Rahul Rangasamy, Tijil Rao steal the show

CHENNAI,  Nov 8: Raghul Rangasamy of Performance Racing and Tijil Rao (Momentum Motorsport) stole the show by winning both races in their respective categories in the second round of the MRF-MMSC FMSCI National Car Racing Championship here on Sunday.

The event was held behind closed doors due to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic.

Mamallapurams Raghul Rangasamy won both races in the Super Stock category while Bengaluru’s Tijil Rao also completed a double in the Formula LGB class by winning the second race on Sunday after winning one on Saturday.

FB Motorsport had a good day as Hyderabads Jeet Jhabakh and Keith DSouza from Goa, both driving the Volkswagen Polo, notched victories in the two premier Indian Touring Cars class.

Viswas Vijayaraj (DTS Racing) won the second Formula LGB race of the day.

Chennais Chetan Korada and Chandresh Tolia from Mumbai won a race each in the MRF Saloon Car series (Toyota Etios).

Jhabakh, 28-year old automotive businessman from Hyderabad, a former Volkswagen Ameo and Vento Cup champion, enjoyed a trouble-free run once race leader Arjun Balu (Race Concepts) dropped out of contention with a gearbox issue.

Jhabakh managed to nose ahead of team-mate Dhruv Mohite following a brief contact and gradually extended the lead for a comfortable win, his first of the season, having missed the opening round in February.

Mohite came in second while Balu was a distant third.

Balu started fourth on the reverse grid, but cut through to the front in the very first lap and looked set for another win when the gearbox played up.

The Race Concepts team then got to work and changed the gearbox in little over 30 minutes, but attracting a five- position grid penalty for Balu for the next race for which the Coimbatore ace had qualified for pole position.

In the next outing, it was DSouza all the way as he made the best of a strong start to win comfortably from Balu, who made three places, and Jhabakh. (PTI):