Chennai : 9th February 2008

It was a wet beginning to the new racing season with unseasonal showers on day 1 of the JK Tyre National Racing Championship 2008 at the Madras Motor Race Track at Irrungattukottai near Chennai today.

The highlight of Day 1 was the endurance race which saw a spectacular display of racing skills and speed in wet conditions. The race was reduced to a 65 minute affair instead of the original schedule of 90 minutes. The change of drivers was effected every fifteen minutes. And in full cry were the two young sensations and pole leaders from Chennai, Ashwin Sunder and Saran Vikram, of Rams Racing, as they raced away to a comfortable win by completing 29 laps with a timing of 66:46:09.

In 2nd place was the duo of Narain Shankar and Karthik Shankar also from Team Rams Racing who completed 29 laps in a timing of 68:18:391. The brothers combine of Sudanand Rajan and Prithveen Rajan from Team WSRF with Leela took the third place completing 27 laps in a timing of 67:06:766.

In the qualifying round of the Formula LGB Swift category, it was last year’s champion Ashwin Sunder of Team Rams Racing who took the pole with the fastest lap timing of 02:05:031. Team mate Karthik Shankar will start in 2nd place followed by Sudanand Rajan of Team WSRF with Leela in third place.

The races on Sunday will commence at 10.30 am. Entry for the public is free.

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