The Hindu : MRF-FMC launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 05, 2002

Sport

Sport - Racing : Motor

MRF-FMC launched

CHENNAI JULY 4. The MRF karting tyres and the MRF-Formule Mondiale Championship 2002 (MRF-FMC) were formally launched by Steve Waugh, the Australian Test cricket captain, and Dennis Lillee, the former Australian fast bowler, respectively here on Wednesday.

Mr. Nazir Hoosein, President, Motorsports Association of India (MAI), said the forthcoming MRF-FMC would be the first competition in the world to use the World Kart, which is the Formule Mondiale. It is 15 horse powered with a four-stroke engine (designed by Briggs & Stratton) and is considered to be the starting point of serious racing.

The kart as well as the tyres, for both slick and wet conditions, have been approved by the Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK), the international governing body for karts.

Mr. Hoosein said CIK's theme behind Formule Mondiale is to standardise karts worldwide, for it is only then young talent can be spotted. ``As the karts are long-lasting, they prove cheap and are also available all over the world. Sixteen World Karts are to be imported for the championship.''

Mr. Vikas Chudiwala, chairman of MAI's Karting Commission, said the venues to host the championship rounds, beginning August 18, will be inspected and if need be upgraded to international standards, with due importance given to safety aspects.

Moreover, the kart centre hosting a Championship round will first have to conduct a Karting Drivers Initiation Programme. ``Only those who pass the test and obtain an MAI licence can participate in the MRF-FMC,'' he said.

Mr. K.M. Mammen, Vice Chairman & MD, MRF Limited, welcomed the gathering and said the company's new rally tyres (205.65.R15) are to be shortly tested in Perth.

The MRF-FMC will comprise three separate events — a) the Asian Zone National karting championship, to be organised in Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore, where drivers from Asian Zone countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, China, Korea and Japan, apart from India, will compete; b) the Indian National karting Cup, which will be a National event and c) the Karting Cup, which will be more local.

The tentative dates of the championship are as follows: Chennai (Aug. 18, 2002), Coimbatore (Aug. 25), Mumbai (Nov. 3), Baroda (Nov. 10), Pune (Nov. 17), Kolhapur (Nov. 24), Goa (Dec. 8) and Bangalore (Dec. 15).

The total prize money will amount to Rs. five lakh while the winner of the Indian National karting championship will represent the country in the Asian Zone karting championship the following year.

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