Lanusanen, proves a point with an old engine sans `Fitness Certificate’; wins INRC4

By David Bodapati

Itanagar, 19 Dec. 20: Lanusanen Pongener, son of Mr T. Temsu Ao and member of Team Anumolu, powered by MRF, created history by winning a round in the Champions Yacht Club MRF Indian National Rally Championship to become the first Naga to earn the honours in the highly-competitive 33-year history of the National Championship, when he partnered with navigator Lokaranjan to win the INRC4 class in the first round which concluded here, near Chimpu and Hollangi, on Thursday.

Driving a Honda City, shod on specially prepared MRF tyres, the talented driver, had a new navigator Lokaranjan HJ from Bengaluru, calling his pace notes and miraculously turned the tables in two-day National event. Lanusanen represents his home club Amam in Nagaland events and is also associated with NAMSA, the Nagaland Adventure and Motor Sports Club.

Lanu, as he is popularly known in South India, where he took part in most of the rallies for the last three years, overcame many odds and difficulties and rose like a phoenix, to print the name of Nagaland in INRC Hall of Fame, the list adorned by some great drivers in India. Due to some technical issues for using a engine more than 15-years without proper ‘Fitness Certificate’, he was excluded from the `Start List’ which forced him to run from pillar to post to get a Stamp paper for an affidavit assuring ‘safety’, when all the cars were at the start of Special Stage 1. Miraculously, a `driver-friendly’ steward, allowed him to take the start after 48min and then Car Number 30, became the winning car in his class. INRC4 is the entry class of the 4 categories in the national championship but above Gypsy Challenge and Arunachal Cup. In the second round that concluded on Dec 20, Lanu finished fourth to lead the championship in INRC4 in the current standings.

He successfully completed the two night stages of Round 1 on the highway, and was second in the standings at the end of Day 1, when his co-driver, Lokaranjan HJ from Bengaluru, sensed victory and advised him to be patient as they were in with a Podium chance. And with about 4km before the flying finish of the last Special Stage on Day 2 on Dec 17, the Class leader Mujeeb fell on the wayside, leaving Lanu and Lokranjan, deserving winners of Round 1 INRC4.

The first two rounds were held back-to-back with a day’s rest, and Lanusanen, behind the wheel of a Honda City, put Nagaland in the Indian map of Car Rallying, winning against all odds and even without his regular navigator Amrit from Coorg in Karnataka, and after finding that his tyres were wobbling on the way to the start and many other technical issues. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,’’ he quipped sporting a smile and pointing to the slogan on the walls of the Chimpu Parade camp which hosted the cars as Service Park. He was able to make it to the stage on time as the rally was stopped to take a pregnant lady to the hospital.

“Only now I got a sponsor through the hard work of promoter Vamsi Merla. He persuaded a Telugu NRI from USA, and my Tyres from MRF and all the expenses for transporting the car and service of the car. So from AP to AP (Andhra to Arunachal), for a driver from Nagaland and co-driver from Bengaluru by a sponsor from USA, mine is a unique winning story of integrating the seven sisters into the mainland through sport,’’ said Lanu.

“The people of Nagaland and all the North East have many talents and champions but we are not included in the mainstream. Time has come to build bridges and change it by showcasing huge talents and skills. I feel very proud to win this round despite all the confusion, anger and frustration my co-driver made me relax and taught me how to be patient. I thank Champions Yacht Club for identifying me as potential talent, MRF for specialised tarmac tyres and specially Mr Anumolu Ramakrishna, my sponsor, who blindly believed in my capabilities even though we never met. I am eager to meet him in the next round in Bengaluru or Hampi,’’ concluded Lanu.

Nagaland Adventure and Motor Sports Association president Ruguo Desmo Kesiezie said: “Lanu is the first from our state to take part in the National Rally events. Though we have local rallies, they are not part of the Nationals. We are proud of his achievement and hope to produce many more drivers from the state. We also have some riders and drivers in the National Racing in Chennai but Lanu is the first rally driver to win a round in the nationals in INRC4 class.’’