Pune rally this weekend - Last round of the 2007 MAI INRC

Rtech · 30th November 2007, 17:33

Official MAI Press release.

Big guns set to zoom in WISA's Rally of Maharashtra

Big time motorsports makes its return to Pune and Ahmednagar again with the WISA's Rally of Maharashtra, sponsored by MRF and Pandit Group, and the response from drivers has been tremendous. The rally, by default the last round of the Motorsports Asociation of India's Indian National Rally Championship, received 39 entries and after scrutiny 37 will take the starter's flag at 7.00 a.m on Saturday from the Yashada, Baner Road, Pune.

Twelve special stages will be run at Ralegan Therpal, Kanhur and Ganjibhoire in Ahmednagar District totaling 115.16 kms. The transport stages will total up to 514.53 kms, making it a total distance of 629.69 kms. The three special stages will be run four times over in the same direction to make up the 12 special stages.

The MAI's INRC 2007 has been plagued with cancellations, with three of the seven rounds being cancelled due to various reasons and full credit to WISA (Western India Sports Association) for going ahead with this round n Pune inspite of their sponsors and commercial partners dropping out at the last moment.

According to COC Ashwin Pandit, also the president of WISA, "Irrespective of the backing off of Infomedia, the commercial partners and IOC, the sponsors, we are running the championship thanks to the support from MRF, who supported us at the last moment and funds from our own pocket. Our conscience did not permit us to let the championship languish with just three rounds run."

"The event has received 39 entries from which 37 will start, which is a good response by any standards. For the first time in the history of the INRC, the rally will be tracked live and uploaded on the website www.wisa.org.in," he added.

Elaborating on the special stages, Pandit said, "The stages are such that the drivers will face challenges of all sorts. The first stage, the longest at 12.69 kms is very fast and the expected average would be 90 kmph. The 2nd stage is on a ghat and will be uphill. The surface is smooth tarmac with twists and it is the shortest stage of the event at 5.73km. The third stage is rough in patches, is uphill and will be a test to the skills of the drivers."

The podium finish will be held at the service park at Kurund, near Shirur and will have special guests in the form of State Finance Minister, Shri Jayant Patil, State Forest Minister, Shri. Babanrao Pachpute and MP Supriya Sule. A typical Maharashtrian cultural show has been organised at the podium finish, to give the people of Pune and Nagar a spectacle worth watching.

Gaurav Singh Gill of Team MRF leads the overall championship with 48 points, having won all the earlier rounds and is a sure bet for the title even if he does not finish. In distant second place is teammate Arjun Rao Aroor (18), while in third spot is Arjun Balu, also of Team MRF, with 13. However, Gill and Balu in the 2000cc Mitsubishi Cedias will face competition from Vikram Mathais of Team Red Rooster, also driving a Cedia and it should be an interesting battle for top honours here. Besides the 3 Cedias there is a Ford Fiesta being driven by Lohit Urs in the 1600 N+ category and 6 Maruti Balenos. There are seven Esteems in the 1400cc category and 17 Esteems in Rally Star Cup with three Gypsys completing the lineup.

The 1600cc and 1400cc categories see Arjun Rao Aroor (Team MRF) and Amitrajit Ghosh leading comfortably with 34 and 40 points respectively, with no threat to their championship hopes. However, there is a tough fight among three drivers for the Rally Star Cup and whoever wins here will walk away with the championship. Mazdayar Vatcha is currently in the lead along with Abhijeet Pai with 27 points, while Arvind J is in third spot with 24.

The Gypsy Cup should also see a fight for the title between Suresh Rana (31 points) and Surendra Babu (24).

So, which BHPian's are heading to watch it?

Technocrat · 30th November 2007, 17:39

Not sure If will be able to go but just Today Spotted a Rally ready white Gypsy (forgot the Number) on my way to Office, It was nice to see the driver with helmet on at sedate speed in city

Btw this is the Map posted by MF in another thread

http://www.wisa.org.in./inrc2007/impdoc/overall_map.jpg

supercars · 30th November 2007, 19:12

Lets hope it goes good for them but it might mean that next time, there will be no rally organized by WISA.

