Double delight for Philippos Matthai, Arushi Vikram at National Rally Sprint Championship

Philippos Matthai and Tarushi Vikram absolutely crushed it at the National Rally Sprint Championship in Chennai, each winning multiple titles across different categories. Despite challenging wet track conditions that forced a route change, Matthai dominated the Rally Sprint 1 and 2 classes with impressive timing. Vikram made her mark by clinching both the Ladies and Junior National titles, proving she's a rising star in motorsports. The event, organized by the Madras Motor Sports Club, showcased some incredible driving talent from across India.

"Controlled aggression on a wet track" - Race Description

by IANS January 20, 2025 66 views

Chennai, Jan 19: Delhi’s Philippos Matthai and Tarushi Vikram of Chikkamagaluru won two titles apiece in the finals of the FMSCI Indian National Rally Sprint Championship 2024 organised by the Madras Motor Sports Club at the Madras International Circuit here on Sunday.

Key Points

1. Philippos Matthai wins two top Rally Sprint categories

2. Tarushi Vikram secures Ladies and Junior National titles

3. Wet track conditions force route change to full tarmac

4. Multiple champions emerge in different rally classes

Winner of multiple national titles in rally, autocross, and sprint, the 41-year-old Matthai, along with co-driver Harish KN from Bengaluru, displayed controlled aggression on a wet track to post the quickest time of the day, earning him victory in the premier Rally Sprint 1 class. He went on to clinch the Rally Sprint 2 class title too.

Chandan Manche Gowda of Bengaluru and co-driver Venu Ramesh Kumar of Coimbatore ended up second in both top categories. However, Chandan and Ramesh had the consolation of winning the Rally Sprint 3 championship, beating another INRC regular from Bengaluru, Arjun Rajiv (Pramod Raman).

Collegian Tarushi Vikram won the Ladies crown with a time of 09 minutes, 52.374 seconds. She also recorded the ninth-best time among 24 entries. With co-driver Amitha Aneesh, she lifted the Junior National title, beating 16-year-old newbie Vihaan Bhat. Former rally driver Ashish Gupta, returning to competition after 40 years, won the Veterans’ class.

Amey Desai of Goa (co-driver Mahamad Asif Mulla), who won the Autocross titles last Sunday, bagged the Rally Sprint 4 class. Thane’s Umesh Rane (co-driver Suraj Biswas, New Panvel), the lone entry in the Rally Sprint 5 class, walked away with the honors as the other qualifiers did not turn up for the finals.

Heavy overnight rains forced the organizers to change the original dirt track route to full tarmac. The 6.2 km circuit was run twice, and positions were decided on the cumulative timings.

Results (Provisional – cumulative timings – 2 laps):

Rally Sprint 1:

1. Philippos Matthai (Delhi) / Harish KN (Bengaluru) - 09:11.211

2. Chandan Manche Gowda (Bengaluru) / Venu Ramesh Kumar (Coimbatore) - 09:17.096

Rally Sprint 2:

1. Philippos Matthai (Delhi) / Harish KN (Bengaluru) - 09:15.788

2. Chandan Manche Gowda (Bengaluru) / Venu Ramesh Kumar (Coimbatore) - 09:28.473

3. Arjun Rajiv / Pramod Raman (both Bengaluru) - 09:40.939

Rally Sprint 3:

1. Chandan Manche Gowda (Bengaluru) / Venu Ramesh Kumar (Coimbatore) - 09:11.231

2. Arjun Rajiv / Pramod Raman (both Bengaluru) - 09:31.593

3. Ramprasanth / Robert Antony (both Coimbatore) - 09:39.603