July - August 2021

DRIVEN INDIA’S FIRST DOMESTIC MOTORSPORTS & OFF-ROAD MAGAZINE

MECO KARTING

ALCAZAR

JULY/AUGUST 2021

Ruhaan, Rohaan and Nikhilesh excel in R1

SILK WAY RALLY Podium for HERO MotoSport’s Franco

RALLY LIEPAJA First podium for Team MRF Tyres

DREAM WIN FOR OSM

ZORO & FIARE

ADVAIT

DEODHAR

EDITORIAL / IMPRINT

IMPRINT Editor S. Ashok Kumar Tiwari

Hi, Our New Look.

AUTO TRACK is on a new track...

T

ime is ticking off! And the available duration, limited despite the extended season, looks to be very challenging, as only a few biking Nationals and a karting championship began their opening rounds. It will be a wait-and-watch situation for the big events which are yet to begin. Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) for fourwheelers at Chennai and Bengaluru are postponed twice, just before the dates closed-in, with the Promoter deciding to put them off. The new dates still remain a mystery. INRC for twowheelers finds new dates in the calendar. The 4-wheeler championship usually begins only after July or August but now the FMSCI calendar dubs Hampi round from October 1 to 3, as the first round of 4W INRC. Another glamour Nationals, the maximum crowd-puller, is Supercross and it will be missed for the second year in a row, with no round held in 2020, even as COVID restrictions are still limiting gatherings. The saving grace, is they are scheduled to start on 20th Jan 2022 and all the six rounds expected to be completed by 20 March 2022. Only time will tell if the National Supercross Championship could be completed in two months without any further glitches!

While the two-wheeler events have paved the way to open the season, all are looking for the their respective State governments to open up the sporting events and liberate the limit on gathering numbers with protocols.

The long wait for F2, F3 and F4 races in India is finally ending with FIA Regional & F4 becoming a reality, as the formal team launch with vehicle demo is held in Mumbai. It looks as one of the promising events for the upcoming racers as they will have brand new formula cars to showcase their skills. Also these series might be the game-changer the Indian Motorsports needed.

Also in the pipeline are the just-allotted autocross for four-wheelers to be run by the new promoters Motorsports Academy of Vijayanagar (MAV), Hampi. While the first round of the TSD Championship in South India, now dubbed as Indian National Regularity Run Championship (INRRC), is going to be back-to-back rounds on the same week-end. The first round is from Bengaluru heading towards Hampi and the next-day it is Round 2 run locally.

The most-exciting news is the Rain Forest Challenge India which makes a comeback after missing the 2020 season. This season with over 21 teams will be run under the Government's Covid safety protocols.

This event is expected to definitely open up the season with a bang.

Lets pray for the COVID-19 cases to descend from the peak and we have no more delays due to the pandemic. If all the events finding a place in the calendar take-off in time at their respective venues, it would avoid the last-minute rush to complete the championships with decent number of rounds.

S. ASHOK KUMAR TIWARI Editor M: +91-9845296190 autotrack.editor@gmail.com

Concept and Design: S. Ashok Kumar Tiwari Staff Photographers: Keshav Murthy, Nirav Mehta Prakash Rawat, Noor Director / Correspondent: Roopa A. Tiwari General Manager Circulation & Sr. Correspondent: S. Nithyanand Correspondent: K. Manjunath Ghanshyam A Tiwari Spl. Correspondent: David Bodapati Western Region: autotrack.west@gmail.com Mob 09757176958 Northern Region: autotrack.north@gmail.com Mob 09871765886 Editorial Office: Auto Track 7/3-1, Lalitha Engineering Building, Subbanna Garden Main Road, Vijayanagar, Bangalore-40 autotrack.editor@gmail.com www.autotrack.ind.in For Subscription, contact: 9845296190 For Advertisement, E: ashok.autotrack@gmail.com The Publisher makes every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are accurate. However, he accepts no responsibility of any effects arising therefrom. Printed at Raj Hans Enterprises, Rajajinagar Industrial Town, Bangalore-560044.

Published by S.Ashok Kumar Tiwari At # 7/3-1, Lalitha Engineering Building, Subbanna Garden Main Road, Vijayanagar, Bangalore - 560040

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 5 O1 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

CONTENTS

NEW DELHI

JULY / AUGUST 2021

34 04

50 18 Euro Series: 04 Silkway Rally: 08 X30 karting Natl: 12

16 22

34 12

Rally Liepaja: 16 Alcazar review: 18

HUNGARY GP: 28

Omega EV: 26

Xpulse ride: 32 Tata Dark Range: 34

10 40

British GP: 38 Styria GP: 40 Netharland GP: 44

40 24

12 08

26 30

38 38

O2 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

56

RACING

EURO SERIES

Maiden dream-win for Advait Deodhar The Indian gets a win and a podium in NASCAR2 Whelen Euro Series

I

ndian racing talent, Advait Deodhar, realised his dream with a first career victory at his current home track of Brands Hatch recently. The London-based Mumbaikar, missed his backto-back wins despite being on pole twice, but achieved his maiden win in the 04 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, taking part in the NASCAR 2 class in the Round 3 and 4 on July 3 and 4. He led all the 30 laps and excelled in good defensive driving to notch up a stunning win.

In spite of being on pole for the second time in the weekend, his fastest lap time

in Race 1 put him on the pole for Race 2. The 30-lap endurance race had over 20 cars on the grid. The track length close to 2 kms with 6 turns was in the menu.

Wins Race 1: Advait Deodhar's first pole in his career came in his 6th year of his participation. His first

pole gave him his first win of his career, but he had to work hard for this win. He got in command once the lights went off, but Tobias Dauenhauer was on his neck.

It took at least two laps for Advait to be comfortable, by the time he could breathe easy, in the fourth lap safety

BRANDS HATCH onwards Advaith started pushing hard and gained ground and extended his lead by 300th of a second.

A very good fight was expected by the top two, by the 18 th lap Advaith was further ahead with 400th of a second, there was a shift in third position as Garisto went past Panebianco and was secured in third. By the end of 21st lap, Adviath was further up with a lead of half a second and Garisto was closing down on Dauenhauer with just over 2 seconds difference.

But from 24th lap onwards Advaith had difficulties in extending his lead, due to the overlapping process, in this process Dauenhauer once again closed on him by bringing down the difference within 300th of a second. While Garisto started falling back, With great defensive skills Advaith managed to keep his rival till the end of 28th lap before he once again pushing hard to extend the gap. From then on Advaith

never looked back and with a decent lead, he crossed the finish line to achieve the milestone of his career.

Podium in Race 2: Despite starting from pole, Advaith Deodhar was unable to capitalise once the lights went off as he was unable to

hold on to the front. But right from first right-hander he gave up to Dauenhauer's pace and was running second. He was unable to keep up the pace after the first lap and he started falling back. Dauenhauer increased his lead and was comfortable in the top position.

car had to come in and the race was under safety car for six more laps. From the 10 th lap, once the safety car was out, it was Advaith once again in command, but in similar situation with Dauenhauer on his back with just 200th of a second difference.

Meanwhile, Kunz slided down to 5th from 3rd, once the race began and, Panebianco climbed up the order from fourth. From the 13th lap JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 05

BRANDS HATCH

RACING

28th lap, he had to hold on to his podium position and ensure he doesn't lose out, but managed to hold on to 3rd position till the end.

Dauenhauer with a lead of over 5.3sec was the winner followed by Pilate Simon in second, with a gap of just over 1.2sec Advait settled for third. Talor Naveh finished fourth.

The weekend gave Advait huge points, pushing him to fourth in the Championship with 124 points. The next round in Czech Republic is scheduled for August 28.

EURO SERIES

By the end of fifth lap, Advait fell back by over one second. He started feeling the pinch since the 10th lap as Dauenhauer had extended his lead by over two and half seconds, while Pilate was closing on him was just above one second behind. By the end of 12th lap Advait was getting sandwiched, losing ground to the winner and behind closing the gap from behind was Pilate as he was just a second behind.

During the 17th lap, the leader had extended a comfortable lead to over-five seconds, Advait had Pilate on his neck, just 200th of a second behind.

By the end of 19th lap, Advait was improving his lead but the nightmare began from the 20th lap, as he had to overlap few cars. But he held on to the second position. He further started pushing hard and couple of times went wide on the corners and for further six more laps he defended his position by not permitting any opening to Pilate.

O6 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

Pilate on the other hand was waiting for Adviat to make a mistake to go past him, which indeed happened on a left hander when Advait went wide and Pilate was in the inner line which was very

convenient to go past.

