[Technocrat]

The first Ever Polo Cup Race in India started off with Bang in Pune & we were there to cover it

First, the Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Polo Cup India

Inaugural Race of the Volkswagen-JK Tyre Polo Cup India 2010

History being created in Indian Motorsports with the debut race of Polo Cup India 2010, the first single-make manufacturer-backed series in India, at Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune / Volkswagen Group Board Member Prof. Jochem Heizmann: “This is a very significant move by us in India by contributing to the development of a unique Indian motor sports culture”


Pune, May 30, 2010 – Volkswagen India & JK Tyres flagged-off the inaugural race of the Polo Cup India 2010 today at the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune, the hometown of Volkswagen India. The final 20 drivers will compete in a series of six racing weekends held between May and December 2010. Present on the occasion were Prof. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Volkswagen AG with responsibility for Group Production; Mr. Joerg Mueller, Volkswagen Group Chief Representative India, President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited; Mr. Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director; and Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Limited.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Volkswagen AG with responsibility for Group Production, “Volkswagen is proud and honoured that for the first time in the history of Indian motor sports, an international automaker has launched a racing series that encourages young talent of this kind. This is a very significant move by us in India by contributing to the development of a unique Indian motor sports culture. Volkswagen's motor sports activities are renowned globally and through this step we look forward bringing our technical knowledge and expertise to India.”

Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Limited said, “I feel very proud and happy to be here today as we witnessed yet another historic milestone in the Indian motor sport calendar. The debut of the Volkswagen-JK Tyre Polo Cup India, is a landmark event, for both Volkswagen and JK Tyre, who have a common passion to popularise motor sports. It’s our privilege to partner with Volkswagen and create this defining moment.”

Mr. Joerg Mueller, Volkswagen Group Chief Representative India, President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited added, “India is of high importance to Volkswagen. Ever since our launch in Pune, we have been made to feel a part of the great Indian family and blended into this beautiful culture. We would like to thank all the participants and each and every person who has taken an interest in the Polo Cup. This is our way of thanking the citizens of this country and especially of Volkswagen India’s hometown, Pune for accepting us and making us feel like we belong here. The responses we have got for the Polo Cup in India are overwhelming. This reinforces our commitment to India.”

“We are extremely happy and proud to launch Polo Cup for the first time in India. This moment is the true definition of happiness and contentment for us and I hope the motor sports enthusiast in India feel the same adrenaline rush as we do. Volkswagen has been associated with races and rallies all over the world and we are proud that we are creating history in India. Volkswagen has always encouraged young talent in motor sports. The drivers of the Polo Cup today will be the foundation of the Indian motor sports scenario tomorrow”, expressed Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director.

The Polo Cup India 2010 will have six races in total with the 1st race being kicked off today at Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune, the hometown of Volkswagen India. Races will take place each month upto December. The other five races will take place on the race courses in Chennai and Coimbatore.

§ 17/18 July 2010 at Coimbatore (Kari Motor Speedway)

§ 28/29 Aug 2010 at Coimbatore (Kari Motor Speedway)

§ 25/26 Sep 2010 at Chennai (Irungattukottai Race Track)

§ 27/28 Nov 2010 at Chennai (Irungattukottai Race Track)

§ 18/19 Dec 2010 at Chennai (Irungattukottai Race Track)


Over 1,100 motor sports enthusiasts from across the country registered to compete in the Polo Cup India 2010 and become a part of Indian motor sport history. After a strict selection process 20 young talents were chosen to form the starting grid in the first race in Pune. The selection process ran from the last week of March to mid of May. The aspiring racers were divided into 2 groups – first-timers and experienced racers, and were put through two rounds of selection. The young racers were narrowed down to 45 drivers through an adrenalin-pumping go-kart selection. The short listed drivers were then placed behind the wheel of the Race Polo cars, for the second round of selections held in Coimbatore, to earn their place in the final 20 candidates for the races.

