Nashik: The fourth round of the Speed-Indian National Rally Championship – Rally of Maharashtra – concluded on a predictable note with Vikram Mathias and co-driver PVS Murthy of Team Red Rooster Racing emerged overall winners here on Sunday.
For the 34-year old Mathias, the reigning national champion, it was his first win of the season following retirements in the previous three rounds.
He spared one minute and 50 seconds to Arjun Balu (co-driver Sujith Kumar BS) of Team MRF who moved to second place following retirement of team-mate Lohitt Urs (co-driver Shrikant Gowda).
Arjun Rao Aroor and co-driver Satish Rajagopal came in a distant third.
“This win is very special to me. I have driven much harder than I did here yesterday when I lost about 90 seconds when the fuel line came loose. To make up the lost time in such a short period only showed that we were on pace and what we are capable of,” said Mathias.
In the 1600cc, Joseph C Jos and co-driver Royce Kizhakoodan of DDL Sports recorded their second win of the series following their success in Bangalore to finish ahead of championship leader and winner in Kolkata, Sujay Suresh and co-driver Varun Satyanarayan.
Rahul Kanthraj and co-driver Vivek Bhatt, who were lying second in the championship standings, dropped crucial points with a third place finish.
Also chalking up his second success in the championship was Vikram Devadasen (co-driver Nikhil Pai) in the 1400cc class. The 34-year old Devadasen had earlier taken the honours in Bangalore.
In the Rally Star Cup class, overnight leader and 21-year old debutant Karna Kadur (co-driver Somonita Ghosh) of Team Red Rooster Racing, came out victorious to post his third success of the championship.
The honours in the Gypsy Cup class went to Sandeep Sharma (co-driver Anmol Rampal) of Team Thunderbolt.
Bureau Report