Running fourth was Talor with a gap of just over four seconds. As Advait was losing Momentum and falling back by over one and half seconds by the end of

RALLY SILK WAY

rd

Hero's Franco Caimi wins 3 in 2021 Silk Way Rally Hero MotoSports Team Rally achieved a podium finish at the Silk Way Rally 2021 with Franco Caimi claiming the 3rd position in July, run entirely in the beautiful Altai region of Siberia. Sebastian Buhler finished the rally in the 5th position and Joaquim Rodrigues took 9th place. Matthias Walkner won the rally. It was the first podium for the team of Hero MotoCorp in the FIM Cross Country Rally World Championship

08 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

RUSSIA

“

Franco Caimi, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: "I don't have the words to describe how happy I am feeling right now, not just for myself, but also for the team.

They have done a fantastic job, and we were able to nish on the podium. We pushed hard during the entire race and in the end, missed the second position by just six seconds. I am really happy with the result, and looking forward to growing with the team."

“

I

t was another clinical ride by all three riders. A stellar ride from Franco saw him hold on to his 3rd position in the overall rankings, missing out on the second position by a mere six seconds, after close to 3100kms of racing over five days.

Sebastian also had a good rally and his consistency got him the 5th position in the overall standings. Joaquim had difficult times and luck during some stages and this cost him time and positions. Yet, he recovered well to complete the rally in the top 10.

The last stage of the rally was a repeat of the second stage, except it was heavily degraded with the passing of the cars and trucks a few days prior, and a few sections had to be reconstructed with a bulldozer. The stage started with wide open tracks that then gave way to narrow bumpy routes through the trees in the Siberian forests. Closer to the end, the forest trails became smoother and sandy, allowing the riders to build up speed again towards the finish. The liaison at the end of the stage brought the riders back to Gorno-Altaysk for the podium ceremonies.

With its first podium finish in the

FIM Cross-Country Rally World Championship, the team has once again shown that it is a force to be reckoned with. The combination of a reliable Hero Rally 450, three world class riders and a strong crew, the team has delivered three excellent rallies in as months, and optimistically looks forward to the next event in their campaign.

Stage One: Earlier in Stage 1, Hero MotoSports Team Rally began their campaign with a stage win for Franco Caimi. At the end of the day, Caimi was placed at the top of the rankings while his teammates Joaquim Rodrigues and Sebastian Buhler finished the day in fourth and sixth positions respectively.

Franco led the charge from the line, starting the stage in third place and setting the fastest time through every checkpoint, before winning the stage.

Sebastian Buhler also had a good day at his first Silk Way Rally. He rode a steady race, with

focus on navigation.

Joaquim Rodrigues, despite facing some issues at the start line, blazed through the stage.

Putting his initial troubles aside as he rode through the pack to finish the stage with the fourth best time.

The first stage opened with a 10km bumpy ride through a military training track, which was followed by a mix of high-speed tracks. The stage was designed as a warm up for the competitors, so there were not too many tough off-road sections or difficult navigation notes in the 87-km stage.

Despite the relatively short special section, the stage was the longest of the rally, with over 580 kms of liaison, resulting in a 670 kms stage.

Stage Two: The 132-km stage started with wide open tracks that then gave way to narrow bumpy tracks through the trees in the Siberian forests. Closer to the end, the forest trails became smoother and sandy, allowing the riders JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 09

RUSSIA

RALLY SILK WAY

to build up speed before the finish on bumpy gravel roads. The liaison after the stage was along the Chuysky Traky, a legendary mountain road that led to the bivouac at Gorno-Altaysk.

Leading the charge for the team was, Joaquim Rodrigues who finished the stage in fifth place. He was closely followed by his teammates Sebastian Buhler and Franco Caimi, who finished in sixth and seventh positions respectively.

Joaquim had a few close calls in the slippery dark mud of the Siberian forests, but brought the bike to the finish safely, and in good time.

However, a penalty for a late start, due to an electrical issue on his bike before Stage 1 cost him a few positions in the overall standings, and he was in the 10th place after Stage 2.

Franco Caimi was stage opener, following his win in Stage 1 the previous day.

Being the first one into the stage is always tricky, but he focussed on his navigation, and managed to deliver a 1O autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

good result. After two stages, Franco was in the second position in the overall rankings. Buhler tackled the terrains well, and finished the stage without any navigation errors. His performance brought him inside the top 5 in the overall rankings.

Stage Three: Franco Caimi and Sebastian Buhler had a good day as they finished Stage 3 in 3rd and 5th places respectively.

Joaquim Rodrigues finished the stage in the 9th position.

This special section of 133 kms started with a climb to a plateau along stony roads with many sharp rocks. After completing the ascent, the remainder of the special consisted of fast stretches along the mountain plateau as well as water crossings across the numerous mountain rivers.

Under the new race schedule, this stage became the first leg of the Marathon stage, which meant that the riders were separated from their assistance team and had to carry out any repairs

on their vehicles by themselves in the bivouac set up for them in Kosh-Agach.

Caimi and Buhler were able to tackle the challenging terrain and tricky navigation with solid rides. Caimi appeared to be enjoying the difficult conditions in Russia, and was holding on to the second place in the overall standings while Buhler's steady ride moved him up a spot into the 4 th position overall.

Joaquim did not have such a good day when a river that he was crossing turned out to be much deeper than expected.

The engine of his bike got flooded by the river water, and yet, Joaquim showed the grit of a true hero, getting his bike out of the river, taking it apart to drain the water, and then getting back on the bike to finish the stage.

Stage Four: All the riders finished within top ten in the repeat stage as the previous day with additional 31 kms, cumulating in 164 kms of

special section. Rocky climb, fast stretches and water crossings had deteriorated as trucks ran on the same stage the previous day, thus making it more challenging.

The mammoth marathon stage of 470 kms liaison distance was from Gorno to Altaysk.

As it was a repeat stage, less focus was necessary on navigation. Sebastian Buhler finished the stage in fourth place. Franco Caimi got stuck in a river a couple of times but was able to complete the stage without any further complications. He finished the stage in the fifth position, but the lost time meant he lost a position in the overall rankings and dropped to third overall. Joaquim Rodrigues, whose engine had flooded the previous day, also had a much better day in Stage 4. He rode carefully to prevent any further damage to the engine. The bike also held up well, allowing him to finish the stage in the eighth position.

NEWS

Tanveer unwheels TVS scooter, Race XP Tech-loaded TVS NTORQ 125 Race XP variant catches the eye at Sona Mysuru dealership

M

ultiple 2-wheeler National Rally and Supercross Champion Abdul Wahid Tanveer from TVS Racing unwheeled the new techloaded scooter, TVS NTORQ 125 Race XP, at the Sona TVS Motor dealership at Mysuru recently.

Having set the direction for connected mobility earlier, with TVS NTORQ 125 Race XP and its SMARTXONNECT connectivity platform, TVS Motor Company set a new industry benchmark by equipping it with the first-of-its-kind Voice Assist feature. This covers various connectivity functions, including mode change, navigation, console brightness adjustment and DnD. It brings a new set of benchmarks to get the Indian two-wheeler industry on the

accelerated path of connected mobility, said a TVS release. In addition, TVS NTORQ 125 Race XP is the only scooter in the 125cc segment to have more than 10 PS power. The power delivery is enhanced due to significant improvements in the gas flow dynamics and combustion. The new toggle

ride modes allow the rider to access additional delivery from the vehicle on demand.

In addition, with the use of advanced engineering polymers, high strength steel and alloy steel, the TVS NTORQ 125 Race XP is lighter, too, which adds to the performance and drive quotient.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announces second edition of GT Cup

T

OYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) eMotorsport is back, and it is bigger and better than ever before.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) announced India's participation in the second edition of the fastest e-Motorsport race in Asia scheduled in August and September this year. Since its India debut in August 2020, the virtual race has enabled the brand to connect with motorsports enthusiasts by providing them with engaging and exciting avenues. This year, based on last year's response, the thrill and joy will be stepped up through reaching out to a larger audience. For the first time, in addition to racing in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing e-motorsports championship on Playstations 4, participants can also race in the "GR Excelerate Tournament" on PC platforms.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 11

KARTING

X 3 0 - N AT L

Ruhaan, Rohaan, Nikhilesh emerge champs X30 class Round 1 kicks off Meco National Karting Championships PHOTO BY: SHAHJAHAN

R

uhaan, Rohaan and Nikhilesh topped their respective classes in the four races Round 1 of the MECO FMSCI National Karting Championship, in the NC Racing Msport IAME X30 India 2021 held at Meco Kartopia in Bengaluru in August.

