Thursday, Apr 25, 2024 | Last Update : 07:16 PM IST
Ananth Shanmugham, Vishnu Prasad grab early lead
Ananth Shanmugham turned up the heat with two flawless displays to grab the early lead in the Euro JJ 16 class even as Vishnu Prasad emerged a comfortable victor in the LGB Formula 4 races in the seco
Ananth Shanmugham turned up the heat with two flawless displays to grab the early lead in the Euro JJ 16 class even as Vishnu Prasad emerged a comfortable victor in the LGB Formula 4 races in the second round of the 19th JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship here on Saturday.
Championship leader in the JK Touring Cars category Ashish Ramaswamy, also swept past the opposition to take his third straight win in as many races so far.
Nayan Chatterjee started from pole position in the Euro JK 16 while close rival Ricky Donison starting from third. But neither had accounted for Ananth, who had his own plans and showed his intentions right away, shooting past Nayan at the lights itself. Nayan almost seemed to freeze and by the time he recovered from the shock, Ananth had opened up a huge gap.
Nayan put up a brave fight but just couldn’t find a way past Ananth and Karthik Tharani and had to settle for third place while Mohammmed Nalwalla and Dhruv Mohite took the fourth and fifth places.
There was barely any change in positions in the second Euro JK 16 Race either, with Ananth, Karthik and Nayan finishing in exactly the same positions: first, second and third.
“I got a very bad start and was lucky not to lose more pace” explained Ananth, after winning the afternoon race. He had even conceded the lead to Karthik in the opening lap itself but found some space to reclaim his position by the second lap. “I picked up a huge gap midway through the race and had my heart in my mouth when the safety car came out.”
In the LGB Formula 4, Chennai’s drivers effected a clean sweep, taking the first three places and also the fifth in a hard-fought, thrilling race. Vishnu Prasad of Meco Racing, who was nursing an injury, looked in no discomfort behind the wheel and put up a fast and furious show. Starting secind on the grid behind Ashwin Sundar of Dark Don Racing, he didn’t have to wait long to jump into the lead.
In the JK Touring Cars, Ashish Ramaswamy of Red Rooster Performa won from start to finish on Saturdayafternoon. He was followed by teammate M. Sivaramakrishnan and Radha Selvaraj of RAD Racing.
