Coimbatore: An all-women professional racing team will be seen in action for the first time in the opening round of the JK Tyre-FMSCI national racing championship at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore on Saturday.
The six ladies, who have been selected after a nation-wide talent hunt, will represent Ahura Racing, with a celebrity driver in the form of Marathi actress Manisha Kelkar, leading the charge.
As many as 25 top drivers, including last year’s champion Chittesh Mandody and former winner Vishnu Prasad will fight for top honours in this category. Sandeep Kumar, who finished just two points behind Chittesh last year, will also hope to go one better this time.
The Euro JK 18 class brings together the country’s top 11 racers and last year’s third-place finisher Nayan Chatterjee begins as the favourite, with defending champion Anindith Reddy graduating to the international circuit.
FB02’s first female racer Mira Erda and the teenage duo of Yash Aradhya and Nirmal Uma Shankar are likely to emerge as new challengers to experienced hands like Sri Lanka’s Bryan Perera and Manav Sharma.
In the two-wheelers’ section, Joesph Matthew will return to defend his crown in the Suzuki Gixxer Cup. The Chennai racer was at his dominating best last season, winning the championship well before the fourth and final round, and will hope to continue his good run.
