Date:05/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/05/stories/2008020552041800.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Amaron identifies budding race drivers

Coimbatore: The Amaron scholarship shootout programme to identify budding race drivers for the 2008 motor sports season was held near here on Sunday.

About 100 young drivers from across the country showed keen interest in the programme, but only 30 were selected and put through a tough grind by track experts Suresh Jay Ram, C. Rajaram, Akbar Ebrahim and GP2 driver Armaan Ebrahim.

After a day of tough challenges, four emerged successful. Chennai’s Sankara Narayanan (136 points) and Mumbai’s Steve Hodges (132) earned a scholarship and a fully paid drive in the Formula Rolon Class in the 11th JK Tyre National racing championship.

New Delhi’s Saif Meer (128) and Chennai’s Gautham Parekh (123) clinched a fully-paid drive in the Formula LGB Swift Class. The idea behind the scholarship programme is to develop and establish champions, who can steer Team Amaron in the 2008 season. — Sports Reporter