Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm: CS Santosh, Suresh Rana in the lead after Leg 1
Bikaner, March 20: Defending champion Suresh Rana (co-driver PV Srinivas Murthy) and CS Santosh of Dakar fame led the Xtreme fields in four-wheeler and two-wheeler categories, respectively, at the end of Leg 1 of the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm here last night.
Meanwhile, a malfunctioning headlight ended National women’s racing and rally champion Aishwarya Pissay’s campaign as she was docked a penalty of 100 hours, forcing her to retire from the weeklong cross-country rally which covers a total distance of 2,500 Kms with 900 kms of timed section.
Rana, supported by Maruti Suzuki Motorsport and driving the factory-supported Grand Vitara, enjoyed a 33-second lead over Abhishek Mishra (V Venu Ramesh Kumar) at the end of the two Special Stages of Leg 1 which included a night run.
In contrast, Santosh, astride the Hero 450 RR on which he finished 34th overall in the Dakar Rally in South America, earlier this year, was in a league of his own as he opened a lead of little over five minutes Aaron Mare.
Bengaluru-based 22-year old Aishwarya, representing TVS Racing team, was among 11 bikers who retired in Leg-1.
“I was running well in the day’s first Stage and was in good rhythm. I even overtook several bikes and was feeling very confident until the problem with the headlight cropped up in the next Stage.
“I was doing a night Stage for the first time ever and it was a whole new experience for me. Suddenly, the headlight stopped working and I was caught in pitch darkness. I followed the tail-lights of other bikes for a while, but got stuck on a sand dune and I was left all alone.
“I managed to contact the officials who arrived after about an hour, picked me up and I got back to Bikaner safely. In view of the stoppage, I was handed a penalty of 100 hours and we decided against taking a re-start,” said Aishwarya.
The rally resumed today as the competitors headed towards Jaisalmer after negotiating two Special Stages totaling 130 Kms en route.
