Date:26/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/26/stories/2008072650751700.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Naren hopes to bag a few points

BANGALORE: Naren Kumar hopes to bag a few points in the Finland leg of the Production World Rally Championship (PWRC) next week. The top Indian rally driver had some useful practice at the domestic leg of the Rally of Finland recently and was in the 20th position from a grid of 150 drivers till his car broke down with a problem in the timer belt.

Naren, who finished tenth on his debut in the PWRC and failed to complete the Turkey leg of the PWRC, was happy with his performance in Finland. A strong field was part of the line-up including Jussi Valimaki who was a former Asia Pacific Rally Championship driver for Team MRF. In fact Valimaki will also take part in the PWRC, Finland occupying one of the two slots open to drivers from the home country.

Naren said that weather conditions in Finland next week were expected to be windy and possibly wet. The stages were fast and average speeds would be around 120 kmph. “The Finland Rally is the quickest and with the terrain having many blind crests and jumps, both the car and the driver would be tested to the hilt,” he said.