Mpower · 30th November 2007, 22:17

39 is a healthy turnout. OT question, what the biggest entry we have seen in the history of INRC?

chetan · 1st December 2007, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

39 is a healthy turnout. OT question, what the biggest entry we have seen in the history of INRC?

47 last year k-1000 this year i think it was 50 entries its picking up slowly up each year

Rtech · 2nd December 2007, 16:24

MAI Indian National Rally Championship 2007

-Official Press Release-

Urs-Menon triumph in WISA Rally

With an overnight lead of 1 minute, 52 seconds, nothing short of a complete breakdown could have prevented Lohit Urs and co-driver Jaidas Menon from driving to their first overall win the MAI's Indian National Rally Championship 2007. It ultimately proved to be smooth sailing for the jovial driver from Mysore as he increased his overnight lead to 2 minutes, 15 seconds over the second-placed Amitrajit Ghosh to take overall honours in the WISA Rally of Maharashtra, sponsored by MRF and the Pandit Group, which concluded in Pune on Sunday.

Urs' victory helped him leapfrog into third position in the points tally for the overall National championship, which had already been decided in Team MRF's Gaurav Gill's favour before this last round. Another Team MRF driver, Arjun Rao Aroor, who finished third overall in this round, is second in the points tally for the National Championship. Gill tallied 48 points, followed by Aroor (26), with Urs tied with Amitrajit Ghosh on 24.

Aroor, who held a comfortable lead in the 1600cc category, and Amitrajit Ghosh, leader in the 1400cc category, secured the National championships in their respective categories with their leading performances here. Aroor has tallied 50 points, followed by Rahul Kanthraj (21) and Philipos Mathai (14). Kanthraj and co-driver Vivek Bhatt finished third in the 1600cc category here, behind the son-father duo of Sanket Shanbhag and Ramesh Shanbhag. Ghosh, a comfortable winner in the 1400c category, also emerged the National champion with 56 points, a huge lead over the second-placed Prithvi Dominic (25).

The close battles for the National Championship in the Rally Star Cup and the Gypsy Cup were decided in the favour of Mazdayar Vatcha and Suresh Rana after their victories here over Abhijeet Pai and Surendra Babu respectively. Vatcha and Pai were tied on 27 points before the final round, but Vatcha who held an overnight lead of 48 seconds over Pai, managed to keep his nose ahead till the end. Pai finished third in the rally Star Cup behind Byram Godrej, his show earning him the second spot in the RSC points table for the National Championship.

The need for extra speed proved disastrous for Chetan Shivram and co-driver Roopesh Kholay, who crashed out on the second day, one of the two cars to not finish the day's proceedings, the other being driven by Ashutosh Shetty and co-driver Anup.

The podium finish was held at the service park at Kurund, near Shirur and was accompanied by a Maharashtrian cultural show, which also had special guests in the form of State Finance Minister, Shri Jayant Patil and State Forest Minister, Shri. Babanrao Pachpute.

Following are the Provisional Unofficial results:

Overall: Lohit Urs/Jaidas Menon (Fiesta, Team MRF) 1 hour:11 mins.39 secs; Amitrajit Ghosh/Sourabh Choudhary (Esteem) 1: 13.54; Arjun Rao Aroor/Satish Kumar (Baleno, Team MRF) 1:15.53; Prithvi Dominic/Jeevarathinam (Esteem) 1:17.02; Sanket Shanbhag/Ramesh Shanbhag (Baleno) 1:17.13.

1600 cc: Arjun Rao Aroor/Satish Kumar (Baleno, Team MRF) 1:15.53; Sanket Shanbhag/Ramesh Shanbhag (Baleno) 1: 17.13; Rahul Kanthraj/Vivek Bhatt (Baleno) 1:23.09.

1400cc: Amitrajit Ghosh/Sourabh Choudhary (Esteem) 1:13.54; Prithvi Dominic/Jeevarathinam (Esteem) 1:17.02; S Sujay/Chandrasekhar M (Esteem) 1: 19.43.

