Lock, stock and smoking tyres: JK National Racing Championship

26 years is a long time in any sport, but JK Tyre has always supported Indian motorsport with its JK National Racing Championship. The 26th season of racing got off to a phenomenal start as we saw amazing racing across categories in the toasty heat of the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore.

The premier series, Formula LGB, was highlighted by a day to remember for Dark Don Racing, who dominated the first race with their three drivers. Not that it came easy. In an epic battle for the lead, Tijil Rao, Arya Singh and T.S. Diljith exchanged the lead all race long, until a final lap shocker of an overtake saw Rao take the win ahead of Singh and Diljith. The second race was a titanic tussle again between Rao and Singh, but this time it was Arya Singh who prevailed with a well-judged pass three laps before the end. The two were joined by Viswas Vijayaraj of Ahura Racing on the podium, who benefitted from a late race safety car.

The second day and third race saw Arya Singh again at the top of the sheets. However, he might not have expected young sensation Ruhaan Alva to manage a stealthy creep up the pack, and then accomplish a majestic pass on the last lap to win for MSport. Arya Singh might have finished second but should be proud of the racing on display. In the fourth race, issues for Alva saw Tijil and Diljith battle again, with Tijil taking the victory with a more straightforward pass.

The JK Tyre Novice Cup was all about one man – Bangalore boy Arjun Nair, who dominated in qualifying and the race to take a very comfortable win for Momentum Motorsports. On the second day however, it was Neythan McPherson from Pune who took the victory with a challenge from Aman Nagdev from MSport near the end, with Arjun Nair following behind.