CHENNAI: With some 60 entrants lining on the grid in various categories, the stage is set for the third round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Car Racing Championship 2023 to be held at the Madras International Circuit in Sriperumbudur, near here, this weekend (Oct 14-15) that promises to be as action-packed as the previous outings this season as the title contenders seek to consolidate their position on the points table.
Two of the fastest single-seater racing cars in the country, the MRF Formula 2000 and MRF Formula 1600, will yet again highlight the weekend of 10 races. The equally popular touring cars comprising three classes, the Formula LGB 1300 and MRF Saloons (Toyota Etios) complete the card.
With a triple-header to be run this weekend, a maximum of 75 points are on offer in both MRF Formula car categories. Chennai’s Sandeep Kumar, with two wins in three starts in the previous round, heads the leaderboard in the MRF F2000, while Mumbai’s Veer Sheth leads in the MRF F1600 class.
The situation in the touring cars segment, which has two races, is also very much open. In the premier Indian Touring Cars category, last year’s champion, Coimbatore’s Arjun Balu trails his Race Concepts team-mate Gurunath Meiyappan (Chennai) by 55 points after a disastrous Round-2 when he failed to score a point, and has plenty of ground to make up.
In the Indian Junior Touring Cars category, Akkineni Anand Prasad, with a run of four consecutive wins, leads his Performance Racing team-mate and fellow-Chennai racer, Deepak Ravikumar, winner of two races, by 17 points while Thrissur’s Diljith TS (DTS Racing), unbeaten in both previous rounds, enjoys a 57-point lead over Jarshan Anand (DB Motorsports) from Chennai, in the Super Stock class.
The Formula LGB 1300 category has been the most competitive with five winners in six races. Veteran Raghul Rangasamy (MSPORT) from Chennai has a seven-point buffer against defending champion from Nellore, Viswas Vijayaraj (DTS Racing) who made up a lot of deficit with a double in the previous round.
The MRF Saloons category has Chennai’s Angad Matharoo, winner of five races in six starts, comfortably ahead of Mumbai’s Zahan Commissariat by 49 points and appears to be in imperious form that should see him dominate this weekend’s triple-header.
Organising committee chairman and Madras Motor Sports Club Vice-President Vicky Chandhok said: “Going into Round-3 this weekend, the Championship enters a critical stage with the competitors keeping a sharp eye on the points. In the event, we can expect fascinating contests up and down the grids. Yet again, MMSC offers a big thank you to title sponsor MRF Tyres, the competitors and the Media for supporting the championship.”
