Cheni to host tiol racing tourney

Cheni, July 14: After a four-month break, the resurfaced Madras Motor Race Trust track in Sriperumbudur near here will play host to the fourth round of the Indian tiol Racing Championship that includes the showpiece MRF Formula 1600 besides the touring cars and the Volkswagen Vento Cup beginning Friday.

The 3.7 km track, which has a FIA Grade 2 certification to run all races outside of Formula One, has been resurfaced with Polymer Bitumen as part of the multi-crore upgradation of the facility, including laying of a second loop of 1.9 km to complement the existing 2.1 km loop apart from expansion of the race control tower.

The upgradation plans also include building of garages to accommodate 120 cars and 600 two-wheelers for the second phase of the event which starts in September, and spectator seating in the infield providing 90 percent view of the track.

"The MMRT track is among the busiest of its kind in the world. Last year, it was booked for nearly 300 days. As such, we decided to upgrade and expand the facility. Now, with two fully operatiol tracks for rent, we can accept more bookings for testing and corporate events besides of course regular racing," Vicky Chandhok, who is the chairman of the event and is also a member of the board of trustees of the Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT) said in a statement on Thursday. "Since the surface is fresh, it could be a bit slippery with no rubber on the track, but I expect the timings to be at least 1.5 seconds quicker as it settles down. For this weekend, we have kept required personnel and equipment on stand-by to carry out running repairs if necessary," he added.

"Over the next four months, the renovation works will continue and completed in time for the start of the 2017 season in January. Our total budgeted outlay is about Rs.12 crores as of now."

The weekend will see three races each in the MRF F1600 whose championship winner will get a ticket to race in the Road to Indy shootout in the United States later this year, the VW Vento Cup and the premier Indian Touring Cars class while the Indian Junior Touring Cars, the Super Stock and the F1300 Rookie Championship are all double-headers. IANS

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