To make trucking aspirational for Indian drivers and to retain its market leadership position in India through brand-building amidst steep competition from global truck makers, Tata Motors Ltd has announced the latest edition of the T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship 2016.
The event wil be held on March 20 at India’s F1 race track, the Buddh International Circuit (BIC), Greater Noida, near Delhi.
European truck makers have been organising T1 racing events in Europe for over 20 years now. Tata Motors signed up with FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), the world body for motor sport events, for the rights in India.
The company has been organising T1 truck-racing championships in India since 2014, hoping to make the sport it as popular as F1 car racing events.
Like in the previous two seasons, Season III of the championship will continue to host experienced international drivers representing six teams, featuring 12 Tata PRIMA race trucks built for the purpose.
However, this year there will be a race for the Indian truck driver for the first time.
Tata Motors conceptualised and introduced a new Indian Truck Driver Race selection and training programme based on its objective of making the profession of truck racing aspirational and induct drivers into the commercial vehicles profession, the company said in a statement.
Indian participants will be selected from a pool of truck drivers who are employed with Tata Motors key customers all over the country.
In all, Tata Motors will have 12 Indian drivers selected to race at the T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship 2016, the company added.