In Junior class Race 1, Rohaan Madesh after qualifying on pole carried his dominance 12 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

into Race 1 and despite stiff competition from Abhay M, Rohaan managed to win the race. Abhay right from the start was eager to go past Rohaan and even clocked the fastest lap but had to settle for second position. Jaden R Pariat with over six seconds difference completed the podium. Ishaan Madesh after qualifying second had to pull out in the sixth lap. Akshat Misra and Ranvir Singh

finished fourth and fifth.

RACE ONE: Aditya Suresh Kamat was the winner of Race 1 in the Cadet class. After qualifying second, he won with a difference of over two seconds on the Nikhilesh Raju. Arafath Sheikh in spite of starting on pole, was unable to capatilise on it and only managed to be on the podium in third position with

a difference of just below 300th of a second. Vedha Vishnu and Zarah Misra finished in fourth and fifth respectively.

In Senior Class, former National champion Ameya Bafna with a comfortable lead of over four seconds won Race 1 holding on to his qualifying position. MR Rishon finished second with a lead of over three seconds on the third place Ruhaan

R1, BENGALURU as the qualyfing positions.

Nigel Abrahim Thomas managed to finish fourth while Shaurya Kapani finished fifth.

RACE TWO: In Junior cl as s Race 2, Rohaan once again was the leader as he managed to keep his younger brother Ishaan Madesh behind him with a difference of over one second. Ishaan finished second. With a further difference of just over 500th of a second, Abhay finished third. Akshat Misra and Ranvir Singh both finished in the same position as Race1 in fourth and fifth position respectively.

In Cadet class Race 2, Arafath Sheikh with a lead of below three seconds was the winner followed by Nikhilesh Raju in second position.

Another two seconds behind Aditya Suresh Kamat took the third position. Vedha and Zarah, once again for the second time, finished in fourth and fifth position respectively.

In the Senior class Race 2, Ruhaan Alva with a lead of over two seconds won the race followed by Rishon in second position. Ameya with less than 200th of a second difference settled for third.

Shaurya Kapani finished in fourth position while Raaj Bakhru finished fifth.

RACE THREE: In Junior class Race3, Ishaan Madesh with over two seconds difference finally managed to finish on top with a lead of over two seconds. Abhay M came in second position as he held on to his position warding off constant threat from Jaden R Pariat till the end. Jaden settled for third with a difference of just over 200th of a second. Akshat Misra and Ranvir Singh for the third time in a row finished in the same order.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 13

R1, BENGALURU

KARTING X 3 0 - N AT L

In Cadet class Race 3, Nikhilesh with over two seconds lead finished on top.

The second position finisher Adithya Suresh Kamat had nothing to lose as Vedha Vishnu finished a distant third with a difference of over 28 seconds. Arafath Sheikh with a further 16 seconds difference was fourth followed by Zarah in fifth.

In the Senior class Race 3, with a lead of three seconds Ameya Bafna managed to win pushing Ruhaan Alva to second position. Ruhaan managed to stay in second with a lead of over four seconds on Rishon who finished third. Nigel finished fourth while Raaj finished fifth.

RACE FOUR: The Junior class once again belonged to Rohaan Madesh. With a difference of over a second, he managed to keep Abhay behind in second position. Jaden completed the podium with a difference of three seconds.

Ranvir finished fourth while 14 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

Akshat finished fifth in order.

In Cadet class, Nikhilesh was the winner with a lead of over six seconds. Adithya Suresh Kamat with below-three seconds difference was second while Vedha Vishnu finished third. Arafath finished fourth and Zarah finished fifth.

The Senior class win was bagged by Ruhaan Alva with

a lead of over six seconds to seal the first round honours.

Rishon finished in second position with a further difference of over five seconds. Nigel managed to be on the podium in third.

Shaurya and Raaj finished in fourth and fifth position respectively.

Standings: Cadet class: Nikhilesh Raju

with his two-top finishes and two second position finishes managed to accumulate 34 points and lead the championship followed by Aditya Suresh Kamat (30 points) with one top finish, two second positions and one third finish. Arafath Sheikh with 26 points stood third with one first, one third and two fourth finishes.

Junior class: Rohaan Madesh with 32 points was the leader with three wins and once had finished seventh. Abhay M with 27 points from three third finishes and one second finish is running second, Ikshaan Madesh with one DNF, once finish each in first, second and sixth position managed to stay in third position with 20 points.

Senior class: Ruhaan Alva with a total of 33 points was the winner by winning twice and once each in second and third positions. Ameya and Rishon were both running second tied on 27 points each. Ameya Bafna garnered 27 points from two wins, one third and eighth. Rishon also scored 27 points from three second-position finishes and one third place.

GURUGRAM

HYUNDAI HEADQUARTER

Hyundai's new stateof-the-art corporate headquarters

H

yundai Motor India Ltd, country's First Smart Mobility Solutions Provider and largest exporter since inception, inaugurated its new state-of-the-art Corporate Headquarters in Gurugram. The inauguration ceremony was graced by the presence of Honourable Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal. Hyundai Motor India's Corporate Headquarters will pave way towards seamless development in the sphere of mobility and beyond while becoming the 'Center for Transformation of a Better Tomorrow'.

Hyundai's global vision 'Progress for Humanity'. With strong commitment towards people and environment, this headquarters will be a focal point of innovation and realise Hyundai Motor India's vision of 'Progress for the People, Prosperity for the Planet'. Further, through our strong values and the indomitable spirit of Hyundai, we will nurture new talent at this facility and become the fulcrum of distinction for the transformation of a better tomorrow."

Mr. Kim added, "We are glad to share that during the Hyundai Motor India Corporate Headquarters inauguration ceremony, the Honourable Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal, inaugurated two oxygen plants donated by Hyundai Motor India Foundation, to CHC and Al- Afia Hospitals in Nuh District, Haryana."

To perfectly harmonize human interactions with nature and technology in the New Corporate Headquarters, Hyundai Motor India developed a concept that epitomizes the Body, Mind and Soul

achieving an unparalleled experience for employees in this Home away from Home.

The 'Body' allows individuals to feel connected, develop a spirit of unity and draw synergies from each other for heightened levels of collaboration. The 'Mind' helps in foster collective intelligence and promote unison of thought, strengthen relationships, and cultivate 'Vision for the Future'. The 'Soul' pronounces 'Prosperity for Humanity' and delves deeper to contribute towards mutual progress for mankind. The perfect amalgamation of these elements has led to the creation of the 'Center for Transformation of a Better Tomorrow'.

The state of art facility has been developed with a total built up area of over 28 000 square meters, incorporating multiple facets to empower individuals and stakeholders.

Through its technological prowess and human centric vision, Hyundai Motor India has carefully blended together elements that curate an ecosystem abundant with energy, positivity, harmony, nature and technology.

Commenting on the inauguration of Hyundai Motor India's New Corporate Headquarters, Mr. S.S Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said "Harnessing the strength of 25 years of excellence in India, Hyundai Motor India has surpassed yet another significant milestone with the grand inaugurate its state-of-theart new Corporate Headquarters in the heart of Gurugram. This new building stands as a symbol of Hyundai's journey of togetherness with the people of India. The new HMI Corporate Headquarters has been built on the tenets of JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 15

RALLY

EUROPEAN

Team MRF Tyres st

wins 1 podium at FIA ERC round nd Breen/Nagle take 2 place at Rally Liepaja

W

ith a secondplace finish at the Rally Liepaja, Team MRF Tyres registered their first ever podium since entering the European Rally Championship in 2020. It was a hard-fought podium with Craig Breen and Paul Nagle battling against Europe's 16 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

best throughout the event recently.

The final day's action saw six stages and 90.92 km of action in warm and sunny conditions on roads around the Latvian coastal town of Liepaja. The Team MRF Tyres Hyundai i20 R5 started the day in second place, involved

in a great fight with Nikolay Gryazin/Konstantin Aleksandrov (VW), Efrén Llarena/ Sara Fernández (Skoda) and Alexey Lukyanuk/Dmitriy Eremeev (Citroën). Just 13.4 seconds separated the four cars.

In the 18.42-km Neste stage, the first stage of the day,

Breen and Nagle came in third with a time of 9:18.2, just 3.4 seconds off the lead.

The pace was repeated on the second stage of the day, with Breen/Nagle taking second just 3.1 seconds off the stage win on the Ìnvest in Liepaja' stage. Third on stage nine, solidified Team MRF

LIEPAJA Tyres second place going into the final service. With just three stages remaining, Breen and Nagle sat in second 15.2 seconds off Gryzain/Konstantin in the lead and 16.0 seconds ahead of Lukanuk/Eremeev in third.

