Karna Kadur, Musa Sherif top APRC, INRC for a grand double

Karna Kadur of Arka Motorsports wins FIA-Asia Pacific Rally Championship after three years in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru’s reigning National champion Karna Kadur of Arka Motorsports won a round of the FIA-Asia Pacific Rally Championship after three years at the Madras International Circuit (MIC) here on Sunday.

It was a near-flawless drive in the Volkswagen Polo by the 36-year-old Kadur, who was greatly aided by his experienced co-driver Musa Sherif from Kasargod. The duo also clinched the crown in the first round of the Blueband Fmsci Indian National Championship, organised by the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC).

Kadur attributed his success to a judicial blend of caution and aggression. “After a long time, we had a trouble-free run. We had carefully planned our strategy, and it was executed flawlessly. We could have gone faster, but in view of the rising temperature, we had to exercise some caution. A few competitors suffered as they did not back off, and having seen this, I kept something in reserve in case I needed to push hard,” he said.

The results: Provisional final classification: FIA-APRC (Asia Cup): 1. Kadur and Musa Sherif (Arka Motorsports) 2:03:44s; 2. Amittrajit Ghosh and Ashwin Naik (Arka) 2:04:35.8; 3. Harkrishan Wadia and Kunal Kashyap (Arka) 2:07:38.5.

Junior APRC: 1. Wadia and Kashyap 2:07:38.5; 2. Arnav Pratap Singh and N. Rohit (SNAP Racing) 2:09:25.9; 3. Abhin Rai and K.M. Moideen Jasheer (Pvt.) 2:10:16.9.

INRC Overall: 1. Kadur and Sherif; 2. Ghosh and Naik; 3. Fabid Ahmer and Milen George (Chettinad Sporting) 2:06:9.5.

INRC1: 1. Kadur and Sherif; 2. Ghosh and Naik; 3. Suhem Kabeer and Vinay Padmashali (Pvt.) 2:12:15.2.