Team MRF Tyres wins in Court

By George Francis, Scorp News

Chennai, 12 July 1999: Team MRF Tyres dubbed `Red Thunder’ by their nemesis in motor sports JK Tyres in an ad campaign way back in 1994, did seem to mean the phrase.

The Reds thundered to an emphatic victory in the Indian Motor Sports Appellate Court (IMSAC), which met at Bangalore on August 8th. Exactly one month had passed since the famed South India Rally, ran its 35th chapter in the outskirts of Chennai.

This is the first victory for Team MRF limited in the IMSAC, and the favourable verdict sky-rockets them into an authoritative lead in the Castrol National Rally Championship for cars and Motorcycles, 1999.

The issue should have been sorted out much earlier. On the 12th July N Leelakrishnan of Team MRF, ace tuner and current National Champion, appealed to the Stewards of the Meet that two JK Tyre Rally Team cars, that of 4 times National Champion Hari Singh and Regional Pan Pacific Rally Champion of Malaysia, Karamjit Singh had infringed Articles 5.3 and 5.3.4 of the 4 wheeler Technical Regulations. Articles 5.3 states, `The position of the rotational axis of the mounting point of the suspension to the wheel uprights and to the shell (or chassis) must remain unchanged. In common man’s parlance, what should happen is `an increase in the suspension travel, thereby increasing reliability of a car with such mounting to another without. Said Leela, “It is such modifications that transformed a pathetically bad rally car like Toyota Corolla, to an excellent rally car. Once upon a time the same Corolla was jumping for one bump to the other, because of non-modification of the length and the mounting point.”

The article 5.3.4 states “The position of the centre of the articulation cannot be changed.” The IMSAC admitted that the position support has been modified and as per rule 5.3.6 modification of support is impermissible and there is not express authorisation for modification. The damping element is also large as held/or recorded by the stewards in their order dated July 13th which is also not permitted under rule 5.3.6.

THe IMSAC allowed the appeal on the above noting and gave the verdict. In the meantime, the IMSAC also observed that the appellant (Leelakrishnan) ought not to have sought opinion or clarification from the FIA while the rally is on and depraciated such conduct of the appellant. The IMSAC also ordered the forfeiture of the appeal fees paid by the appellant.

The appeal having been accepted, and verdict given excluded the overall winner Hari Singh and Gurinder Singh Mann (Navigator) and second placed Karamjit Singh and Jagdev Singh (navigator) both belonging to the JK Tyres Rally Team with exclusion, Team MRF Limited’s Arjun Balu, navigated by Kumar Ramaswamy is the declarled winner followed by Manik Raikhy and P Vivekanandan (Team JK Tyres) and N Leelakrishnan and Farooq Ahmed (MRF).

This change in positions, also puts Leelakrishnan in the lead (41 points) in the three National Rallies that have run until now this year. There are 4 more rounds of the Championship and the game is still anyone’s for the taking.

In the meantime, the 2-wheeler category witnessed yet another emphatic win for the Pacer Yamaha team. Rohitaaz Kumar of Chandigarh, blasted the South Indian Terrain, to win acclaim for Sponsors MRF Limited and tuner Pacer Yamaha. Victory was not easy for the lanky Chandigarh lad astride the Yamaha. National Champion Zubin Patel of Mumbai was breathing down his neck all the while, but for his slower Suzuki.

 It is an interesting fact that only in the two wheeler segment (in Indian rallying) there has been considerable competition between manufacturers. It was in the pre-1994 days, that Yamahas ruled the roost. The tactically strong Sundaram Industries (TVS) realised the lacuna and lethargy shown by brand leaders Yamaha, and the lack of support from the Escorts Factory. Noticing the chink in their armour, Suzuki’s started a battle supreme with un believable support from their factory. THe ever-enterprising duo of Rajaram and Jayaram are deputed to tune that the TVS Suzukis and what followed is history. From 1994 to 1999 the TVS Suzuki brand grew, and the introduction of Showguns as a rally motorcycle, won them the acclaim they were looking for, team Zen Motors, a retail outlet run by school time friends Krishnamurthy and Praneeth in Bangalore, who were adventurous and ever-willing to help the adventurous lot of motorcycle rallyists who came to them for support, capitalised on promoting the shotguns.

In 1988, the Yamahas (the favourite bike of the rally legends Jagat and Anita Nanjappa) realised that their market presence was definitely being slowly but surely destroyed by TVS. Once again they got their act together and enlisted none else than the inimitable Shekar Bhojana of Town Works, legendary motor sports bike tuners. Sekar set about the work with the precision of an old and experienced artisans getting his tools together after ages of hibernation. He went about the task assigned with perfection and got his first victory when ace rallyist Rohitaaz crossed the mantle to the Team Pacer Yamaha. Chia Prasad (Champion) followed and in the latest rally RH Vikram one of the famous bikers of Bangalore joined Pacer Yamaha. But notwithstanding the fact the best of the Indian Rally riders are moving over to the Yamaha Camp, team Suzuki has set about perfecting the Suzuki Shaolin which when fine tuned should become a competitive rally worthy vehicle.

Today, the heat between the Suzuki’s and Yamahas is so high, that Team MRF Tyres Zubin Patel thrown Team MRF Tyres, an open Team challenge to teammate Rohitaaz, on the future performance in the next rally fo the season, namely Karnataka 1000 at Bangalore.

