Indian drivers Ashwin Sundar and Aditya Patel, both from Chennai, took part in the round 1 of the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup at Hockenhein, Germany, held on 16-17 May 2009.

Ashwin had two days of testing and was 13th fastest in the free practice over half an hour. For Aditya it was all new ; the car, the circuit and Germany. Aditya got down to quicky getting to learn the car and the circuit. He finished 16th fastest out of a 27 strong grid. He agreed with a wide grin that the touring car was completely different from the formula cars, and was confident that he would master them after a couple of outings.

While other drivers were setting up their cars for qualifying, Aditya was beginning to learn the nuances of driving a touring car. Ashwin put in a few good laps to qualify a creditable 8th, and had he not missed a gearshift, he would probably been 2nd.

Aditya was advised by his engineer to concentrate on learning the car and circuit. He finished in 23rd place on the grid. The competition was so close that less than two seconds separated the 1st and 23rd.

The engineers for Ashwin and Aditya were extremely pleased with their performances and quickly pointed out their errors, which they would rectify in the race.

Sunday, race day was a bright and sunny morning and the Polo Cup grid was an absolute spectacle with TWENTY SEVEN identical cars.

< read more.... >

The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) is pleased to announce a 5 round National Championship for Karting for the year 2009 viz. the 2009 JK Tyre Rotax Max National Karting Championship. The National Championship will have 3 classes viz.

1) Micro Max 2) Junior Max & 3) Senior Max.

According to the release from the FMSCI, the event has received 13 entries for the Micro Max class, 20 entries for the Junior Max and 18 entries for the Senior Max Class which includes a Scottish driver and an Iraqi girl driver.

The winner of the Junior Max class will get to represent India in the Rotax Max World Finals in the Rotax Junior Class in Egypt, while the winner of the Senior Class would represent India in the DD2 Shifter class in the Rotax Max World finals, added the release.

< read more.... >