Easy for Hari Singh-GS Mann; Maiden win for K Prasad: Popular Rally
Cochin, 16 Sept 1996: Defending National champion Hari Singh and co-driver Gurinder Singh Mann led a JK Tyre podium sweep winning the 14th Popular Rally, the fifth round of the Castrol National Rally Championship here on Sunday. K Prasad and navigator Sudharshan Gowda won the motorcycle category riding a Shogun, while reigning champion and 7-time record winning pair of Jagat Nanjappa and Anita could only finish sixth astride their RX100.
Hari Singh had an easy time on the wet and slippery tarmac stages and began his account here as he failed to win any of the four rallies this year. But with four rallies remaining it is anybody’s game but teammate Bikram Singh Majithia and co-driver Vijayant Choudhry are leading the National Championship table with 55 points after taking a second overall in this rally. The Chandigarh driver however, expressed confidence in retaining the title. “We had a good lead and we took it easy this year,” Hari said about the four-minute lead this year after a bad outing in the previous year when he could not perform well because of the death of his mentor and motorsport legend Karivardhan.
Last year’s Popular rally winner Gurmeher Singh Majithia was let down by an overheated radiator while multiple National champions N Leelakrishnan and Farad Bathena suffered steering and suspension issues respectively.
In the two-wheeler section it was the maiden win for Mysore’s K Prasad in the Nationals. “I had a toss in the second stage while trying to overtake Yuvraj Pawar. I had some tight finishes but still I did not expect to win here,” said a jubilant Prasad who won along with navigator Sudharshan Gowda. Trailing behind favourite Ravichander at the end of the first leg, Prasad clinched the issue in the last Special Stage.
Provisional Results:
Cars Overall: 1. Hari Singh and Gurinder Singh Mann (JK Tyre) (2hours, 16min, 59sec); 2. Bikram Singh Majithia and Vijayant Choudhry (JK Tyre) (2:21:07); 3. Nikhil Taneja and Sandeep Lal (JK Tyre) (2:24:18); 4. N Leelakrishnan and Farooq Ahmed (Team MRF) (2:24:30); 5. KS Chauhan and SS Sekon (JK Tyre) (2:26:19); 6. Satish Bhat and C Surendran (2:29:49).
Group A: 1. Hari Singh and Gurinder Singh Mann (JK Tyre) (2hours, 16min, 59sec); 2. Bikram Singh Majithia and Vijayant Choudhry (JK Tyre) (2:21:07); 3. N Leelakrishnan and Farooq Ahmed (Team MRF) (2:24:30);
Group N: 1. Nikhil Taneja and Sandeep Lal (JK Tyre) (2:24:18); 2. KS Chauhan and SS Sekon (JK Tyre) (2:26:19); 3. Satish Bhat and C Surendran (2:29:49).
Motorcycles Overall: (all top-5 Shoguns): 1. K Prasad and Sudharshan Gowda (Zen Rallying) (2:46:56); 2. T Ravichander and RS Sujith Kumar (2:47:05); 3. RH Vikram and R Sathish (Team MRF) 2:47:30); 4. Yuvaraj Pawar and Avinash Cavale (Team MRF) (2:49:08); 5. Shyam Kothari and KE Suresh Kumar (Team MRF) (2:50:17); 6. Jagat Nanjappa and Anita (Team MRF-RX100) (2:50:43);
Group C: 1. K Prasad and Sudharshan Gowda (Zen Rallying) (2:46:56); 2. T Ravichander and RS Sujith Kumar (2:47:05); 3. RH Vikram and R Sathish (Team MRF) 2:47:30);
Group D (Stock): 1. Yuvaraj Pawar and Avinash Cavale (Team MRF) (2:49:08); 2. MA Danif and EM Shameer (2:57:48); 3. Lakshmikanth and Chandrasekhar (2:59:46).
Editor’s note: Manually migrated from database to support INRC Winners: Hall of Fame