The candidates were selected with the support of the expert selection team. The team of selectors consisted of one driver selector & coach from Germany Polo Cup, two Indian driver coaches (experienced drivers from Volkswagen & JK Tyre) and one FMSCI representative, including some of the doyens of Indian motor sports like Akbar Ebrahim, India’s only principle instructor in racing, Farhan Vora, India’s guest F1 steward and Rayomand Banajee, six times National Champion. They personally followed the international structures and conducted the coaching camps to select the best young talent.

Motor sports enthusiasts interested in getting further information can log on to the website, Volkswagen Polo Cup India. This website will display information about the format of The Polo Cup India, race updates and driver profiles.



About Volkswagen Motorsport

Volkswagen is committed to broad-scale motor sport as in internationally staged cross-country rally racing programmes in countries including Germany, Europe and the United States apart from other countries in Asia and has a long tradition of promoting young talent. Following the legendary Formula V as of 1966 the brand, in 1976, sponsored a one-make touring car cup for the first time. Among others, the Scirocco Cup produced drivers like the subsequent Formula 1 racer Manfred Winkelhock. In 1977 the first-generation Golf GTI replaced the Scirocco as the cup vehicle and remained the popular competition car for a generation of young racers up to 1982. In 1983, the second-generation Polo followed as the cup vehicle – initially using the 88-hp normally aspirated engine version and, from 1986, the 112-hp compressor engine. At the relaunch in 1998, Volkswagen presented the Lupo, which offered top-class sport at fair prices, as well as the Volkswagen New Beetle Cup.

The year of 1998 stands for an all-new concept in the world of racing. To this day, this new concept featuring centrally fielded vehicles and car swapping among the drivers guarantees maximum equality of opportunity. In 2004 the 150-hp Polo replaced the small Lupo as the cup vehicle and the concept was subjected to further refinement. The Polo Cup’s success story is closely linked to the DTM-Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft. The premier league of touring car racing has evolved into a real crowd-puller and is envisaged as a concrete career goal by many junior racers.

Opening lap of the inaugural race of volkswagen-jk tyre polo cup india 2010


Prof Dr Jochem Heizmann, Member of Board of Volkswagen AG, Bollywood Star Ms Soha Ali Khan, Mr Kris Nissen, Volkswagen Motorsport Director at the Flag-off of the inaugural race of the Volkswage

[Technocrat]

Here are a few random pics from this event

The VVIP Area




VIP Area




Some more pics of people sitting/standing at various stalls





Refreshment Area


One of the Marshal doing inspection of the circuit on a Scooter


Guess Who, This is Farhan aka Sideways

[Technocrat]

A VW Jetta was the Medical Car & a New Beetle was the Safety Car

[Technocrat]

Here is the List of all the 20 Drivers in Race 1 in Alphabetical Order


Alisha Abdullah

Ameya Bafna

Anthony George

Gokul Krishna

Gurniaz Mann

Imran Majid

Jai Prashant Venkat

Karthik Shankar

Mohammed Fahad Kutty

Mohit Ahuja

Mujal Salva

Oshan Kothadiya

Parth Ghorpade

Sahil Shelar

Sailesh Bolisetti

Samyak Shah

Saran Vikram

Saurav Bandyopadhyay

Vikash Anand

Vishnu Prasad







Alisha Abdullah






Go Kart Drivers

[Technocrat]

This track was not a race track as such but more like Streets converted to tracks as it is done in some of the international races. So this race was on Street Circuit. This was a 2.5 kms Circuit on the roads within the Sports Complex & it comprised of eleven 90 Degree turns, a few bends & a Chicane.

Unfortunately we didnt get enough time to cover the entire track, Here are a few pics from where we saw the action

The Straight patch where the lap starts







First Left Hander








Second Left Hander (please ignore the kart guy, they followed different track)


The Left Hander before the Chicane - This is where the Polo turned to 2 wheels

[Technocrat]

There are lot of Pictures & here are some teaser pics






















Wait for the Full Report

[Technocrat]

The race started witha Bang, lietrally with the first collosion happening within the first few laps, Mohd. FahadKutty's Polo got quite bashed up & was the only one in really bad shape in the first race but then again he was the only guy who lost a few spots & yet came to 3rd position by the end of the race(But there was twist in the results)

Waiting for the Race to Start










And the Race Begins















This Car missed this turn twice by spinning.






