He is also a philate list and numisma tist. Prashanth Tharani Singh is not your typical 25-year-old. But for someone who loves serenity and goes on “soul searching“ trips to the Himalayas, Prashanth also has a side that is compatible with his age -a penchant for speed and high-revving engines.
The Chennai youngster, a commercial pilot, is currently leading the Volkswagen Polo R Cup going into the finale of the fourround championship. Fresh from a solitary hiking trip to the hills, Prashanth looks to conquer the single-make saloon car championship which will finish at the Buddh International Circuit in New Delhi next weekend.
“The 15 days I spent in the Himalayas were a great learning experience. It might sound philosophical but I learnt to take things as they come. It can be useful in my racing career,“ says Prashanth.
He hasn't come through a proper karting programme, nor does he have the high-adrenaline sport in his genes. “It was more like love at first sight.
Before I started racing two years ago, I had never even touched a go-kart. I wanted to race bikes, but my parents thought fourwheelers were safer than motorcycles,“ recalls Prashanth, who pulled off a stunning pole position in the second round of the Polo Cup in Coimbatore earlier this year.
Prashanth said his career blossomed under the tutelage of Parasuram of Rams Racing.
“Not only did he provide me with a launch pad, he also educated me and influenced me to switch from single-seaters to tintop racing that proved to be a master stroke. With my tall frame, I found it difficult to fit in a Formula car. The move to Indian Junior Touring Car class gave an impetus to my career,“ Prashanth adds.
Within a year, Prashanth turned out to be an inspiration for his younger brother Karthik to follow suit. Having a sibling in the same sport, Prashanth says, is an advantage. “We discuss a lot. Since he is an engineering student, he helps me with technical aspects of racing. I also point out the mistakes he makes during races. Though we have been competing in the same championship, the sibling rivalry has been healthy so far,“ says Prashanth. Karthik is one of the contenders for the title with 218 points, just 38 behind his brother, at No. 4.
The final round in New Delhi has three races and as many as 180 points up for grabs.
Prashanth says the qualifying session holds the key as it will determine the grid for Race 1 and 3. “The second race will be a reverse grid (top-8) based on Race 1 results. One has to be consistent in the qualifying session as it is not about one flying lap. The second best timing will be taken for Race 3 grid,“ says Prashanth.
If Prashanth manages to clinch the title, he will be rewarded with a sponsored trip to Germany's Scirocco Cup. “It will be the start of my dream journey .
My ultimate aim is to compete at the British GT champi onship and Scirocco is an ideal start to ideal start to get used to European European tracks and c o n d i tions,“ he adds.
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