Classy Akbar earns high grid spot

Chennai, Feb 6: It was virtually flash and thunder at the Iruangattukottai track, Sriperumbudur, on Saturday afternoon as the competitors...

Chennai, Feb 6: It was virtually flash and thunder at the Iruangattukottai track, Sriperumbudur, on Saturday afternoon as the competitors in various categories jockeyed for good positions on the start grid for Sunday8217;s second and concluding leg of the MRF Grand Prix motor races. Quicker timings marked the day as the drivers and riders worked out their racing lines after several days of testing and practise.

None was more impressive than veteran Akbar Ebrahim who climbed aboard the sleek Formula-3 machine of Narain Karthikeyan who was ruled out of the competition following the injury he suffered in Friday8217;s road accident.

The Chennai-based 36-year old Ebrahim received a call at 11 this morning to drive in place of Narain, currently the only Indian in the Formula-3 racing, and he swiftly made tracks to the venue, got the car set-up including a new seat mould, put in some impressive timings, his best being a one minute, 36.800 seconds, the third fastest of the day.

It was fairy-tale stuff consideringthat Ebrahim, a former Tamil Nadu Ranji cricketer, got into a F-3 car after a five-year break, and qualified so high on the grid after very little practise during which he made a couple of seconds every lap! Not bad for good ole Akku, as he is affectionately called.

Ebrahim, in fact, kept pace with the two Europeans, Jeremie Dufour of France 1:36.630 and Martin O8217;Connell of England 1:36.720. The gutsy Ebrahim8217;s opening lap was a 1:44-plus, followed by a 1:40 and, as he got a handle on the car, the timings dropped sensationally which reflected as much on the car preparation as the driver himself.

By all accounts, the trio should fight it out for the top prize on the morrow and Ebrahim has more than an even chance to nose ahead of the competition as late into the evening, he was still on the track, burning more rubber.

Meanwhile, there was feverish competition in the Group N8217; Esteem class which has attracted a great deal of attention. Arjun Balu, the lead driver of Team MRF, was in a crackling formto put in a 2:17.311, just ahead of team-mate Naren Kumar 2:17.569, Radha Selvarajan 2:17.797 and young Gaurav Dalal 2:17.829.

Story continues below this ad

Naren Kumar, the ace rally driver, was given a drive which he will be sharing with Sanjay Balu.

In the 250cc Group A bike class, Germany8217;s Carsten Kurz clocked the day8217;s best of 1:49.903, closely followed by first Sunday8217;s double-winner, Koji Amemiya of Japan 1:49.977 and Britain8217;s Marty Nutt 1:50.171.

The final grid positions will depend on the best timing of both qualifying rounds Jan 30 and Feb 5. If anything, the fare on Sunday is expected to be top-drawer stuff. Going by the demand for passes and tickets, a huge crowd is expected and surely, the indications are that the 34 Kms drive to the track would be worth the effort.