Rally Star Cup: Mazdayar Vatcha/Madhu K. C (Esteem) 1:20.25; Byram Godrej/Anjay Kapadia (Esteem) 1:20.49; Abhijeet Pai./Prajal Pai (Esteem) 1: 20.52.

Gypsy Cup: Suresh Rana/H S Bawa 1:23.37; Surendra Babu/Vinay Shaker 1:23.30; Kamaljit Virdi/Manoj Kumar 1:31.47 .

phamilyman · 2nd December 2007, 18:13

pics? Anyone of us was there? Any wardens from amongst us?

Mpower · 2nd December 2007, 21:40

Hey! what happened to the 3 Cedias of Gill, Balu and Mathais? I guess this is the first win for the Fiesta. Congrats to Urs!

Esteem in 2nd overall...Holy Cow! that Ghosh mush be some driver.

khaadu75 · 2nd December 2007, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Hey! what happened to the 3 Cedias of Gill, Balu and Mathais? I guess this is the first win for the Fiesta. Congrats to Urs!

Esteem in 2nd overall...Holy Cow! that Ghosh mush be some driver.

Gill and Balu didn't take a start as they felt that Stage 3 was described as dangerous .. Details would be known shortly !!! Vikram started and was leading till the last stage of Day 1 but then dropped out for some reason but was meant to start on Day 2 but don't think he did .

Cyrus43 · 2nd December 2007, 22:55

guys we need pics if any please

supercars · 3rd December 2007, 09:04

The Rally was a Fiasco. The Top people dropped out.

Rtech · 3rd December 2007, 10:00

2 cars dropped out. That hardly makes it a fiasco! Cyrus, check out Western India Sports Association (WISA) for stage by stage results and photographs from the rally.

planet_rocker · 3rd December 2007, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Esteem in 2nd overall...Holy Cow! that Ghosh mush be some driver.

trust me - he is good

(20 more characters)

Bullfrog · 3rd December 2007, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Esteem in 2nd overall...Holy Cow! that Ghosh mush be some driver.

Ghosh is an extremely fast chap. Just look at the comparison figures (With Lohit Urs) from this year's K1000. Not to forget that Ghosh is a privateer !!

Cheers
Bullfrog

chetan · 3rd December 2007, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullfrog

Ghosh is an extremely fast chap. Just look at the comparison figures (With Lohit Urs) from this year's K1000. Not to forget that Ghosh is a privateer !!

Cheers
Bullfrog

thats because lohits car suffered from exhaust problems in this years k-1000

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Hey! what happened to the 3 Cedias of Gill, Balu and Mathais? I guess this is the first win for the Fiesta. Congrats to Urs!

Esteem in 2nd overall...Holy Cow! that Ghosh mush be some driver.

He is no doubt a very good driver theres no way he would've come second overall if the top cars hadn't retired....then again he finished in front of many balenos thats talent plus he knows hes got very reliable car

