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Naren pips Arjun for day's lead

Nashik July 6. V.R. Naren Kumar and co-driver D. Ramkumar of Team MRF pipped the day's leader and team-mate Arjun Balu (co-driver B.S. Sujith Kumar) in the last of the four Special Stages of the day, to lead the Wisas Taj Rally 2002 by two seconds.

Arjun is still very much in contention and had a very good day throughout, but for going off the road in the last stage. Karandip Singh & co-driver Jaidas Menon are placed third 16 seconds behind Arjun, while Leela (co-driver Farooq) is fourth just three seconds behind Karandip.

"We were doing well all through, except the end of the third stage where the tarmac was dangerously slippery", said Arjun.

"The occasional downpour had left many a car struggling in the thirds stage of the day. I was getting used to the car in the first two stages and was driving very conservatively. It was in the last stage that I felt comfortable and will go all out tomorrow", said Naren.

In fact Arjun had a 14 seconds lead over Naren at the end of the third stage, but Naren got the better of him in the end. In the 1400 cc category, the competition was more hectic.

Leading positions at the end of leg 1:

Overall & 1,600cc: 1. Team MRF, V.R. Naren Kumar & D. Ram Kumar; 2. Team MRF, Arjun Balu & B.S. Sujith Kumar; 3. Team MRF, Karandip Singh & Jaidas Menon; 4. Team MRF N. Leelakrishnan & Farooq Ahmed.

1,400cc: 1. Jiby Maliakkal & Rohan Rego; 2. P.G. Abhilash & Sangeeth Kumar; 3. N.Jayakumar & G. SatishRally.

Star Cup: 1.Soharab Zorabian & Rio Kapadia; 2. Parvinder Saundh & Paritosh Kohok; 3. Tirhta Patil & Ashwin Naik.

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