JK Tyre Festival of Speed set for spectacular finish

Vishnu, Raghul showdown in LGB 4; Tanay, Muzammil to battle it out in Gixxer Cup-Team Bengaluru win both races in X1

 by Shrutee K/DNS

Greater Noida : The stage is set for a spectacular day of races at the Buddh International Circuit, with the LGB Formula 4 and the JK Tyre Suzuki Gixxer Cup poised for a sensational showdown in the JK Tyre Festival of Speed in front of over 40,000 fans. Chennai’s Vishnu Prasad and Raghul Rangasamy, close friends and arch-rivals in the LGB-4, were tied on 73 points after Saturday’s two races and have one last race to battle it out for the coveted title in the JK Tyre FMSCI National racing Championship on Sunday.

The Gixxer Cup too went topsy-turvy with championship leader Tanay Gaikwad suffering an unexpected DNF on Saturday. The Pune lad (54 points) has now slipped to the second position, with Syed Muzammil Ali jumping into the lead.

Bengaluru’s Muzammil collected 10 points on Saturday, comfortably winning the race to move to 56 points. This one too comes to the final race on Sunday, with the winner likely to walk away with the coveted trophy.

BRS Racing Bengaluru began the X1 Racing competition on a dominant note, winning the day’s two races. The pair of Arjun Maini (Indian International Racer) and Oliver Webb (International Racer, Male) proved to be unbeatable while their teammates, Nayan Chatterjee (Indian Domestic Racer) and Michelle Gatting (International Racer, Female), finished fourth and third in the two races.

Mumbai Falcons were the other formidable team, cruising to the third position thanks to Karthik Tharani and Mikkel Jensen in Race 1 and the second position, with Kush Maini and Pippa Mann, starring in Race 2.

In the JK Tyre Super Bike 1000cc, Bhumik Lalwani and Dilip Lalwani of Mount Abu clinched the honours, taking the first two places. Simranjeet Singh of Delhi took the third place to set the stage for another close finish.

The BIC is expected to be packed to the hilt on Sunday as the much-awaited big day in the JKFOS arrives. A special entertainment package has been lined up, with world-class stunts and live DJ music promising to thrill the packed house. Punjabi pop star Daler Mehndi will be the main attraction, belting out his mega hits.

Provisional Results:

JK LGB Formula 4:

Race 1: Diljith TS (13:31.101); 2. Raghul Rangaswamy (13:31.298); 3. Ashwin Datta (13:31.349)

Race 2: 1. Ashwin Datta (19:37.578); 2. Diljith (19:38.649); 3. Raghul Rangasamy (19:38.775)

JK Tyre Suzuki Gixxer Cup: 1. Syed Muzammil Ali (23:30.905); 2. Sanjeev Mhatre (23:37.455); 3. Amul Angadi (23:40.296)

JK Tyre Superbike Cup 1000CC:

1. Bhumik Lalwani (15:40.361); 2. Dilip Lalwani (15:49.420); 3. Simranjeet Singh (15:55.262)

X1 Racing:

Race 1

1.        BRS Racing Bangalore (32:34.633)

2.        DG Racing Ahmedabad (32:45.545)

3.        Mumbai Falcons (32:55.046)

Race 2

1.        BRS racing Bangalore (32:51.044)

2.        Mumbai Falcons- 32:58.124

3.        BRS Racing Bangalore- 32:59.273

About JK Tyre Motorsport: JK Tyre has been closely associated with the world of motorsports for almost three decades back. The company laid down a long term plan to popularise and promote the sport in the country. Its first target was to change the notion that this was a sport for the elite. So it packaged and redesigned it in a spectator-friendly way, drawing the masses to the sport.

 We then endeavored to spot, nurture and sharpen the drivers to turn them into world champions. With this goal in mind, we conceptualized the JKTyre National Racing Champion in 1997. Our efforts started paying dividends in just a few years’ time, with the likes of NarainKarthikeyan and Karun Chandhok going all the way to the F1 rung, the highest level of single-seat racing in the world.

Since then, a number of stars emerged, including ArmaanEbrahim, the Maini brothers (Kush and Arjun), Anindith Reddy Konda, amongst many others. 

Before all this, JK Tyre had a successful stint in rallying too, conquering the scene in the early 90s. At the same time, gradually, we moved on to various disciplines, including cross-country rallying and off-roading, leaving a mark in each of them with their unique and innovative ways.  

JK Motorsports is also very proud of the role it has played in bringing women into motorsports in a big way. Apart from encouraging them to get into the sport through karting as kids, we also gave them opportunities in various national championships. 

Last year was particularly rewarding for us as an All-Women Racing team was introduced for the first time in the LGB 4 category. In addition, we also undertook various other initiatives to encourage them to try motorsports, even if for fun to begin with.

We tied up with the Young Women's Wing of FICCI to conduct the YFLO Power Drive, a TSD Event for their lady members. The event saw more than 100 ladies participating in the event and driving all the way to Manesar from Delhi. We also associated with the Times Group and executed the JK Tyre Times Women’s Drive, North with as many as 300 ladies taking part in this FMSCI approved TSD Drive from Delhi to ChandigarhWe also had the Rally to the Valley, again only for women, which was another major hit. Over 300 women participated in it, driving from Mumbai to Lonavla. The entire route saw spectators line up as the ladies, in their decorated cars and fancy attires, raced in their quest for mega prizes.