Date:20/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/20/stories/2004122001691700.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Armaan pockets Formula LGB title

By Our Sports Reporter

CHENNAI, DEC. 19. Armaan Ebrahim won the JK National Racing Championship in the Formula LGB category on Sunday, while two second-place finishes for Gaurav Gill ensured that he would win in the Formula Maruti section.

In the first LGB race, Sarosh Hataria, on pole position, had to retire midway through the first lap itself, after a flat tyre. He later received an official warning on the charge of blocking other drivers to clear the path for Ebrahim.

Ebrahim, meanwhile, got off to a fine start and opened up an insurmountable eight-second lead midway, leading by the length of a straight. Second-placed Rayomand Banajee was left defending his runner-up position for the most part. Hataria, however, won the second race, beating out Ebrahim and Banajee. Ameya Walavalkar, who began the day tied with Ebrahim on championship points, had poor finishes in both races and in the end finished behind by 19 points.

J.D. Madan, who had already ensured a championship in the Esteem category, still managed to retain his motivation somehow, winning one race and finishing second to Gurunath Meiyappan in the second.

The results: Formula Maruti: Race 1: 1. Gaurav Dalal (9.56.994 min.) 2. Gaurav Gill (9.58.829) 3. Amitrajit Ghosh (9.59.666); Race 2: 1. Amitrajit Ghosh (18.38.949) 2. Gaurav Gill (18.43.105) 3. Jigar Muni (18.47.101).

Formula LGB: Race 1: 1. Armaan Ebrahim (17.52.659) 2. Rayomand Banajee (18.00.126) 3. Gautam Maini (18.04.393); Race 2: 1. Sarosh Hataria (17.38.387) 2. Armaan Ebrahim (17.38.584) 3. Rayomand Banajee (17.43.555).

Esteem: Race 1: 1. J.D. Madan (19.02.700) 2. Gurunath Meiyappan (19.03.677) 3. Ayub Khan (19.14.598); Race 2: 1. Gurunath Meiyappan (19.08.139) 2. J.D. Madan 19.14.851 3. Ayub Khan (19.15.199).

Overall Championship:

Formula Maruti: 1. Gaurav Gill 2. Amitrajit Ghosh 3. Gaurav Dalal.

Formula LGB: 1. Armaan Ebrahim 2. Ameya Walavalkar 3. Rayomand Banajee.

Esteem: 1. J.D. Madan 2. Gurunath Meiyappan 3. Radha Selvaraj.