The old set-up of Yamaha tuners and service supporters getting together is being watched as seriously as the dreaded “SS Group in Germany”.

The South India Rally 1999, was run on similar terrain bike last 3 years, barring the infamous canal stage which dislocated Sanjay Agarwal’s (JK) spine and toppled the famous Manik Raikhy (JK). Another stage on dirt roads which runs around a lake was included. Rains cut short the stage around the MMSC Racing Track, and the south India Rally also proved that the organisers had done well to located 3 stages, included one on the racing circuit tarmac which formed the basic competition. These stages run thrice consecutively with 6 service stops on Day 1 and the same in the opposite direction with 6 service stops formed the total distance of 550 odd kms out of which 147 km were competitive.

23 cars and 45 bikes challenge for the South India Crown with a recce on the 8th July, 9th saw pre-vent scrutiny, reconnaissance, 10th and 11th were the rally days and 12th, the prize distribution.

This rally id dedicated to the Martyrs of Kargil, read the arch at the start ramp in the Music Academy. Rumours that the rally would be stopped by an ex-motor sport competitor (who is currently an MLC) is said to have prodded the organisers to Dedicate the rally to Kargil Heroes.

The two major changes among competitors was the long time MRF campaigner Dicky Gill walking off with navigator Aditya Jaiswal to Team JK, and current group N (Unmodified) car champion Sagar Muthappa (MRF) moving on to a Group A (modified) car.

The rate of attrition was very high. Only 9 cars and 26 bikes finished the South INdia Rally 1999.

The Team MRF walked away with the first two placings in motorcycles, overall Group C (modified) class. Team Pacer Yamaha (some of the riders here are sponsored by MRF Tyres also) stole the limelight winning 7 out of the first 10 placings. Except for the inevitable performance of kingpins Zubin Patel, Nipender Jessy and SP Chinnappa, article Suzuki Shoguns stopping the Yamahas.

Team MRF also walked away with the overall and Group A (modified) class top spots, but had to concede the Group N (unmodified) class to JK Tyres Rally Team “Stunt Driver” Manik Raikhy, who somersaulted his Esteem into a ditch and still managed to land on all fours and continue unperturbed. God bless his navigator P Vivekanandan.

The performance of Vijayant Chowdhry of Team MRF Limited navigated by MK Chander, should be lauded for his excellent performance to score 2nd in Group N and all praise to veteran Nanjappas who finished third behind them.

The other two teams represented Team Chettinad Sporting and Team Kadur, placed 4th and 5th in Group N and 6th and 7th Overall. It is these new teams that foster new talent who should be lauded for spending money on their passion, motor sport.

All said and done, the Madras Motor Sports Club, one of the oldest and one of the most remembered motor sport club in the country, cut a sorry figure in competitor hospitality and media support.

The Rally Ball, an integral part of motor sports, all over the world, was missing, depriving the competitors a chance to let their hair down and commune. It is high time that the rally ball is made mandatory to ensure the last competitor who spends on entry gets his due.

Team MRF Tyres leads the battle field in overall, Group A and Group N in cars and in overall and Group C bikes, in the Castrol National Rally Championship for cars and motorcycles 1999.

The announcement of the IMSAC verdict on the eve of the 4th round of Castrol National Rally Championship for cars and 3rd for bikes, the Karnataka 1000 at Bangalore should wake up JK Tyre Rally Team.

If the JKs and Suzukis do not make up for lost points, in the Bangalore Rally, chances for Championship fight would become weak.

Provisional Results: Cars, Overall: 1. Arjun Balu /KR Kumar (Team MRF) (1hour, 48min, 26sec); 2. Manik Raikhy/ P Vivekanandan (JK Tyre) (1:49:45); 3. N Leelakrishnan/ Farooq Ahmed (Team MRF) (1:50:33); 4. V Choudhry/ MK Chander (Team MRF) (1:50:47); 5. Jagat Nanjappa/ Anita Nanjappa (Team MRF) (1:52:18).

Cars, Group B: 1. Arjun Balu /KR Kumar (Team MRF) (1hour, 48min, 26sec); 2.  N Leelakrishnan/ Farooq Ahmed (Team MRF) (1:50:33);

Cars, Group N: 1. Manik Raikhy/ P Vivekanandan (JK Tyre) (1:49:45); 2. V Choudhry /MK Chander (Team MRF) (1:50:47); 3. Jagat Nanjappa/ Anita Nanjappa (Team MRF) (1:52:18); 4. Che Navaz/ Sherin (1:56:25); 5. Kad Umakanth/ Sunil (2:03:20).

Bikes Overall and Group C: 1. Rohitaaz Kumar (Team MRF) (1:48:52); 2. Zubin Kersi Patel (Team MRF) (1:50:39); 3. RH Vikram (Pacer Yamaha) (1:51:22); 4. Nipender Jessy (Suzuki) (1:52:54); 5. BC Roopesh (Pacer Yamaha) (1:53:27).

Bikes Group D: 1. R Srinivas (Pacer Yamaha) 1:57:48); 2. SP Chinappa (Zen Motors) (1:58:13); 3. G Prasad (Pacer Yamaha) (1:58:17); 4. Rohan Rego (Zen Motors) (2:00:29); 5. Amith Kumar K (Zen Motors) (2:01:30).

ends