Date:26/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/26/stories/2003052605141800.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Naren Kumar reigns supreme

By Our Sports Reporter

CHIKMAGALUR May 25. ``All's well that ends well,'' and despite Naren Kumar's wrong footed start to the Coffee Day championship rally 2003 on Friday, it was a celebration ending here on Sunday.

Naren began this year's first INRC with a clear win over MRF teammate Karandip Singh. The latter was the only one who drove flat out on the final day with the rest of the squad ensuring that they ended the day without any disasters.

Lohit Urs won the 1400 cc class without any serious challenge. Rahul Kantharaj placed second and Karthikeyan was the only other finisher in this class.

The Rally Star Cup was a memorable comeback for Sanjay Aggarwal. In 1998 Sanjay was involved in a serious accident during the South India Rally. Hospitalised for a broken back that took years to heal, Sanjay was making his first reappearance in competitive driving in this Chikmagalur rally.

The Provisional results: Overall Section (1600 cc): 1. Naren Kumar (D. Ramkumar) 02:38:24; 2. Karandip Singh (Jaidas Menon) 02:39.13; N. Leelakrishnan (Farooq Ahmed) 02:39.32; Arjun Balu (R. Kumar) 02:41.20.

1400: 1. Lohith Urs ( M.K Bopanna) 02:45:36; Rahul Kantharaj (Vivek Bhat) 02:48:15; 3. Karthikeyan (S. Veera Shanmugham) 02:51:26.

Rally Star Cup: 1. Sanjay Aggarwal (Manoj Menon) 02:51:00; 2.Amith Kumar (A.S.N. Shanmugh) 02:53:35; 3. Arjun Rao (A.C.K. Chinappa) 02:54:46; 4. Roopesh (Chetan) 03:03:31;5. B.H. Abhijeet Pai (Divin J.E.) 03:19:47; 6. Anitha Kholay (Rashmi Bopanna) 03:56:06.