National Drag Racing Championship 2nd & 3rd rounds cancelled

Chennai, March 26 : A technical failure in the timing equipment imported from the US forced the cancellation of the second and third (final) rounds of the MMSC FMSCI Indian National Drag Racing Championship 2016 on Sunday.

Consequently, the championship title winners were declared on the basis of the results of the first round that was run in Taneja Aerospace, Hosur in November. The last two rounds were to be held at the MMRT track in Sriperumbdur, near here. 

Announcing the decision, Championship Chairman Farhan Vohra said in a release: "It is most unfortunate that we had to call off the final two rounds of the 2016 MMSC FMSCI Indian National Drag Racing Championship due to failure in the timing system."

"We could not rectify the timing system despite our best efforts and even after consultations with the manufacturer in the United States. Today, we put in place an alternate timing system, but errors crept in due to the incompatibility of the system to Drag specific requirements. We had no choice but to call off this weekend's programme after consulting with the sport's governing body in India, the FMSCI."

Vohra said, "As a result, the champions in various categories were announced on the basis of the results of the first round that was held in Hosur in November."

"The Madras Motor Sports Club have announced refund of the entry fee for this weekend's two rounds besides subsidising transport costs incurred in bringing the competing vehicles to Chennai."

The winners: 

Cars: Indian Open: Pratap Jayaram (Bengaluru). Unrestricted: Joel Joseph (Bengaluru).

Two-wheelers: Indian Open: Jagan Kumar (Chennai) Unrestricted: Rizwan Khan (Mysuru). Above 1050cc: Zubair Ali Jung (Bengaluru). Up to 1050cc: Rameez Khan (Mysuru). Up to 750cc: Mohammed Asifullah (Bengaluru). Up to 550cc: Zakir Baig (Mysuru). Up to 360cc: Sofyyan Ahmed (Bengaluru). Up to 225cc: Sofyyan Ahmed (Bengaluru). Up to 165cc: Jagan Kumar (Chennai).