30th November 2007, 17:33	#1
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Pune rally this weekend - Last round of the 2007 MAI INRC Official MAI Press release. Big guns set to zoom in WISA's Rally of Maharashtra Big time motorsports makes its return to Pune and Ahmednagar again with the WISA's Rally of Maharashtra, sponsored by MRF and Pandit Group, and the response from drivers has been tremendous. The rally, by default the last round of the Motorsports Asociation of India's Indian National Rally Championship, received 39 entries and after scrutiny 37 will take the starter's flag at 7.00 a.m on Saturday from the Yashada, Baner Road, Pune. Twelve special stages will be run at Ralegan Therpal, Kanhur and Ganjibhoire in Ahmednagar District totaling 115.16 kms. The transport stages will total up to 514.53 kms, making it a total distance of 629.69 kms. The three special stages will be run four times over in the same direction to make up the 12 special stages. The MAI's INRC 2007 has been plagued with cancellations, with three of the seven rounds being cancelled due to various reasons and full credit to WISA (Western India Sports Association) for going ahead with this round n Pune inspite of their sponsors and commercial partners dropping out at the last moment. According to COC Ashwin Pandit, also the president of WISA, "Irrespective of the backing off of Infomedia, the commercial partners and IOC, the sponsors, we are running the championship thanks to the support from MRF, who supported us at the last moment and funds from our own pocket. Our conscience did not permit us to let the championship languish with just three rounds run." "The event has received 39 entries from which 37 will start, which is a good response by any standards. For the first time in the history of the INRC, the rally will be tracked live and uploaded on the website www.wisa.org.in," he added. Elaborating on the special stages, Pandit said, "The stages are such that the drivers will face challenges of all sorts. The first stage, the longest at 12.69 kms is very fast and the expected average would be 90 kmph. The 2nd stage is on a ghat and will be uphill. The surface is smooth tarmac with twists and it is the shortest stage of the event at 5.73km. The third stage is rough in patches, is uphill and will be a test to the skills of the drivers." The podium finish will be held at the service park at Kurund, near Shirur and will have special guests in the form of State Finance Minister, Shri Jayant Patil, State Forest Minister, Shri. Babanrao Pachpute and MP Supriya Sule. A typical Maharashtrian cultural show has been organised at the podium finish, to give the people of Pune and Nagar a spectacle worth watching. Gaurav Singh Gill of Team MRF leads the overall championship with 48 points, having won all the earlier rounds and is a sure bet for the title even if he does not finish. In distant second place is teammate Arjun Rao Aroor (18), while in third spot is Arjun Balu, also of Team MRF, with 13. However, Gill and Balu in the 2000cc Mitsubishi Cedias will face competition from Vikram Mathais of Team Red Rooster, also driving a Cedia and it should be an interesting battle for top honours here. Besides the 3 Cedias there is a Ford Fiesta being driven by Lohit Urs in the 1600 N+ category and 6 Maruti Balenos. There are seven Esteems in the 1400cc category and 17 Esteems in Rally Star Cup with three Gypsys completing the lineup. The 1600cc and 1400cc categories see Arjun Rao Aroor (Team MRF) and Amitrajit Ghosh leading comfortably with 34 and 40 points respectively, with no threat to their championship hopes. However, there is a tough fight among three drivers for the Rally Star Cup and whoever wins here will walk away with the championship. Mazdayar Vatcha is currently in the lead along with Abhijeet Pai with 27 points, while Arvind J is in third spot with 24. The Gypsy Cup should also see a fight for the title between Suresh Rana (31 points) and Surendra Babu (24). So, which BHPian's are heading to watch it?
	() Thanks

30th November 2007, 17:39	#2
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Not sure If will be able to go but just Today Spotted a Rally ready white Gypsy (forgot the Number) on my way to Office, It was nice to see the driver with helmet on at sedate speed in city Btw this is the Map posted by MF in another thread http://www.wisa.org.in./inrc2007/impdoc/overall_map.jpg
	() Thanks

30th November 2007, 19:12	#3
supercars BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 484 Thanked: 27 Times	Lets hope it goes good for them but it might mean that next time, there will be no rally organized by WISA.
	() Thanks

30th November 2007, 22:17	#4
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	39 is a healthy turnout. OT question, what the biggest entry we have seen in the history of INRC?
	() Thanks