After final service, SS10 saw a repeat of the Neste stage with Breen and co-driver Nagle coming home in fifth, 3.9 seconds off the stage win.

The 11th stage would be a new one for the rally with the 9.93-km blast setting up a setting up a grandstand finish. Breen and Nagle were able to bring the car home third on the final stage to

finish second in the overall standings as they stood at the final stop-line.

Craig Breen, Driver, Hyundai i20 R5, said: "We had to push for the whole rally. This series is very strong with some of the best drivers competing and we had to fight hard at every stage. Getting our firstever podium in the ERC is very satisfying for me and Team MRF Tyres. The Hyundai i20 R5 felt good through the rally. We entered the Championship a year ago and Rally Liepaja is only our third gravel rally and a podium finish here is a great result."

The result is another demonstration of the advancement that Team MRF Tyres have made in the development of their tyres.

In Rally Poland, just the

second gravel rally for Team MRF Tyres, Breen and Nagle took the first stage and in Latvia, the first repeat rally for MRF Tyres, the team took their first podium.

“

Craig Breen, Driver, Hyundai i20 R5, said: "We had to push for the whole rally. This series is very strong with some of the best drivers competing and we had to ght hard at every stage. Geing our rst-ever podium in the ERC is very satisfying for me and Team MRF Tyres.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 17

HYUNDAI ALCAZAR

ANOTHER WINNER Hyundai's new 6-7 Seater premium SUV, Alcazar is here to take on its rivals

18 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

FIRST DRIVE, MUMBAI Day Light Opening, Standing out is the Diamond Cut Alloys and a side foot step, the dark chrome Door handle, also on the side is the Puddle Lamps with Hyundai Logo Projection, projecting from the side mirror bottom.

Flared wheel arches and Diamond cut alloys makes it look large with the 2,760mm wheel base and the 18" wheel. the height is of 1,675mm with a overall length of 4500mm. The Seamless Floating Roof Design with Large DLO, offers a superlative panoramic effect.

W

e recently had an opportunity to d r i v e t h i s spacious new SUV in and around Mumbai city. We took the Alcazar through Mumbai's jungle, the Yevoor hills and came back impressed with its performance on all fronts.

During our drive, many onlookers enquired about the SUV and its many new technology-oriented features. Here is our take on the drive.

SUV gives the customers with heavily loaded features in this segment. We drove a 6MT with 2.0 Nu Petrol engine, across the busy roads of Mumbai. Most of the facilities can be attained through voice command, thus reduces the risk of drifting away from the front visualisation. On rough roads, found it to be more stable.

When we talk on the front it is the cascading design Dark Chrome Grille and the solid front skid plate. With lot of improvement on the front illumination supporting it is the combination of Trio Beam LED Headlamps, Crescent Glow LED DRLs, and LED Fog Lamps with Dark Chrome Garnish.

The side view is with a Large

The rear design features the ALCAZAR emblem on the dark chrome Tail gate Garnish and a New honeycomb inspired LED tail lamp, the Dark Chrome Garnish continues in the Tailgate. Adding to the downward finish is the Sporty Twin Tip Exhaust and Rear Skid Plate round off the Hi-Performance appeal. The Shark Fin Antenna with Rear Spoiler completes the seamlessly dynamic design.

The mid-size SUV, the Creta is one of the best sellers for Hyundai. Taking the success forward, the company recently introuded its premium SUV, Alcazar in India as it marks the 25 years of its excellence in India, along with entering the Live the Grand Life with the Most Awaited Versatile, Premium, 6- and 7-Seater SUV segment. Offering superlative performance, comfort and convenience, it will fortify the leadership position in the SUV segment and perfectly complement the line-up of Venue, Creta, Kona Electric and Tucson.

This shift from mid-size two row SUV Creta to a three row JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 19

HYUNDAI ALCAZAR

With a more premium cabin look comes with a Premium Dual Tone Cognac Brown interiors inspire a warm and earthy ambience while perfectly harmonizing with comfortable and spacious seating. The digital cluster just above the Tilt & Telescopic Perforated Leather D-Cut Steering is appealing. The Power Driver seat comes with a 8 way adjustment, making your entry more pleasant is the offers Welcome Greeting that lends a warm feeling every time you step inside

adding to it is the 64 colours ambient lighting and the 10.25 inch Multi display digital cluster with HD touch screen system with ample of features. air purifier, Ventilated seats and Panoramic sunroof, smart phone wireless charger, Sliding sun visor are part of the front row visible. Electric parking brake with Auto hold on your left beside the Cockpit Inspired Perforated Gear Knob.

The second row comes with two options of two- captain

seats in case of 6seater and three seats in case of 7 seater.

The sliding and reclining seats with Headrest cushion are comfortable enough with console armrest with smartphone wireless charger. Foldable tray table at the front row seat back comes with a retractable cup holder and a groove to hold the tablet upright or phone.

Within the arm reach is the storage space, cup holder and wireless smart phone charger.

The third row is best when reserved for kids, as only little leg space can be attained in spite of sliding the front row forward. The row comes with a rear window sunshade, two USB chargers and AC vents comes with speed control. An optimized opening line and 3rd Row Assist Handle, offers ease of access to the 3rd row that presents customers with thoughtfully crafted convenience. A tip and tumble function offers a hassle-free access while the 3 rd Row Seat - 50:50 Split Fold offers flexibility of folding seats to accommodate more

HYUNDAI ALCAZAR Engine:

PETROL 1500cc

Max Power:

159 PS

Max Torque:

191Nm

Transmission:

Automatic / Manual

Fuel Efficiency: 14.2 Auto 14.5 Man Engine:

DIESEL 1999cc

Max Power:

115 PS

Max Torque:

250Nm

Transmission:

Automatic / Manual

Fuel Efficiency: 18.10 Auto 20.4 Man 2O autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

FIRST DRIVE, MUMBAI

luggage. It also provides a stepped roof to enhance 3rd Row headroom for passengers. All this with a 180lts boot space. With a unique and flexible seating

Three driving mode such as Comfort, Eco and Sport

configuration, Hyundai ALCAZAR easily caters to various demands of modern SUV buyers for Family Travel, Group Outings and leisurely Business Travel.

The 1st in Segment 10.25" Multi Display Digital Cluster adds to the contemporary styling of the interior while seamlessly displaying important driver information

for added safety and convenience. It can also be customized in 4 Themes CUBE, COMFORT, ECO & SPORT using the Infotainment Screen.

64 colours Ambient Three Traction control mode Blind view camera with surround view of 360 degree lighting for Sand, Snow and Mud

JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 21

HYUNDAI ALCAZAR

Adding to the downward finish is the Sporty Twin Tip Exhaust

Diamond cut alloys makes it look large with the 18" wheel.

a side foot step

With all seats in use and minimum of 180lts of boot space

With the third row completely used for stocking

Maximum boot space availability with only front two seats in use

It presents customers with an immersive infotainment experience through HD Touchscreen system with

22 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

built in Navigation and connectivity solutions to offer the perfect 3rd Space experience. The system

provides control through a High-Resolution wide LCD Display with Split Screen Display capability, access to

Auto Healthy Air Purifier Control and also gets Voice Commands for System Control.

FIRST DRIVE, MUMBAI

Electric parking brake with Auto hold on your left beside the Cockpit Inspired Perforated Gear Knob.

It is offered with Blind View Monitor (BVM) and Surround View Monitor (SVM) with 360° Camera. Blind View Monitor will assist drivers in changing lanes by providing a live view of the blind spots on either side, a blind spot monitor that flashes a feed from the ORVMs on the instrument cluster whenever you tap the indicators.

Further, the Surround View Monitor, will offer an increased level of safety while parking by displaying a Birds Eye View of the car using 4 cameras, making it easy and smooth to drive & manoeuvre.

The Bose Premium Sound System with 8 Speakers delivers a "Theatre like Experience". This 1st in Segment feature also comes with Dynamic Speed

The row comes with a rear window sunshade, two USB chargers and AC vents comes with speed control

Compensation by monitoring vehicle speed to adjust aspects of sound, thereby ensuring a noise free theatre like experience.

Featuring a Voice Enabled Smart Panoramic Sunroof, Furthermore, with commands like "I want to see the sky" customers can easily operate the Voice Enabled Smart Panoramic Sunroof.

Hyundai ALCAZAR offers superior ride comfort and stability giving customers a confident and robust driving experience. The front struts feature Hydraulic Rebound Stopper (HRS) that offers better rebound control, plush ride feel even on bad roads and over bumps.

