2006 JK Tyre National Racing Championship Round 3 : 23-24 Sep 2006 : Chennai Double Slam for Gaurav Gill in Formula Rolon Chevrolet Honours shared by Saran & Rajaram in Formula LGB Switft Rayomand & Ashwin shine in Formula LGB Hyundai

Gaurav Gill, Saran Vikram, C.Rajaram, Rayomand Banajee and Ashwin Sunder were the heroes on Chennai’s first racing day for formula cars this year. It was a day where several racers – the young and the experienced – shared honours on an action packed day with high speed and emotions dominating. The MMST track at Irrungattukottai near Chennai was the venue for the third round of the 2006 JK Tyre National Racing Championship. The races, which were being held in held in Chennai for the first time this season, saw a good crowd in attendance.

Gaurav Gill of Team Wallace Sports was in devastating form in Race 1 of the Formula Rolon Chevrolet category as he blazed away to win by a commanding margin of almost 8 seconds over his nearest rival. The Delhi based National Rally Champion was off to a stupendous start enabling him to build up an unbeatable lead. Finishing 2nd was veteran racer Akbar Ebrahim from Team N K Racing while another Chennai racer Gaurav Dalal of Prime Racing came third. Gill posted the fastest lap timing of 01:54:642. Race 2 saw a repeat performance from Gaurav Gill as he once came up with a blistering drive. Gaurav Dalal finished 2nd while Akbar Ebrahim came in 3rd. There was semblance of a duel for the 2nd place between Gaurav Dalal and Akbar Ebrahim but the former held on to his lead till the finish.

Earlier Race 1 of the day was held in the Formula LGB Swift category. Championship leader and 2nd in grid Chennai lad Saran Vikram of Team Wallace Sports was penalised for practicing this morning and was shifted three places down and had to start from 5th place. But this could not prevent the young lad as he came up with a sterling performance to move past the 4 ahead of him to take a well deserved chequered flag. In the process he also posted the fastest lap of the race with a timing of 01:58:441. Ashwin Sunder also from Chennai and racing for Team Meco failed to capitalise on the opportunity of starting on pole and could not just match the pace of Saran forcing him to settle for a distant 2nd place. Finishing in 3rd place was the veteran from Coimbatore C. Rajaram of Prime Racing. Race 2 was action packed with spin offs & skirmishes. By the 9th lap the top 3 contenders Saran Vikram, Ashwin Sunder and Saahil Shelar were forced out of action following vehicle skirmishes and fast braking at the corners. Veteran racers C.Rajaram and B.Vijay Kumar of Prime Racing drove steadily to wrap up the 1st and 2nd places respectively. Local lad Sanjay Madhavan of Team Wallace Sports finished in 3rd place. However Saahil Shelar did the fastest lap with a timing of 01:59:202.

In Race 1 in the Formula LGB Hyundai class pole starter & Pune racer Rayomand Banajee of Team Meco, faced problems with his vehicle which pushed him down the order. But team mate and 5th in grid Ashwin Sunder was in blazing form as he forged ahead to swerve past those ahead to move into second place as the field entered the 3rd lap and eventually started leading the pack from lap 4. Bangalore racer Sudarshan Rao representing Rams Racing came in 2nd while it was a disappointing 3rd place finish for Rayomand Banajee. Ashwin clocked the fastest lap with a timing of 02:00:6. Race 2 saw championship leader Rayomand back in the fray as this he made sure that things were under control. Off to a good start the Pune racer built up a decent lead and held till the end to take the chequered flag. Ajay Kini of Team Wallace Sports starting 6th on the grid came up with his best race of the day as he moved up the ladder to finish 2nd. It was the veteran from Coimbatore and Prime Racing Mr. C.Rajaram who finished 3rd.

Race Results
Formula Rolon Chevrolet - Race I – 1. Gaurav Gill 19:42:6 2. Akbar Ebrahim 19:50:3 3. Gaurav Dalal 19:50:8
Race II – 1. C. Rajaram 20:42:361 2. B. Vijay Kumar 20:44:454 3. Sanjay Madhavan 21:05:356.
Formula LGB Hyundai - Race I – 1. Ashwin Sundar 20:25:6 2. Sudarshan Rao 20:34:1 3. Rayomand Banajee 20:57:2
Race II - 1. Rayomand Banajee 19:28:289 2. Ajay Kini 19:29:968 3. C.Rajaram 19:51:978
Formula LGB Swift - Race I - 1. Saran Vikram 20:10:548 2. Ashwin Sundar 20:23:381 3. C.Rajaram 20:35:932
Race II - 1. Gaurav Gill19:50:853 2. Gaurav Dalal 20:18:362 3. Akbar Ebrahim 20:25:945

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