Date:30/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/30/stories/2008083057201800.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Brake woes pull back Naren

KOCHI: After virtually driving the last two stages without brakes, India’s V.R. Naren Kumar was in the 14th spot in the three-day Rally of New Zealand’s opening leg on Friday.

The Team Sidvin India star did not have the best of starts. He lost control and hit a series of fence poles in the first stage, damaging his Subaru Impreza’s front suspension and was pushed to the 20th spot in the 24-car event.

Naren, driving in the World Rally Championship’s Production Cars category, worked his way to the 15th spot by the fourth stage but with cars frequently slowing down in front of him, he could not get his rhythm right.

And then the brakes let him down in the sixth stage and in the day’s last stage, a 3.14-km super special run at Mystery Creek. Despite these woes, Naren finished the opening day on the 14th rung.

But with his engine doing fine, the Indian star is looking forward to a better run on Saturday.