I enjoyed sharing my experiences in the PWRC and APRC events from 2009 in my last post. I wanted to dedicate a separate article to the eventful Indian National Rally Championship 2009 as I was making a return to the Indian championship after a gap of 1 year in which I concentrated on my international rallying career. And I must say that it was an extremely eventful comeback for me, both on and off the tracks!
The INRC is a very important championship for my team and sponsors and I was extremely keen to contribute to Team MRF’s cause. I was excited about the entry of the more powerful 200 BHP+ Group N cars into the championship; this was an exciting opportunity to attack the stages with some serious power on hand. I was looking forward to the challenge, I also was aware of the strong driver lineup that our principal competitors, Red Roosted Racing had agglomerated, and I was very keen to take them on at events across India.
In my team, I could sense desire to get back on the top-step, MRF was committed to winning the INRC this season and I wanted to do it for the boys. By the time the season got going, I was totally focused on the challenge. I knew that it would not be a cakewalk given the good opposition we had this time but I was sure that if we got a reliable set-up, we were definitely fast-enough, or faster. My team boss, Mr. Antony Rodricks was especially keen to have us only on the top spot and it was my job to make sure we did not disappoint him and our supporters.
The first rally of the season was in Coimbatore, and it started with a bang!! Unfortunately for us, the bang was from the engine. We were only a few kilometers into the stage, and the engine blew- there was a massive hole in the engine block. Game over.
One of the biggest lessons motorsport has taught me is to fight and our failure at Coimbatore made me even more determined to come back stronger.
The next event was in Kolkata. We made it a mission to win here and win big. I was fastest across all the stages, sometimes by minutes. Winning in Kolkata was a great experience; our rivals were claiming all along that they had superior tyre technology and my team took this to heart: the result was for everyone to see. We won every single stage of the rally.
The Chicmaglur event was a very interesting juncture in the championship. Any of the top 4 drivers could win the championship. I had a slender lead but it was important for me to finish on the podium to wrap up the title. We finished the day in the lead with all fastest stages but one where I had gearbox problems. As the event drew to a close the performance of my team on the track was there for everyone to see- I won the rally and was joined by my teammates on the podium. With this win, I had sealed the 2009 Indian National Rally Championship.
The opposition camp was clearly not very pleased about the MRF clean-sweep. Just like they had gone to protest the Bangalore K1000 result where team MRF had last swept the podium positions, they again lodged a protest against our cars with the stewards. Despite these appeals and protest, Team MRF and I, eventually came out victorious, proving once that rallies are won on the stages and NOT IN COURTS.
Overall, I was pleased with my showing in the INRC; we managed a result for which I had worked extra hard as a lot of people were out there to get me on my return to the Indian championship. I found the competition to be quite fierce and spirited, the cars were remarkably quicker than their last avatars, and overall the quality of events was good. I’m definitely coming back to defend my title next year, I hope you would continue to support and encourage me. The preparations are in full swing and I will keep you posted on how things progress.
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Congrats Gill. Courts or Race track, I have seen how your cars perform on the tracks at INRC Coimbatore 2010. Most MRF cars being in dumps after silly breakdown. I could see You and Moosa were completely lost and being helped to reach the Pit with local school boys in their bikes. I have a feeling that your car broke down twice because Red Rooster Racing Cars were ahead of you by the 3rd stage and there after by a loud and clear 3 MINUTES. WRC is for the Big Boys like Red Rooster.