Coorg motor sports rally cancelled

Ammathi (Kodagu), Oct 20 (IANS): Rally of Coorg, the second round of the FMSCI (Federation of Motor Sports Club of India) Indian National Rally Championship, was called off here Saturday after overnight rains rendered the route unmotorable.

The decision was taken after stewards inspected the two special stages early Saturday and found the terrain too slushy.

“It was a tough call, but we decided to cancel the event in the best interests of the competitors. The rally route was too slushy and our vehicle, driven by former champion Farad Bhathena, got stuck a few times when we went on an inspection,” said Dorairaj Ramkumar, the clerk-of-the-course and himself a national champion co-driver.

“Had we gone ahead with the rally, then it would have caused a lot of inconvenience to the competitors by way of cars getting stuck or suffering damages. Hence we decided to call off the rally.”

On Friday, following the reconnaissance by the competitors, the first of the three physical stages was cancelled as the terrain was far too rough and very slushy in certain sections.

There was debate whether the rally could run at least 25 percent of the original distance, incorporating a small tarmac section and Sunday’s Spectator Special Stage. But that was given up since it entailed change of tyres from dirt to tarmac.