The 60 advanced Blue Link Features on the voice command will give you a very

Within the arm reach is the storage space, cup holder and wireless smart phone charger.

Foldable tray table at the front row seat back comes with a retractable cup holder and a groove to hold the tablet upright

organised hands free facilities. We tried a few options as our time was limited.

When we tried the welcome greeting to customer, it was very warming as it refreshes you mind, not only once, but on every entry. Also it feels very comfortable to command the Sunroof Control. We tried dialling facility by using the name and secondly by number, simultaneously we tried knowing the time difference between countries, lastly we tried driving the vehicle with different tyre pressures, which was communicated within seconds.

.

Hyundai ALCAZAR will be offered with 6 Colour Options (Polar White, Typhoon Silver, Phantom

Panoramic sunroof which can be operated by voice command

Black, Titan Grey, Starry Night, Taiga Brown and 2 Dual Tone colour options (Polar White with Phantom Black and Titan Grey with Phantom Black).

.

Petrol with 1999 displacement generates a maximum power of 159PS and 191 Nm of Torque, the 6speed manual Transmission fuel efficiency is about 14.5kmpl and the 6-speed Automatic fuel efficiency is about 14.2kmpl.

.

Diesel with 1493 displacement generates a maximum power of 115PS and 250Nm of Torque, the 6speed manual transmission fuel efficiency is 20.4kmpl, while the 8-speed automatic transission fuel efficiency is 18.1kmpl as Per ARAI test results.

The Bose Premium Sound System with 8 Speakers delivers a "Theatre like Experience".

JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 23

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Recent investments in the Indian EV auto industry-an opportunity to become a globally competitive industry. – Dr. Deb Mukherji Ph.D.

I

n d i a n automotive industry is at the cusp of a major disruption by Electric vehicles.

Aided by central Govt. incen tive s

and further boosted by several state Govt. incentives the industry is set for a quick surge in volumes in 2 and 3 wheelers. An indicator is the recent announcements by two major ICE vehicle makers-Hero and TVS to launch full range of electric vehicles. For past few years, all major players in the ICE vehicles have been securing technology foothold in the EV domain by alliances with the startups in powertrain or vehicle manufacturing. This has largely been the trend in India in the 2 and 3 wheelers where top4 companies invested in EV startups at company or promoter level investments. It appears now these OEMs sense the market is soon reaching the inflection point for them to take the plunge directly into the electric space. This is excellent news for the industry as well as consumers for once industry reaches inflection point, volumes will increase exponentially and costs will come down.

An important indicator of the success of any industry is the ability to raise capital. An analysis shows that in last 15 years just a handful of companies in the ICE automotive vehicles would

24 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

raise money from market through IPO. Last 15 years 12 IPOs happened in the auto components sector. With the exception of Varroc and Endurance all others were less than 500 Cr, with 7 being around 100 Cr. Average market caps are seen around 200 Cr. Compare this to the Sona Comstar, a new age EV powertrain manufacturing company, which last month raised 5550 Cr. in its listing.

Also Switch Mobility, the EV arm of Ashok Leyland has announced equity sale of 1% at $18 million, thus valuing the company at $1.8Bn. This is stupendous achievement and it also highlights the interest of investors in the rapidly growing electric automotive segment.

Another key learning would be investors are willing to reward a manufacturing company with focus on technology & IPs. Compare this to few yeas ago when most of the investments could be seen in last mile mobility. This model seem to have yielded little as we have not seen any listing or high profile exits so far from these investments. In fact most of these last mile mobility service providers are under stress due to failed business model of deploying cheap,

DM SPEAKS

In the 3 wheeler segment, many manufacturers have either gone in for China import or Chinese made Powertrain and Battery strategy. This has resulted in poor quality vehicles on the road and high down time. In one case a leading last mile delivery company has to keep 200 vehicles in his fleet against an actual requirement of merely 100. A 50% reserve fleet is attributed to poor quality of vehicles. This model will change with introduction of robust quality vehicles designed and developed in India. Reliable quality of Powertrain and battery BMS will play a major role in making the last mile business efficient and viable. The OEMs using such reliable products shall be rewarded by investors.

It is heartening to see the investors signaling a change in

priority, investing in high end technology driven business models. Robust, high quality vehicles which are built to last longer and do longer service hours thus leading to profitable businesses will be preferred from Investor point of view.

Auto components sector has a huge contribution by MSMEs which form the backbone of the automotive industry. Govt. data shows around 460 MSMEs operating in the organized sector and an estimated more than 10,000 in the unorganized sector of automotive in the country. The MSME contributes 27% of manufacturing GDP and around 4% of the GDP (IBEF report May'21). This therefore has a huge role to play in making Indian EV a successful industry at domestic and global level.

Electrification is a global event.

After China who had a head start of more than 10 years, now the rest of the world is playing a strong catch up, with Europe currently seems to be taking the lead. Germany announced that they will soon have 1millions on road by Aug'21. This is a great transition for a country which loves its innovative diesel cars.

USA has seen most of the startups in the EV space, after spectacular success of TESLA, currently led by the heavy trucks and SUV segments. In the Indian

“

It is heartening to see the investors signaling a change in priority, investing in high end technology driven business models.

Robust, high qulaity vehicles which are built to last longer and do longer service hours per day thus leading to pro table businesses will be preferred from Investor point of view

“

low end Chinese import vehicles resulting in grossly inefficient supply chain thus leading to massive loss making businesses.

Last mile delivery for ecommerce segment is a demanding business. The business success depends upon number of packages delivered daily, turnaround time and these are tracked on real time basis by the customers. The efficiency plays a big role here which is in turn dependent upon vehicle quality and reliability.

scenario we have seen recent announcements by Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai/Kia about launching their products in market soon. This is a great encouragement to the upcoming EV auto components industry. Indian auto components industry needs to think becoming a global automotive player in this space which despite being 4th largest car maker and largest two wheeler market in ICE industry did not become. "Made in India" did never get established as top quality or technology manufacturer. If at all, several Indian component makers destroyed their reputation by producing low quality products and often delaying OEMs product launches, thus destroying their reputation.

This might change now. Aided by the global investors and new age entrepreneurs, we might see emergence of a new auto components industry in the EV space. This could put Indian industry at the global stage with world class motors, drive trains and power electronics products.

India has a globally competitive IT work force. This needs to be leveraged in the automotive space. Modern cars have more than 100 million lines of codes written in them. Embedded software constitute a very large part of these vehicles, at times more than 55% of its value. This provides a significant business opportunity to the industry stakeholders from hardware manufacturers to the code writers. Post COVID, India could become an integral part of the global automotive supply chain.

The recent investments in the EV industry are a very positive signal. The finance community is playing its part, manufacturers need to play theirs. An estimated $500Bn global opportunity awaits them. It is time Indian Auto Components Industry gets recognized for what it is worth.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 25

OMEGA VEHICLES

Omega Seiki Mobility's two-wheeler electric vehicles range of over 85 km in a single charge. The vehicles will be available in 7 colours.

"We are excited about bringing our electric 2 wheelers to further accelerate development of sustainable solutions.

Climate change is a serious challenge and Omega Seiki Mobility is committed to providing solutions and the company is doing its bit in moving the world to sustainable mobility through our products", said Mr Uday Narang, Founder, OSM at the unveiling ceremony.

Talking about plans for B2B Mr. Narang added "We are creating special application and features in our electric scooters for the B2B sector.

We are actively exploring

O

mega Seiki Mobility (OSM) unveiled its first two-wheeler electric scooter ZORO and FIARE. The booking of electric vehicles will commence by the end of August 2021 and deliveries 26 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

will commence by the festive season. The company showcased its new products at OSM's new state-of-theart flagship showroom in Pune. OSM electric vehicles ZORO and FIARE will offer speed of 45 km having a

partnerships with key players especially in the food delivery, pharmaceutical sector and other sectors" Mr. Deb Mukherji, Managing Director, Omega Seiki Mobility said "One in every two-wheeler sold in India is a scooter. I believe that this number will grow exponentially especially when the Government is providing subsidies to the segment."

In June, the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) had modified FAME II and increased the demand incentive for electric twowheelers (e2W) to Rs 15,000 per kwh from the earlier uniform subsidy of Rs 10,000 per kwh for all EVs. Besides, it had also capped incentives

EV- TWO WHEELERS

“The awareness and acceptance of EVs in Maharashtra is high and with the FAME II revision and subsidy by the Maharashtra Govt., the adoption rate of EVs will further increase in the coming months.

Hence, we have launched our rst agship store in Pune.

