Vikram Mathias, Sujith Kumar crowned INRC champions for 2004

Mumbai, 24 Jan 2005: Bangalore duo Vikram Mathias and co-driver Sujith Kumar of Team MRF were crowned as the new champions in the Indian National Rallying Championship and they were presented with a brand new Maruti Baleno by Maruti at a glittering prize distribution ceremony organised by Motorsports Association of India here on Saturday.

The 2004 season saw eight rounds and it was a close race with Mathias and Kumar winning the crown by just two points. The duo bagged 46 points to beat reigning championsh VR Naren Kumar and D Ramkumar, who garnered 44 points.

Prithveen Rajan and co-driver PV Srinivasa Murthy won the 1400cc title and was also presented with a Maruti Alto. The pair scored 71 points. Sanjay Agarwal and Chandramouli won the Rally Star Cup and drove away a Marut 800.

The Kadet Indian National Karting Championship was won by Chennai’s Vishnu Prasad with 53 points and Ashok Jadhav with 32 points was crowned as the Indian National Karting champion.

In the Asian Zone National Karting Championship, Charlie Charles of Malaysia won the honours and Chennai’s Preetham Muniappa came second.

Winners for 2004:

INRC Overall: Vikram Mathais/Sujith Kumar (Team MRF ) 46 points; V R Naren Kumar/D Ramkumar (Team MRF) 44; Lohit Urs/ Bonnie Thomas 42.

INRC 1400cc: Prithveen Rajan/P V S Murthy 71; Ranjith Ballal /Ashwin Naik 55; Arjun Rao Aroor/CK Chinappa 54.

Rally Star Cup: Sanjay Agarwal/ Chandramouli 72; Rajesh Gadakh/ Parithosh Kohok 49, Jasbir Singh/ Jeetender Nath 38.

Gypsy Cup: Anil Wadia/ Shrikanth GM 31; Along Iyer/ Suresh Rana 25; Gaurav Chirpal/ Satender Singh 18.

Kadet-Indian National Karting Championship (K-INKC): Vishnu Prasad 53; Ajay Kini 38; Chittesh Mandody 36.

INKC: Ashok Jadhav 32; Deepak Paul Chinnappa 27; Preetham Muniyappa 26.

Asian Zone National Karting Championship: Charlie Charles 18; Preetham Muniyappa 16; Mikko Nassi 16.

Vehicle preparation award: J Anand.

Outstanding performance by a novice Gypsy driver: Gaurav Chirpal.

Outstanding performance by a novice driver: Rajesh Gadakh.

INRC event of the year 2004: MAK WISA Nashik Rally