Bangalore to host the first leg of National TSD Rally
Bangalore, 14 Aug 2012: Bangalore is gearing up for the Indian National TSD (Time Speed Distance) Rally Championship, which makes its debut in the Indian motorsports calendar this year with the first leg beginning in the Garden City here this week-end. In this connection a Press Conference is being organised in Bangalore today.
The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) announced in June the launch of the all new FMSCI National Time Speed Distance (TSD) Rally Championship. This championship will be run under TSD format of rallying, with the objective of maintaining precise times and average speeds on various segments of a predefined route. This championship, promoted by Berunda Adventure Sports Club (BASC), will be the first championship formulated not only for drivers but also for constructors/manufacturers.
President Vicky Chandhok said that FMSCI is excited about TSD becoming an official championship for the first ever time. He said, “This is a first and a very exciting step for rallying fans in the country. This is the only form of racing where speed is not a priority but rather precision and is a great stepping stone for rally enthusiasts. This championship provides great opportunities for manufacturers to get involved as well. TSD rallies were very popular in the 1970s-80s and we are happy to bring it back as part of the National Championship. The great thing here is that we will have the constructors/manufacturers fighting for the title of FMSCI National TSD Rally Champion rather than only drivers/navigators.”
The first ever TSD Championship with prizes worth Rs 1 crore will be held across India and will consist of 6 rounds. The organizers will create a pool of 30 teams in various categories with drivers and navigators being assigned through an open draw to the constructors. The cars need not be altered or modified as it is a TSD format. Each car will be fitted with Transponders, GPS, Trip Meter and digital cameras for backup times, verification, live update and reduce human error. The TSD rallies will also have a special category for non-professionals/ motorsport lovers. This will give any rallying fan the opportunity to participate and enjoy the thrill of motorsport in their respective cities. They can bring in their own cars and participate in a special leg of the rally.
K. Prasad, 3 time winner of Raid de Himalaya and Head of BASC commented, “As big rallying enthusiasts we are thrilled to bring you this exciting new championship. The concept here is completely different from the past and the focus will be on the constructors/manufacturers vying for the manufacturers Championship title. We invite all manufacturers in the country to participate in the TSD Rally Championship and play a vital role in promoting motorsport in the country. Navigation in a rally is of utmost importance and this will provide rally experience to upcoming stars. The beauty of this championship is that any car can participate and no modification is necessary. We are keen to create awareness of the sport through workshops and safety clinics and are confident that this will be received well.”
The inaugural round of the Rs. 1 Crore 2012 TSD championship will be held in Bangalore on August 10. This will be followed by rallies in Ranchi, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Coimbatore.
The calendar for the 2012 TSD Championship will be as follows:
Round 1 : 10 August 2012 : Bangalore
Round 2 : 14 September 2012 : Ranchi
Round 2 : 26 October 2012 : Coimbatore
Round 2 : 30 November 2012 : Jaipur
Round 3 : 28 December 2012 : Chandigarh
Round 1 : 25 January 2013 : Hyderabad
ends
