Gazing at the modest 400-m track, Rayomand says, ‘‘Though this is not a large track, it is one of the most difficult I have ever ridden on. Practising here definitely gave my racing career a boost. The turns here are so tough, it was difficult to master them.’’A former student of Dastur Boys’ School, Pune, Rayomand remembers spending hours glued to the television during the Grand Prix races. ‘‘I knew then itself that my life would be spent on the fast track,’’ laughs the youth who was recognised as the best newcomer and finished sixth at the formula racing nationals last year.Rayomand’s first brush with speed came during a trip to Mumbai in late-1998. ‘‘Go-karting was the rage then, and I simply fell in love,’’ he exclaims. But since travelling to Mumbai just for the karting track was not an option, Rayomand says, ‘‘I waited, hoping and praying that someone would set up a track in Pune. It was almost as an answer to my prayers when this track opened. I came here the very first day it opened in February 1999. I visited it again five days later, had an accident and was out of commission for five months.’’But one accident was about to dampen his spirits. ‘‘I heard about a race being held here and I jumped at the opportunity to participate. Practising here regularly, I saw my speed increasing and my skills growing,’’ he grins.It was only last year that Rayomand first set the formula racing tracks on fire. ‘‘My training in go-karting helped immensely,’’ says Rayomand, looking at a kart whizz by. ‘‘I’ve been a finalist three times over at the national gokarting championships, but it’s not just me — most formula racers have been good at go-karting.’’Kicking a pebble off the tarmac, Rayomand smiles, ‘‘In the rains, the track gets slippery, which makes riding great fun. We use slick tyres (or bald tyres), so getting a grip on the tarmac at high speeds is awesome fun.’’Apart from being the perfect training ground for his formula racing skills, Rayomand, who is currently training with Akar Ebrahims’ Advance Driving and Corporate Academy — the school has also awarded him a scholarship that pays his racing expenses for a year — finds the track the place to unwind with friends and family. ‘‘Even if I just come and sit here, it helps. It’s quiet, peaceful and green. The grandstand that overlooks the track give it a very cool look and I just love it.’’