The Winning Cars


The Winners

1st - Sailesh Bolisetty

2nd - Saran Vikram

3rd - Mohammed Fahad Kutty



Mohammed Fahad Kutty's car




The Winning Trio

A Twist in the Tale

It Was during the Pres Briefing that we found out that the 3rd position was actually awarded to Karthik Shankar. It seems Mohammed Fahad Kutty had overtaken a car during a yellow flag which costed him his position

So the Final list of winners after first race were



Pics of Final Winners


The Final Timings

[Technocrat]

After the First Race there were some stunts performed by Two Silver Polo Cars (I think they were 1.2 petrols)

One of the Stunt Driver was none other than the famous Hari Singh

The Crowd loved the Stunts but frankly speaking except for the back to back driving (One car facing other & both driving in same direction) other stunts were just average (most of them being Hand brake turns).

Since we were standing close we could smell the stink of the burning clutch plates & some of the tire rubber.

[Technocrat]

There was Go Kart Race before the Race 2 happened and before you think that it would be a relatively boring event you couldnt be farther from the truth.

The Go Kart race was a fantastic event to watch with each racer trying to out do each other, the race was very close & very entertaining

They used a slightly shorter Track for their racing compared to the Polos

Here are the pics

























The Winning Karts

[Technocrat]

This race was held at Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at Balewadi in Pune.

This is how the Entrance & the Media Center Venue Looked like











This was the dining place for Media & VVIP Guests



A Simulation Kiosk by VW, there were 3 of these





A Polo Cup Car was kept at the Entrance of the Media Center. (More pics of this car in next post)

[Technocrat]

I changed my position for Race 2 so that I could get images froma diferent angle & I wasn't disappointed

Waiting outside the pit lane to go to the start point





Race Pics













Does this car look familiar






















There was an Accident which happend during the 2nd race but as it happened on the other side, I couldnt capture it, but I later saw the damaged car

The Winners

[Technocrat]

Here are some Close up Pics of the car which all the Drivers were racing on The Polo Cup

The Specs of the Race car

Engine Type - 1.6L CRDi

Max Power - 95kw/130ps@4400 rpm

Max Torque - 250Nm@1500-2500rpm

Transmission - 6 - Speed Manual


Pic of The Engine

Standard Features of the Race Polo Car

Exterior

- 17-inch allo wheels with 200/605(is this a typo?) R17
- Adjustable Sachs race suspension, aerodynamic body kit with front & rear Spoiler, skirts & rear wing
- Reinforced body, dark tinted glass in rear

Interior

- Race seat with integrated head protection
- 6-Point seat belt prepared for HANS system
- Safety Window net on Driver Side
- Additional Display & Data Logger system with on board camera

Safety & Security

- FIA approved Roll Cage
- Fire Extinguisher System with internal & external release
- Electrical cut-off system
- Race Brake System with four piston fixed caliper & ventilated 312 mm Disc brake at front & 232 mm Disc brake at rear

Comfort

- Electric Windows at Front
- Adjustable Steering Column
- Electric Power Steering

Now some eye Candy


Attachment 358907

[Technocrat]

Here are the pictures of the Officials from VW Group & Government. Also seen is Soha Ali Khan who came to flag off the race.







Near the Start Point


Flagging of the Race

[Technocrat]

There was a Media Briefing after the first race, where the Organizers viz, JK Group & VW Groups guys gave everyone information related to Polo Cup.

AFter this there was a Q&A session, I asked the eternal Bhpian Question - When would the 1.6 Petrol & 1.6 Diesel be available for everyone in Showrooms
They said they will look at the public response to the Polo & then if its favorable(to launch the bigger engines) then may be they will. So nothing concrete from them

Here are a few pics

[Technocrat]

Here are the pics of all the race cars in the Pit Lane

























Parts Bin can be seen in the background of this pic