent, and a regular podium finisher at Madras International Circuit took second in the INAC 4×4 Class. Amey Desai, a former champ who represented India in Gymkhana Asian competitions, and 2019 National Champion, Sanjay Lall and Altaf Hussain were the others who took podium spots.

The next Regional qualifier round will be held in Goa on April 29 and 30.

Provisional Results: West Zone Qualifier for INAC final 2023: Round 1:

INAC1 Open: 1. Ruthuparna Vivek 1:15.555; 2. Aditya Kousgi 1;15.780; 3. Nikeeta Takkale 1:15.995.

INAC1 Upto 1650cc: 1. Ruthuparna Vivek 1:16.175; 2. Nikeeta Takkale 1:17.600; 3. Aniruddha Rangnekar 1:17.710.

INAC1 Upto 2400cc: 1. Ruthuparna Vivek 1:16.105; 2. Aniruddha Rangnekar 1:17.440; 3. Nikeeta Takkale 1:18.120;

INAC2 Open: 1. Aniruddha Rangnekar 1:15.265; 2. Ruthuparna Vivek 1:15.880; 3. Nikeeta Takkale 1:16.950;

INAC2 Upto 1400cc: 1. Munjal Savla 1:22.430; 2. Altaf Hussain 1:36.735;

INAC2 Upto 1650cc: 1. Shivani Parmar 1:16.200; 2.  Ruthuparna Vivek 1:16.750; 3. Aniruddha Rangnekar 1:17.835;

INAC3 Open: 1. Aniruddha Rangnekar 1:19.255; 2. Amey Desai 1:20.630; 3. Mazdayar Vatcha 1:21.615;

INAC 4×4 Open: 1. Umesh Rane 1:19.210; 2. Zahan Commissariat 1:20.100; 3. Sanjay Lall 1:21.695;