Date:15/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/15/stories/2007101575312100.htm

Sport

Audumber Hede starts in style

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: H. Vibhu

SMOOTH SAILING: Audumber Hede took the honours in both the World Formula Senior races in the MRF-MAI National karting championship’s season-opener.

NEDUMBASSERY: There was a big crowd behind him. Plenty of drama too, with a lot of pushing and punching. But all these did not matter much to Audumber Hede, for he was sitting on pole.

With a commanding drive from start to finish, the 20-year-old won both the World Formula Senior races, the premier events, in the MRF-MAI National karting championship’s season-opener at the Cochin International Airport track here on Sunday.

Huge advantage

“The first race of the season is always tough, winning it gives you a huge advantage,” said the Margao youngster who finished overall runner-up in the series last season. “Everybody is equally good in my category, we’ll be running neck to neck, so the pole gave me a huge plus.”

Mumbai’s Rayomand Banajee finished runner-up in both the races but he had a lot to thank his Speed Rayo Racing teammate Abbas Ghadialy who slowed down in the second race to allow him to pass by with about six laps to go in the 40-lap race.

Stunning drive

“I slowed down in the team’s interest. Rayomand has more points than me,” said Abbas, who came up with a stunning drive.

In the first race, the Mumbai lad started eighth on the grid and on the wide track which gave a lot of scope for manoeuvring and overtaking, Abbas found his way nicely through the crowd to finish fourth. He came third in the next race.

Ameya Walavalkar, last year’s overall champion, finished third in the first race and crashed into the tyre wall late in the second run. Bangalore’s Nikhil Kashyap won the World Formula Junior race while Pune girl Abha Mankar, who took to the sport just two years ago, finished a creditable third.

Kolhapur’s Dhruva Mohite topped the new cadet class, Goa’s Kevin Barreto took the KCT (non-medallists class) honours while Mumbai’s Mithilesh Jain was a comfortable winner in the ladies class which was also making its debut in the championship.

Since karting was making its debut in Kerala, a special ladies race for local girls was conducted and this was won by Kochi’s Annie Joseph. A.C.K. Nair, Cochin Airport Director, gave away the prizes.

Final placings (track distance 440m): World Formula Seniors, Race I (15 years and above, 30 laps): 1. Audumber Hede (Goa, 15 mins, 54.315s), 2. Rayomand Banajee (Mumbai, 15:54.670), 3. Ameya Walavalkar (Mumbai, 15:54.918).

Race II (40 laps): 1. Audumber Hede (20:42.047s), 2. Rayomand Banajee (20:43.135), 3. Abbas Ghadialy (Mumbai, 20:46.345).

World Formula Juniors (12-15 years, 22 laps): 1. Nikhil Kashyap (Bangalore, 12:18.865s), 2. Chittesh Mandody (Kolhapur, 12:24.359), 3. Abha Mankar (Pune, 12:42.371).

Cadet class (8-11 years, 10 laps): 1. Dhruva Mohite (Kolhapur, 6:50.631s), 2. P. Sruthik (Chennai, 6:56.207), 3. Kevin Jacob (Kochi, 7:04.125).

KCT class (non-medallists, 22 laps): 1. Kevin Barreto (Goa, 11:42.941s), 2. K. Rajesh (Bangalore, 11:46.260), 3. Yash Doshi (Mumbai, 12.09.903).

Ladies class (10 laps): Mithlesh Jain (Mumbai, 6:03.972s), 2. Sneha Sharma (Mumbai, 6:05.752), 3. Madhumitha Rao Padmani (Chennai, 6:11.455).

Kerala ladies class (5 laps): 1. Annie Joseph (Kochi, 3:24.703s), 2. Pinky Daniel (Kochi, 3:27.279), 3. Tanya Liz Soji (Kochi, 3:29.550).