Chikmagalur, Nov 19 (IANS) The stage is all set for an exciting finale of the Speed-Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 2009 at the picturesque hub of Coffee Estates, Chikmagalur from Friday.
Organised by the Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur (MSCC), under the aegis of Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), the rally will cover a total distance of 549.34 Kms of which 109.30 Kms comprises Special Stages and will start and finish at the ABC Trading Co. Ltd. premises.

The Competitive section also includes a Super Special Stage (2 Kms) that will kick-off the three-day event at Amber Valley Residential School at 1.30 p.m. Friday. There are essentially two physical Special Stages, Birur (11.45 Kms) and Kuvempu University (15.50 Kms) that will be run twice each in the forward (Saturday) and reverse (Sunday) directions.

In what promises to be a humdinger of a contest, the field has many promising names to hold the spectator interest. The stakes are high with championship up for grabs in the Overall/2000cc (N+), 1600cc, 1400cc, Gypsy Cup and the Rally Star Cup categories.

Up in the lead in for the overall title is Gaurav Gill (co-driver Musa Sherif) of Team MRF with 31 points and teammate Arjun Balu (co-driver Sujith Kumar BS) is close behind with 27 points.

Known to be a smooth operator behind the wheels, Balu has a wealth of 14 years experience behind him. His strong finish at Nashik in the second place should do his confidence a world of good. But Gill, who won the Kolkata round is known for his high speeds.

The energetic Gill has had the rough end of the mechanical problems in the earlier legs. That he is keen to give it his best shot should give a cutting edge to his prospects and a keen battle is in store.

In his second year with Red Rooster Racing Team, Kolkata’s Amittrajit Ghosh (co-driver Ashwin Naik) has had his moments with a victory in the lung opener at Coimbatore. Along with MRF’s Aroor Arjun Rao (co-driver Satish Rajgopal) the twosome are expected to go flat out in conditions which look tailor-made for some absorbing fare.

Thanks to his stunning win at Nashik, reigning National champion Vikram Mathias (co-driver PVS Murthy) is very much in contention with 18 points. Bugged by the mechanical problems this season, a lot is riding on Vikram to end on a high note. However, he chances of keeping the title depend on fortunes, or rather failures of the other drivers.

Not much is separating Bangalore’s Vikram Devadesan (co-driver Nikhil Pai) from Francis Jose (co-driver Manoj Mohan) of Team DDL Sports in the 1400 category. In what should be a straight fight between the two, Vikram’s slender two-point lead could well count in the end.

In his debut INRC season, Karna Kadur (co-driver Somonita Ghosh) leads the Rally Star Cup (46 points) thanks to his wins in three out of four rounds. There is a lot to make up for the second placed Phalguna Urs (co-driver Anoop Kumar) and C.G. Balram (co-driver C.G. Raghuram) both perched at 36 points.

The Gypsy Cup Class is poised for an exciting finish. Vying for honours are private entrant from Patiala, Khushwant Randhwa (co-driver Vinay Sekhar) and Sandeep Sharma (co-driver Anmol Rampal) of Team Thunderbolt. Marginally ahead Randhwa (49-46) felt that the 34 hairpin bends could unsettle the ones trailing behind in the advent of the heavens opening up.