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Naren storms ahead

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE Oct. 12. The elements conspired to exact a heavy toll on the first day of the Rally Royal Orchid Park Plaza de Bangalore, which is the fourth round of the MAI's National rally championship here today. Rains over the past three days, turned the smooth surface of the special stage in Jangamakote into a treacherous mix of slush and muck testing the drivers and machines to the maximum. But under the trying conditions, the MRF team of Naren Kumar and D. Ram Kumar stood tall, finishing the day, consisting of six stages, a clear 1.27 minutes ahead of teammate Arjun Balu. Lying in the third place was Karandip Singh followed by Vikram Mathias, both of MRF.

The main casualty of the day was defending champion N. Leelakrishnan (MRF) whose car took a bashing in the first stage and Leela was forced to withdraw with a broken steering ball joint in the second stage. Biku Babu and Thirtha Patil, the Rally Star Cup drivers also pulled out in the second stage.

In the first stage, despite the rains worsening the conditions, Naren Kumar came unscathed as he completed the 12.6 km stretch in 10.39 minutes, 27 seconds ahead of Karandip Singh. Arjun Balu, despite a flat, lost time to finish in 11.09. Though Leela Krishnan managed to finish the first stage in 11.14, it was obvious that his car had taken a beating and it was all over for him in the second stage. A series of problems hit Vikram Mathias including a bent steering rod, water seeping into the distributor, forcing him literally to crawl after the fifth stage.

Naren Kumar, despite losing the fenders and bumpers of his car through the messy stretch, stayed on course with good control.

Jiby Maliakal, who finished the six special stages in 64.42 minutes led in the 1400 cc category.

The rallyists are expected to return to the finish at Park Plaza here by Sunday afternoon around 2-30 p.m.

The provisional placings: 1600 cc:1. Naren Kumar & D. Ram Kumar (Team MRF-56.29 mins); 2. Arjun Balu & R. Kumar (MRF-57.56) ;3. Karandip Singh & Jaidas Menon (MRF-58.18).

1400 cc: 1.Jiby Maliakkal & Nikhil Pai (64.42 mins); 2. Sham Sundar & Srinivas Murthy (Bluelines 66.36) ;3. Rahul Kanthraj & Vivek Bhat (67.39).

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