Omega Seiki Mobility currently have 15 showrooms PAN India and we are planning to expand to 115 showrooms by end of 2021. We will also be launching 10 agships stores in the current year"

for e2W at 40 per cent of the cost of vehicles, up from 20 per cent earlier. "The introduction of Omega Seiki Mobility electric scooters will support the Indian government's goal new electric vehicles, while also helping the public sector become carbon neutral." Added Mr. Narang In line with its strategy to expand its retail footprint across key towns and cities in India, Omega Seiki Mobility today launched its First flagship showroom in Pune.

Omega Seiki Mobility flagship showroom is essentially an interactive space having tech gadgets (Tablets) which offers customers an opportunity to learn about the vehicle and its features.

While launching the first Flagship showroom of OSM Mr. Narang said: "The awareness and acceptance of EVs in Maharashtra is high and with the FAME II revision and subsidy by the Maharashtra Govt., the adoption rate of EVs will further increase in the coming months.

Hence, we have launched our first flagship store in Pune.

Omega Seiki Mobility currently have 15 showrooms PAN India and we are planning to expand to 115 showrooms by end of 2021. We will also be launching 10 flagships stores in the current year" JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 27

HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX

Esteban Ocon gets thrilling first F1 win nd

Hamilton 2 as stewards disqualify Vettel after the race Budapest, 1 Aug 2021: lpine's Esteban Ocon held of Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel to take a surprise maiden grand victory after collisions in turn one upset the order and brought out the red flags. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, fought back to third place after a tactical error at the restart left him in last place in the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 1, the Round 11 of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

A

28 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

After the race, Vettel was disqualified by the stewards.

Hamilton and Sainz were promoted to second and third respectively and the rest of the field till 10th, for the last point.

Earlier at the start, held in drizzly conditions and with the field on intermediate tyres, Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas made a poor getaway from P2 on the grid and was passed by third-place starter Max Verstappen, the second Red Bull of Sergio Pérez and

by McLaren's Lando Norris, who moved in front of the Mercedes driver.

Bottas attempted to recover but when Norris appeared to brake slightly early to avoid trouble in Turn 1, the Finn driver locked up and ploughed into the back of the Englishman's car. Norris cannoned into the side of Max's RB16B with the championship leader's car sustaining heavy damage to the floor. Bottas, meanwhile, bounced through the corner

and collided with Pérez.

Seeing the incident unfolding, Lance Stroll tried to move to an inside line for Turn 1 but Charles Leclerc was already turning and the Aston Martin driver made heavy contact with the Ferrari driver who exited the race.

The Safety Car was quickly deployed.

Verstappen and Pérez were initially able to continue but midway through the lap Pérez pulled over and retired from the race. Verstappen

BUDAPEST

limped back to the pits for visual checks but as he rejoined his right bargeboard detached and

with debris in the pit exit and scattered across Turn 1 the red flags were displayed.

In the pit lane pole position

man Lewis Hamilton held P1 for Mercedes ahead of Ocon and Vettel. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz was fourth ahead of AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda and Williams' Niocholas Latifi was sixth. Alpine's Fernando Alonso sat in seventh place ahead of Williams' George Russell, the Alfa Romeo of Kimi Räikkönen and the Haas of Mick Schumacher, while ahead of the wounded RB16B of Verstappen at the restart would be AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly and McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo.

Race control informed the teams that a standing start would take place and the cars were led out of the pit lane by the safety car. The entire field went out for the formation lap on intermediate tyres but with the sun now rapidly drying the track it quickly became clear to all but Hamilton that slicks would be required. The race leader made his way to the front of the grid but behind him the entire field pitted to take on slicks. Hamilton was left alone on the grid to restart the race on his own.

As Hamilton powered away

towards Turn 1, the rest of the order then filed out of the pit lane and took up position behind him.

Mercedes immediately told Hamilton to pit at the end of the lap and Ocon soon took up the race lead ahead of Vettel and Latifi.

Hamilton dropped to P14 and last as Verstappen made his way to P11 but as Ocon and Vettel pulled away from the pack, the championship leaders struggled to get past rivals at the back of the field.

Verstappen eventually made his way past Schumacher to claim P10 and that became ninth place when Räikkönen served a penalty for an unsafe release in the pit lane traffic ahead of the restart. Hamilton eventually made his way to P13 and then, on lap 20 he dived into the pits to take on hard tyres.

Red Bull then pitted Verstappen for hard tyres, but with the Dutchman struggling for pace in his damaged car the undercut worked for Mercedes and Hamilton swept past as the Dutchman exited the pit lane.

Verstappen was now in 12th place just behind McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo. But even though the Red Bull driver could get inside DRS range of the McLaren, the Australian was getting a similar boost from George Russell ahead and the champion leader found himself stuck at the tail of a train of cars.

Ahead, Hamilton continued his march forward and by lap 35 he was in fifth place behind Alonso, who needed to make another pit stop.

The Spaniard briefly took the race lead when Vettel and Ocon took on fresh tyres, with Ocon holding the advantage, but a lap later Alonso made his stop and JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 29

BUDAPEST

HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX

Hamilton swept past to claim fourth place. The Briton was struggling for grip on his hard tyres, however and Mercedes opted to pit him for new mediums and a renewed assault.

Further back, Verstappen pitted to find a way out of the train and after taking on new medium tyres began to attack the cars ahead.

Hamilton then began to reel in the top four and on lap 54 he was just 1.8s behind Alonso. Verstappen, meanwhile, has made his way past Räikkönen and was up to P11 and closed in on Ricciardo eventually getting past the Australian with 10 laps to go to secure P10 and a single point.

Alonso's defence against Hamilton eventually expired at the start of lap 65. The Alpine driver had a momentary lock up into Turn 1 and Hamilton pounced to steal P4 on the run down to Turn 2. The Mercedes driver quickly closed on Sainz and 3O autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

at the start of lap 67 he powered past the Ferrari to take third place.

And there the odder solidified. Vettel could find no way to mount an attack on Ocon and though Hamilton pressed hard to reel in the Aston Martin driver he couldn't close the gap and after 70 laps Ocon crossed the line to take a memorable first grand prix win ahead of Vettel and Hamilton.

Fourth place went to Sainz, with Alonso a brave fifth ahead of Pierre Gasly, who took the point for fastest lap.

Seventh place went to Yuki Tsunoda, while Williams celebrated their first points in two years thanks to Nicholas Latifi and George Russell's finishing eighth and ninth respectively.

Verstappen now goes into the break in P2 in the Drivers' standings. Hamilton now leads on 192 points with Max six points behind. The team is now P2 in the Constructors' 10 points behind Mercedes.

LONDON

F I A

new chapter for the alle l e c t r i c W o r l d Championship. It is already proving to be the perfect environment to design, collaborate, test and develop n e w s u s t a i n a b l e technologies at pace. Jaguar Racing will not only play a role in the renaissance of Jaguar as a pure-electric luxury brand, but across the entire electrified Jaguar Land Rover ecosystem, helping to deliver our sustainable future a n d o u r d i g i t a l transformation.”

FORMULA E

Jaguar Land Rover commits to Formula E New strategy confirms long-term future to Formula E Gen3 era

J

aguar Land Rover has officially confirmed Jaguar Racing's long-term future to the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship which is set to commence in the 202223 season, a release from Gaydon (UK) said in July.

Jaguar Racing's race-winning motorsport operation will help Jaguar Land Rover develop new sustainable technologies and set new benchmarks in quality with its partners, and support Jaguar's renaissance as an all-electric luxury brand from 2025.

The Formula E programme will contribute to Jaguar Land Rover's Reimagine strategy - a commitment to

achieve zero tailpipe emissions by 2036, and net zero status across supply chain, operators, and products by 2039.

The long-term commitment comes ahead of Jaguar Racing's first race on home soil for 17 years, its first Formula E race in London with Briton Sam Bird leading the drivers' championship at that stage. Jaguar's allelectric I-TYPE race cars, have achieved four victories and 12 podiums in its 59 Formula E races till then, will continue to be a real-world test bed for developing worldleading technologies while pushing for points, podiums and wins on track. Jaguar Racing will continue its successful long-term technical partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering into the Gen3

era of Formula E. FIA Formula E's new Gen3 electric race car is due to debut in Season 9 at the end of next year. The lighter, more powerful and efficient Gen3 car will set a new performance benchmark for an all-electric race car. The Gen3 Formula E car will also demonstrate the rapid developments in fastcharging technology for electric vehicles and help deliver more exciting racing in some of the world's largest cities. The Gen3 car will see power increase to 350 kW (currently 250kW) and maximum regenerative braking power increase from 250 kW to 600 kW. Thierry Bolloré, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, said: "The Gen3 era of Formula E is an exciting

Jean Todt, President, FIA, said: "Ahead of another important technical milestone for the FIA Formula E World Championship, I salute Jaguar Racing as a premium manufacturer to commit to the next era of the discipline.

