Date:09/02/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/02/09/stories/2004020901781700.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Naren & Jaidas hog the limelight

Mr. Nazir Hoosein, President, MAI, poses with V.R. Naren Kumar (centre) and Jaidas Menon.

MUMBAI, FEB. 8. V.R. Naren Kumar and Jaidas Menon hogged the limelight at the 2003 MRF-Motorsports Association of India Formula Mondiale championship on Saturday. The duo was declared the champion driver and co-driver of 2003.

Prithveen Rajan emerged as a face for the future by bagging the outstanding performance by a novice award in the Rally Star Cup. MRF Limited won the Team Cup and N. Leelakrishnan was

declared best in Vehicle Preparation.

The trophies were handed over at a ceremony presided over by Nazir Hoosein of MAI. MRF Team Manager (motorsports) and GM (advertising), Tony Rodricks, receiving the Team Cup, talked about his company's focus of reviving motorsports interest in north India.

The awards list:

Kadet Indian National karting championship: 1. Ashwin Sunder; 2. Ajay Kini; 3. Vishnu Prasad.

Indian National karting championships: 1. Deepak Chinnappa; 2. Rayomand Banajee; 3. Preetham Muniyappa.

Asian Zone National karting championships: 1. Deepak Chinnappa; 2. Rayomand Banajee; 3. Jigar Muni.

National Rally championship trophies: Vehicle preparation award: N. Leelakrishnan; Outstanding performance by novice driver in Rally Star Cup: Prithveen Rajan.

Rally Star Cup co-driver awards: 1. S.N. Shanmuga; 2. C.K. Chinnappa; 3. N. Thirumurthy.

800cc-1400cc co-driver: 1. Vivek Bhatt; 2. M.K. Bopanna; 3. G. Sathish.

Overall classification co-drivers: 1. Jaidas Menon; 2. D. Ramkumar; 3. R. Kumar.

Drivers trophies: Rally Star Cup: 1. Arjun Rao; 2. Ranjith Ballal; 3. Prithveen Rajan. 800cc-1400cc: 1. Lohith Urs; 2. Rahul Kanthraj; 3. R. Karthikeyan

Overall classification: 1. V.R. Naren Kumar; 2. Karandip Singh Sandhu; 3. Arjun Balu.

Champion driver/co-driver of 2003: V.R. Naren Kumar and Jaidas Menon.

Team Cup: MRF Limited.