2nd December 2007, 16:24	#6
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	MAI Indian National Rally Championship 2007 -Official Press Release- Urs-Menon triumph in WISA Rally With an overnight lead of 1 minute, 52 seconds, nothing short of a complete breakdown could have prevented Lohit Urs and co-driver Jaidas Menon from driving to their first overall win the MAI's Indian National Rally Championship 2007. It ultimately proved to be smooth sailing for the jovial driver from Mysore as he increased his overnight lead to 2 minutes, 15 seconds over the second-placed Amitrajit Ghosh to take overall honours in the WISA Rally of Maharashtra, sponsored by MRF and the Pandit Group, which concluded in Pune on Sunday. Urs' victory helped him leapfrog into third position in the points tally for the overall National championship, which had already been decided in Team MRF's Gaurav Gill's favour before this last round. Another Team MRF driver, Arjun Rao Aroor, who finished third overall in this round, is second in the points tally for the National Championship. Gill tallied 48 points, followed by Aroor (26), with Urs tied with Amitrajit Ghosh on 24. Aroor, who held a comfortable lead in the 1600cc category, and Amitrajit Ghosh, leader in the 1400cc category, secured the National championships in their respective categories with their leading performances here. Aroor has tallied 50 points, followed by Rahul Kanthraj (21) and Philipos Mathai (14). Kanthraj and co-driver Vivek Bhatt finished third in the 1600cc category here, behind the son-father duo of Sanket Shanbhag and Ramesh Shanbhag. Ghosh, a comfortable winner in the 1400c category, also emerged the National champion with 56 points, a huge lead over the second-placed Prithvi Dominic (25). The close battles for the National Championship in the Rally Star Cup and the Gypsy Cup were decided in the favour of Mazdayar Vatcha and Suresh Rana after their victories here over Abhijeet Pai and Surendra Babu respectively. Vatcha and Pai were tied on 27 points before the final round, but Vatcha who held an overnight lead of 48 seconds over Pai, managed to keep his nose ahead till the end. Pai finished third in the rally Star Cup behind Byram Godrej, his show earning him the second spot in the RSC points table for the National Championship. The need for extra speed proved disastrous for Chetan Shivram and co-driver Roopesh Kholay, who crashed out on the second day, one of the two cars to not finish the day's proceedings, the other being driven by Ashutosh Shetty and co-driver Anup. The podium finish was held at the service park at Kurund, near Shirur and was accompanied by a Maharashtrian cultural show, which also had special guests in the form of State Finance Minister, Shri Jayant Patil and State Forest Minister, Shri. Babanrao Pachpute. Following are the Provisional Unofficial results: Overall: Lohit Urs/Jaidas Menon (Fiesta, Team MRF) 1 hour:11 mins.39 secs; Amitrajit Ghosh/Sourabh Choudhary (Esteem) 1: 13.54; Arjun Rao Aroor/Satish Kumar (Baleno, Team MRF) 1:15.53; Prithvi Dominic/Jeevarathinam (Esteem) 1:17.02; Sanket Shanbhag/Ramesh Shanbhag (Baleno) 1:17.13. 1600 cc: Arjun Rao Aroor/Satish Kumar (Baleno, Team MRF) 1:15.53; Sanket Shanbhag/Ramesh Shanbhag (Baleno) 1: 17.13; Rahul Kanthraj/Vivek Bhatt (Baleno) 1:23.09. 1400cc: Amitrajit Ghosh/Sourabh Choudhary (Esteem) 1:13.54; Prithvi Dominic/Jeevarathinam (Esteem) 1:17.02; S Sujay/Chandrasekhar M (Esteem) 1: 19.43. Rally Star Cup: Mazdayar Vatcha/Madhu K. C (Esteem) 1:20.25; Byram Godrej/Anjay Kapadia (Esteem) 1:20.49; Abhijeet Pai./Prajal Pai (Esteem) 1: 20.52. Gypsy Cup: Suresh Rana/H S Bawa 1:23.37; Surendra Babu/Vinay Shaker 1:23.30; Kamaljit Virdi/Manoj Kumar 1:31.47 .
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2nd December 2007, 18:13	#7
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,642 Times	pics? Anyone of us was there? Any wardens from amongst us?
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2nd December 2007, 21:40	#8
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Hey! what happened to the 3 Cedias of Gill, Balu and Mathais? I guess this is the first win for the Fiesta. Congrats to Urs! Esteem in 2nd overall...Holy Cow! that Ghosh mush be some driver.
	() Thanks

2nd December 2007, 22:55	#10
Cyrus43 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 5,019 Thanked: 221 Times View My Garage	guys we need pics if any please
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3rd December 2007, 09:04	#11
supercars BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 484 Thanked: 27 Times	The Rally was a Fiasco. The Top people dropped out.
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3rd December 2007, 10:00	#12
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	2 cars dropped out. That hardly makes it a fiasco! Cyrus, check out Western India Sports Association (WISA) for stage by stage results and photographs from the rally.
	() Thanks