The Gen3 race car will indeed further establish the principles that have made the championship successful. It is positive to see such a team continue with us on a shared mission to develop electric vehicle technology and promote sustainable mobility.”

Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E: "Jaguar are a key player in the future of luxury electric vehicles. It's a testament to the shared purpose that one of our earliest supporters, Jaguar Racing, are committing to Gen3 in anticipation of the 2022-23 season. Gen3 brings with it an unparalleled opportunity for a premium manufacturer like Jaguar to showcase innovation from a sporting perspective on the track, technological advancement on our roads and reach a global audience with spectacular city centre racing from around the world. We are thrilled to have Jaguar Racing joining us on that journey."

JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 31

XPULSE

R I D E

Xpulsating the Hero in you

Text: Arvind Shobha Pictures: Arvind Shobha and Hero Motocorp

W

e took the award w i n n i n g Xpulse200 in the outskirts of Hyderabad. We thoroughly enjoyed the ride in the monsoon, both on the muddy roads and hillocks Hero had come up with an Impulse, kick-started a lot of off-road dreams when it was launched in 2011, but the underpowered Honda Unicorn-sourced engine kept the Impulse from being a runaway success. It was discontinued in 2017 and now, Hero finally decided to let us have the BS4 XPulse 32 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

200 followed by the new BS6 XPulse 200, winning the Bike India Two-Wheeler of the Year Award as well as the Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) Award, which promises to better the Impulse by being more exciting and more versatile too.

INITIAL IMPRESSSION First unveiled as a concept back in EICMA 2017, Xpulse 200 is the most affordable adventure tourer in the country. The Xpulse 200 is an off-road motorcycle with a

bare-bones design. The design of the Xpulse 200 favors functions over styling. The high-set ground clearance, knuckle protectors, metal bash plate, wire-spoke wheels, multiterrain tyres, higher suspension travel and sidemounted exhaust proclaim the off-road intentions of the Xpulse 200. The new LED cluster headlights do add a jest to the overall styling.

E N G I N E A N D PERFORMANCE The Hero Xpulse 200 features

a 200cc single-cylinder aircooled motor that churns out 18.1bhp of power and 17.1Nm of torque. The motor is refined, with a strong lowend and mid-range punch.

The five-speed gearbox is smooth and precise in its operation. The tractability of this engine though has been improved, with the Xpulse 200 now pulling in cleanly from 25kmph in the third gear from as low as 2500rpm.

You can even cruise comfortably at 40kmph in the fifth gear. The bottom end grunt is still not as good

HYDERABAD as the Royal Enfield Himalayan but it feels more comfortable at lower rpms than before. The addition of oil-cooler was mainly done considering that the Xpulse 200 now comes with a Rally kit that tends to put a strain on the engine, especially after altering the final drive for better bottom end grunt.

The initial response from standstill is energetic and the 5-speed gearbox works well.

In the city, the XPulse is fairly tractable with zippy low-end performance, a definite departure from the milder Impulse. Post 60kmph, the performance dwindles gradually and going above 90kmph on the XPulse requires commitment and open roads. It hits the 100kmph mark at 7000rpm, which is quite high when you also consider that it redlines at 9000rpm. The speedo can eventually creep up to 120kmph, however regaining the pace after encountering a slow-moving truck in your path, for instance, will require patience and persistence.

Refinement at low revs is good too, but beyond 6000rpm, there is a buzz in the handlebar, pegs and tank which never goes away.

B R A K I N G BALANCING

forks at the front and a 10step adjustable monoshock at the rear. the Hero will put a smile on your face. It takes everything in its stride and its off-road credentials come to the fore when you push it through tricky situations.

190mm front suspension travel and 220m ground clearance do a great job at getting you to the far end of the trails.

On regular roads this set-up remains outstanding. The Xpulse 200 tackles potholes and undulations with sheer poise. The early ABS intervention from the BS4 Xpulse 200 has largely been solved. The ABS used to be super intrusive especially at slow speeds, but now it's not.

The stopping bite comes from to a 276mm disc at the front as well as the rear. The knobby Ceat tyres 90/90-21 section tyre at the front and a smaller 120/80-18 section tyre at the rear provide ample grip and confidence while tackling off-road obstacles.

CONCLUSION: Which brings us to the price, the Hero Xpulse 200 BS6 can be yours for Rs 1.11 lakh (exshowroom). This truly is the brilliance of the Xpulse as for this price there is nothing in the country that can give you what the Xpulse offers. You can do a comfortable 80kmph all day long, without stressing the engine or the rider, you would be smiling on the daily commute, laughing on the weekend rampage, and safely comfortable on the highway haul. There isn't much more you can ask for and there sure isn't anything on offer to match at this price point. The BS6 variant has not really lost any of the 'famous' numbers (performance figures) but is indeed greener, which was always the goal, and that is exactly why we tip our hats to the Hero Xpulse 200 Bs6.

The build quality of the motorcycle is phenomenal and will prove to be a worthy companion when you go trail

bashing. It might make lesser power now and weigh a bit more than before but that doesn't change the fact that the Hero XPulse 200 is still an amazing proposition when it comes to affordable ADV motorcycles in India. With a commendable ground clearance, capable chassis and good off-road dynamics, it still stands as a good beginner motorcycle for offroad enthusiasts.

A N D

The Hero Xpulse 200 is a decent bike to ride on the tarmac. However, offroading is a different experience altogether, Even though the weight has gone up, at 157kg, it still feels very light and nimble. The balance of the chassis is sublime and when you're off the beaten path, the chassis balance inspires you to push it harder on obstacles. It is built around a diamond frame while the suspension duties are handled by telescopic JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 33

BRITISH GRAND PRIX

th

Hamilton takes 8 British GP win

The British driver overcomes penalty for collision that ended Verstappen race Silverstone, 18 July 2021: ewis Hamilton overcame a penalty for causing a lap one collision with Max Verstappen that ended the Red Bull driver's race to take an eighth British Grand Prix win ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas at Silverstone in the Round 10 of the Formula 1 World Championship here on July 18.

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Verstappen started the race from pole position and at the start the Dutchman made a 38 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

good getaway to take the lead as the field streamed through the first corner.

Hamilton, though, was quickly on the attack and though Verstappen resisted, the Mercedes driver attacked once again on the highspeed run to Copse. He went down the inside of the Red Bull and as Verstappen turned in the Mercedes clipped the right-rear wheel of the Dutchman's car.

Verstappen was sent off track at high speed and he hit the tyre barriers hard, severely damaging his car.

Fortunately, Verstappen was

able to climb out of his wrecked car and was taken to the medical centre and later to a nearby hospital for precautionary checks.

With the tyre barrier severely damaged the race was soon red flagged and the race stewards quickly placed the incident under investigation.

Under the red flag, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was in first place, the Ferrari driver having passed Hamilton on track in the immediate aftermath of the lap one incident. And after a 35minute stoppage the cars formed up on the grid once

again.

When the lights went out, Leclerc made a good getaway from pole position to take the lead ahead of Hamilton, with Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas third ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris.

At the back, Sergio Pérez took the restart from 19th place on the grid but he was quickly on the march and within a handful of laps he had climbed to 12th-place and was chasing down AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly, though his progress was halted as he joined a DRS train containing 10th-placed

SILVERSTONE

Kimi Räikkönen and 11 th placed Pierre Gasly.

At the front, meanwhile, Hamilton was handed with a 10-second time penalty by the race stewards. Leclerc was now experiencing difficulties with his engine and that gave Hamilton hope that he might attack for the lead but the Ferrari driver managed to solve the issues with the aid of his pit wall.

Hamilton then made his way to the pit lane on lap 28. He served his time penalty and then switched to a set of hard tyres and rejoined in fifth

place. Leclerc made his stop soon after and he was able to resume in the lead.

Further back, as the pit stops played out, Pérez rose to ninth but once again in a train of cars he was unable to salvage anything better for Red Bull. The result was that Sergio pitted again on lap 39 for another set of mediums and dropped back to P17.

At the front, Hamilton had overcome his penalty with relative ease and he was pushing to catch Leclerc. The Monegasque driver resisted as hard as he could but with

two laps remaining Hamilton, armed with fresher tyres and more pace, powered past to claim the lead and then the race win.

