INRC 2018: Round 1 kicks off in Chennai and here’s everything you need to know

The 2018 INRC season kicks off with the MRF 40th South India Rally.

The rally will be flagged off from the Grand by GRT, Chennai on Friday evening April 27.

The action starts on Saturday morning April 28 in the famous Madras Motor Sports Club(MMSC) with the super special stage (SSS) that is scheduled to start at 11.00am, followed by the special stage (SS) Aavisa in the vicinity of the Edge water golf course and the action moves to the race track again with the Track stage which starts at the race track and diverts into the dirt section surrounding the MMSC.

Surface: Super Special Stages - Asphalt, Special stages - Dirt

Stages: 10

Distance: 191.60 Kms

2015 winner: Samir Thapar / Bitu Mann JCT Rallying

In the MMSC which is known for its Formula cars, saloon cars and Superbike races throughout the year. This time for a change the fans will see the rally cars and their champion crews while some of the racing fans might wonder ‘who is the person playing a shotgun in the car and these guys have got the tyre choice completely wrong for the race circuit’, all the cars will be running on the gravel tyres for the SS. The choice of tyres for the SSS will obviously be the tarmac tyres.

The opening day’s events are followed by another SSS on Sunday morning at MMSC and running the previous day’s special stages in reverse direction for the second day, with it, a rare chance to see INRC rally cars up close, at speed in the bright sunshine.

Route map for 2018 INRC South India Rally

If you're lucky enough to find yourself watching the first round of the 2018 INRC in the flesh, head to the MMSC, where you can see the country’s best drivers and co-drivers tackle the high-speed gravel stages in their mean machines.

Expect to be surrounded by thousands of likeminded rally and racing fans. Just make sure you, carry an umbrella, a cap, a dust mask and a lot of water to keep you hydrated!

It is a wonderful opportunity for the motorsport fans to meet the man himself - Gaurav Gill who will be heading to the World Rally Championship this year. The top rally drivers in the nation and their cars will also be present- a chance to get a super cool selfie.

On Sunday, you can also cheer the winner at the MMSC around 3.30pm to see the champagne sprayed and find out if anyone's managed to wrest the win away from reigning national champions Mahindra Adventure and Gaurav Gill.

The list of Teams and Driver/Co-drivers for the 40th MRF South India Rally:

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