Thaindian News

Shankarpur (West Bengal), July 10 (IANS) The seasoned duo of Somdeb Chanda (driver) and Nirav Mehta (navigator) conquered the pole position, pushing Arinban Mukherjee and Chandan Sen to the second spot in the 160-km Rally de Sea View 2011 motor sports event, the results of which were announced Sunday.

While the champions conceded 1,042 penalty points, Mukherjee-Sen gave away 1,142 in Saturday’s race, the first rally in Eastern India to use the Global Positioning System to track vehicles.

Asgar Ali and Debasish Ghosh finished third, letting in 1,232 penalty points in the two-leg Time-Speed-Distance rally that covered the popular sea resorts of Shankarpur, Mandarmoni and Digha.

An elated Chanda lauded Mehta.

“You know, at such high speeds the driver trusts the navigator blindly. He is the all pervasive figure inside that car. Nirav was at his very best this time thus ensuring the honours!”

The event was a big hit among the rural population, who lined the route.

At ‘Purvo Purshuntompur’, where the dirt track took an uphill turn, rattling many navigators, the entire village came on to the roads.

“This is the first of its kind event in our area. We are just too glad to be a part of it. Just look at our children, cheering the cars to glory,” laughed Muktishwar Dwardapath, a farmer.

While the Chanda-Mehta team was awarded Rs.100,000 in prize money, team Mukherjee and Sen bagged Rs 60,000 as runners-up.