2021 JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship ended with close wheel to wheel battles and also saw the introduction of a new category of racing. FMSCI

2021 JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship | Round 1 Rundown

Bengaluru driver Sohail Shah multiple victories at LGB Formula 4 category in the 2021 JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship

Round 1 of the 2021 JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship came to an end with three distinct classes of racing and quite a few distinct performances in the races that unfolded over the two days. The LGB Formula 4 category saw some really close battles on the grid, but Sohail Shah of Bengaluru managed to ace two out of the three races that were held. The Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup saw 18 riders ride the rather heavy Royal Enfield Continental GT, but it still managed to give us some close racing. Anish Damodara Shetty managed to win both the races with precision and dominance. In the junior category JK Tyre Novice Cup, things got heated up with a few close contacts and DNFs, which made the organisers finish one of its races behind a safety car. Ruhaan Alva dominated the field by taking all three victories in the three races. With that said, let us dive into the two days of intense racing and find out how it unfolded for the participants.

Sohail won the race by a mere tenth of a second from Arya Singh in P2 and Diljith TS in thirdFMSCI

Day 1

The day kicked off with the LGB Formula 4 category in which Sohail Shah of Bengaluru used his nerves, waited for the right opportunity to step on the pedal and won the race by a difference of 0.165 seconds ahead of Arya Singh from Kolkata. Diljith TS from Thirssur came in third, just a tenth of a second behind Arya."I am happy to start the season with a win, though it was not easy. I was in the lead but once the safety cars came out, there was a lot of bunching. The net effect is the lead which you had in time and distance gets shrunk. I waited for the right moment in the final lap and won," said Sohil.

Anish Damodara Shetty from Hubli eventually emerged winner in the 10-lap race, ahead of Allwin Xavier by just 0.117 secondsFMSCI

The Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup presented by JK Tyre, too turned out to be action-filled. The bikes were around 180kg and posed quite a challenge for the riders to ring it around the track. Anish Damodara Shetty from Hubli eventually emerged winner in the 10-lap race, ahead of Allwin Xavier by just 0.117 seconds. Jayanth Prathipati finished third in the race.

At the end of the race, Anish said, "It was a great challenge to win the maiden race and the last lap was electrifying,".

Allwin had to say this about the new RE Continental GT racing bike "It's a new race in a new bike. There is speed and also your legs feel tired handling the weight. I am happy to come second."

Aadithya Parasuram from Chennai was able to bag two podium finishes in the two races if the JK Tyre Novice Cup coming second in the first race and third in the second.FMSCVishnu and Amir Sayed exchanged the lead of the race within themselves on more than one occasion. But in the end of the race, it was the more experienced Vishnu, who cruised to the checkered flag.

Ruhaan Alva from Bengaluru dominated both the races in the JK Tyre Novice Cup and even though the first race had to be red flagged in-between, it didn’t affect his rhythm for the race. Aadithya Parasuram from Chennai was able to bag two podium finishes in the two races coming second in the first race and third in the second. Jaden R Pariat from Guwahati was trailing the pack by two laps in the first race, but managed a superb comeback in race two by finishing second.

Ruhaan expressed, "I am happy to have begun with a win. Once a race is red-flagged, it's very important to remain focussed. I was happy with my start to the championship.”

Vishnu and Amir Sayed exchanged the lead of the race within themselves on more than one occasion. But in the end of the race, it was the more experienced Vishnu, who cruised to the checkered flag.FMSCI

Day 2

Vishnu Prasad from MSport opened the day with a victory in the second race of the LGB Formula 4 category. Prasad started the race from front after the reverse grid came into play on the results of the first day.

The race was quickly paused with the effect of the safety car due to the crash of a contender. It restarted after two laps behind the safety car, and this is where the real fight started for the lead. Vishnu and Amir Sayed exchanged the lead of the race within themselves on more than one occasion. But in the end of the race, it was the more experienced Vishnu, who cruised to the checkered flag. Chirag Ghorpade from Bangalore finished the race in third.

In the third race of the LGB Formula 4 category, it was Sohail Shah of MSport who claimed the victory yet again, making it his second victory in the three races.FMSCI

In the third race of the LGB Formula 4 category, it was Sohail Shah of MSport who claimed the victory yet again, making it his second victory in the three races. Vishnu grabbed yet another podium finish by crossing the line in second. Sandeep Kumar from Dark Don Racing finished third, rounding up the podiums.

For Amir Sayed, making the transition from the Novice Cup to the harder category was a good experience. "It's very different from the last season and I am thankful to my mentors and coaches," said Amir.

In the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup, Anish Damodara Shetty displayed a dominant performance against the other 17 bikes on the grid and finished 8.643 seconds over the second rider Allwin Xavier. Anfal Akdhar from Thrissur finished third behind the pair.

After the race, Anish said, “I hammered it down after the first lap. I was shaving off almost half a second in each lap."

Ruhaan Alva from Bengaluru came first for MSport with Chetan Surineni, also from Bengaluru came in second with Jaden R Pariat coming third.FMSCI

Things got intense in the JK Tyre Novice Cup category. There were a couple of incidents and it raised safety concerns for the organisers. In the first incident a car went off the track and brought out the safety car. After that, two cars made contact with each other and forced the organisers to finish the race behind the safety car.

Ruhaan Alva from Bengaluru came first for MSport with Chetan Surineni, also from Bengaluru came in second with Jaden R Pariat coming third.

With this, we come to an end for Round 1 of the 2021 JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship. For more news and updates from the world of Indian motorsport, stay tuned to evo India.

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