Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 14 (ANI): The Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) obtained a complete of 15 entries, a file for India within the APRC Asia Rally Cup 2023, because of the backing from India-round promoter Merla Vamcy for the second spherical on the Madras International Circuit (MIC) from March 16 to 19 that runs with the fmsci Indian National Rally Championship (INRC).
Last yr’s APRC India spherical winner and reigning Indian nationwide champions Karna Kadur and co-driver Nikhil Pai will defend their title. Strong contender, Gaurav Gill, a 3-time APRC champion, who can be with a brand new co-driver in skilled Aniruddha Rangnekar can be assured after testing his Subaru Impreza on the MIC at the moment. Along with Thailand’s Toyota Rally staff entered Pornsiricherd Mana and co-driver Meenil Thanyaphat, and our personal Amittrajit Ghosh (co-driver Ashwin Naik), a former INRC champion and ERC winner, Nikeetaa Takkale from Pune, the niece of former APRC Production Cars champ, Sanjay Takale, would be the solely woman driver together with navigator Venu Ramesh Kumar. The 12-car discipline additionally has younger Indian debutants in Jahaan Singh Gill and Aeman Ahmed.
“We are delighted to see India gaining prominence on the international rallying scene, with the FIA Rally Star Asia-Pacific Final being held at the MIC, or the participation of an Indian driver in the FIA Motorsport Games. The South Indian Rally is already a success with a strong entry list and international stature. I am delighted that there is interest in the APRC FIA Asia Cup and I welcome the contribution of Merla Vamcy. I hope this is the start of a new era for the FIA APRC,” Jerome Roussel, Category Manager, Cross-Country and Regional Rally Championship, FIA mentioned in an official assertion launched by APRC.
“To encourage and boost the FIA APRC competition I was looking for backing and immediately Merla Vamcy, past Promoter of INRC, agreed to be a contributor. Vamcy has also expressed his desire to be a Promoter of the entire APRC Championship in the future and discussions are going on with the FIA Rally Department for the Championship rights for 2024,” Vicky Chandhok, President of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship working group, mentioned.
Vamcy is obsessed with motorsports and strongly helps Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC) and appreciates their effort. In an announcement, Vamcy says, “I am absolutely thrilled to see a record number of entries in the FIA APRC segment. I am coming in as a contributor to support this round and I am looking to extend my support for the Final in Indonesia.” He additionally supported the Indian drivers of their entry charges, and particular gear and was instrumental in MMSC doubling the prize cash for the Asia Cup winner.
Chandhok, the mind behind the quite a few actions of MMSC and the one who introduced Formula 1 to India, was completely constructive with the way forward for the FIA APRC Asia Rally Cup and thanked Vamcy Merla, who got here in as a Promoter of this India spherical, as a private particular person and never as any industrial entity.
Post the pandemic, there are two classes of APRC, an Asia Zone Rally Cup and a Pacific Rally Cup competitors with separate winners who’re topped as Zonal champions. And these certified will participate within the one-round Finals, the place the FIA APRC champion is set.
The first spherical was held in Japan for each Asia and Pacific Cups. After the second spherical, the South India Rally, New Zealand will host two Pacific Cup rounds in Otago and Whangarei adopted by three Asia Cup rounds in Indonesia, China and Grand Finale, the Danau Toba Rally in Indonesia from Nov 24 to 26 which completes the 7-round APRC. (ANI)