With Hamilton holding fastest and the point associated with it, the gap to Verstappen in the Driver's standings would have been narrowed to just seven points. Red Bull therefor sacrificed Pérez's hopes of clawing his way back to the points and pitted the Mexican for soft tyres. And in the closing

moments he grabbed the fastest lap of the race to deny Hamilton and Mercedes.

Behind Hamilton and Leclerc, Bottas took third place ahead of Norris, with Daniel Ricciardo fifth in the second McLaren. Carlos Sainz fought back from a slow pit stop to finish sixth in the second Ferrari, while Fernando Alonso took seventh place for Alpine. Lance Stroll finished eighth for Aston Martin ahead of Esteban Ocon and the final point was taken by AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 39

DARK RANGE

Dark Range

Tata Motors takes the premium quotient in its passenger vehicles

PHOTO BY: MANJUNATH K

T

a t a M o t o r s announced the launch of the #Dark range which includes - India's safest premium hatchback Altroz, India's first GNCAP 5 star rated car - the Nexon, its premium SUV with the Land Rover DNA - the Harrier and 34 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

India's highest selling passenger electric car – the Nexon EV. Harrier #Dark launched in August 2019 took the style & premium quotient of the Harrier to the next level. It provided a compelling package to customers who

were looking for a Bold, Sophisticated & Stylish SUV. The Dark theme on the exteriors & interiors created a unique identity for Harrier Dark. Other changes like distinctive dark finishes, special Blackstone Matrix dashboard & premium Dark

upholstery were well appreciated and helped Harrier Dark stand out in the crowded SUV segment.

The Dark range is now available at dealerships and is open for bookings. All Tata Motors authorised

BENGALURU

dealerships are decorated in the Dark theme for customers to indulge into this exclusive experience.

Additionally, to add aesthetics and accentuate the styling, the Company is also introducing exclusive merchandise, which will consist of #Dark branded premium leather jackets and T-shirts. Furthermore, keeping absolute safety in mind the Company has also introduced a tyre puncture repair kit, as a priority customer offering, to increasing the convenience quotient in the range.

Commenting on the launch of this exclusive range, Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Head Marketing, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors said, "Harrier #Dark which was launched as a limited edition product initially, did extremely well and on popular customer demand became an integral part of the Harrier portfolio.

It offered an exciting & unique package to the customers. We are confident that the extended dark range is equally compelling and cater to customers who are looking for bold & stylish

cars this festive season."

Altroz Dark: Altroz has always been appreciated for its futuristic design and style. Altroz Dark, the new top of the line variant comes in a new Cosmo Black exterior body colour with dark tint finish on R16 alloy wheels and premium dark chrome across the hood. The Granite Black interior theme with metallic gloss Black mid pad and the leatherette upholstery with deep Blue Tri-arrow perforations and deco blue stitching, all add to the premiumness of the Altroz Dark. The #Dark mascot on the exterior and the Dark embroidery on the front headrest accentuate the theme. The Altroz Dark will be available in the top variant XZ+ for petrol (NA and iTurbo).

Nexon Dark: The Nexon in its #Dark avatar sports new Charcoal Black R16 Alloys, #Dark mascot, Sonic Sliver highlights on the body along with matte Granite Black cladding to accentuate its exterior. The interiors offer special dark interior pack, premium leatherette upholstery with Tri-arrow perforations on seats and door trim. The front headrests sports special JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 35

BENGALURU

DARK RANGE

#Dark Embroidery in line with the theme of the interiors. The new Nexon Dark will be offered in XZ+, XZA+, XZ+(O) & XZA+(O) variants, in both petrol & diesel fuel options. Nexon EV Dark: The Nexon EV #Dark theme will be available on the Nexon EV XZ+ and the XZ+ LUX variant. These variants will adorn a premium Midnight Black exterior colour with Satin Black humanity line and beltline, #Dark mascot and an all-new Charcoal Grey alloy wheels. The interiors of the car are also accentuated with dash of Dark themed glossy piano Black mid-pad with premium dark themed leatherette upholstery with Tri-arrow perforations on seats and door trims,

36 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

highlighted by EV Blue stitches (on the seats) and a leatherette wrapped steering wheel. The car will also get iTPMS (Tyre pressure monitoring system). Additionally, the Nexon EV XZ+ variant will have rear seat central armrest with cup-holders, 60:40 rear seat-split and adjustable rear seat headrests.

Harrier Dark: The Harrier #Dark offers allnew Oberon black colour with a tinge of deep blue adding to the stunning looks of Harrier. It also sports the bigger R18 Blackstone Alloys complimenting the sporty stance of the Harrier. On the interiors, Harrier #Dark offers a premium dark theme with

exclusive touches to the key interior elements. It sports a complete dark upper environment in line with the latest trend in the premium luxury car segments. The Benecke Kaliko Leatherette upholstery carry a special TriArrow perforations with deep blue undertone to it

enhancing overall premiumness of the interiors. Also the front seat headrests sport a special #Dark embroidery complementing overall dark theme on the interiors.

Harrier #Dark will be available in 3 trims XT+, XZ+ & XZA+.

NEWS

Aroor Arjun - Satish duo return to INRC Akhil at GT4

A

khil Rabindra, the only Indian on the European GT4 Championship grid, racing for AGS Events Racing Team, finished P11 in the Silver category in Race 1 along with his team mate Hugo Conde

in an incident laden round four of the championship in Belgium last evening. The race was being hosted at the iconic Circuit de Spa Francorchamps which also hosts the much awaited Belgian Grand Prix .

T

h e d u o o f veterans Aroor Arjun Rao and co-driver Satish Rajagopal return to the Indian N a t i o n a l R a l l y Championship for the full season after a gap of 3 years under Mandovi Racing supported by MRF Tyres. They duo have been rallying together since 2005 and are paired for the 14 t h time for this season.

Aroor Arjun Rao was the overall INRC runner up for 4 times in his career, 1600 category champion twice

and Rally Star Cup winner once. He was also the Malaysian Rally Group N Champion in 2009.

They will be driving the Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS (1st car to be prepared in India) in the overall INRC category for the 2021 season.

The car is prepared as per FMSCI R spec and they will be driving under the brand name of Mandovi Racing (Mandovi motors is authorised dealers for Maruti Suzuki) with Aroor Sanjay Rao as Team Principal.

Maini backed by OSM & JK Tyre Motorsport makes the most out of a Steep Learning Curve at DTM

M

ercedes-AMG driver Arjun Maini had a baptism of fire during the first round of th e D T M ch am p i o n s h i p held at the Monza race track in Italy. Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) and J.K.Tyre Motorsport backed racing driver Arjun Maini had a difficult start to his DTM

campaign as the rookie faced a stern challenge against the championship's more experienced campaigners.

Racing for the GetSpeed team, Maini made steady progress over the course of the weekend with the Indian feeling more comfortable in his Mercedes AMG GT3 car as JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 37

STYRIA GRAND PRIX

Magnificent maiden win for Jorge Martin Pramac Racing's rookie puts in a stunner for his first premier class win

J

orge Martin became the new winner of the MotoGP premier class on Sunday. From injury to pole position to top step of the podium, comeback stories don't get much better than Jorge Martin's (Pramac Racing) first weekend back from the summer break in the Grand Prix of Styria, the 10th round of the MotoGP World Championship at Spielberg on August 8. The Spaniard broke the lap record for pole on Saturday and then put in an imperious 4O autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

performance to outpace reigning Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) on Sunday, taking his first premier class win and becoming the first Independent Team rider on a Ducati to win a MotoGP race.

And for Pramac Racing, the wait is over as that victory with Ducati finally comes their way.

Mir took second and his best result of the season so far, with Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP)

completing the rostrum to do some impressive damage control in the standings at a tougher venue for Yamaha.

The first race start of two saw Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) take the holeshot as Mir and Martin slotted in behind, but it wasn't long before a huge moment of drama would interrupt proceedings. A couple of laps later, MotoGP Legend and wildcard Dani Pedros a (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) slid off out of Turn 3 – and his bike was then

struck by Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini).

Both riders were up and ok after the crash, but the bikes burst into flames and the Red Flag came out immediately – leaving a clean-up job to do.

Savadori headed for a check up and was found to have fractured his right malleolis, therefore out of the restart – but Pedrosa was able to get back out. After a considerable wait for the track to get cleaned and race ready, a new distance of 27 laps was set and the grid

SPIELBERG

lined up again.

But again, more drama hit – this time for Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as the number 12 couldn't get away on the Warm Up lap and was forced into pitlane. That left a gap on the grid, and the lights then finally went out for the second time.

This time around, Martin took the holeshot but Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) struck at Turn 3, with Mir slotted into third and a gap back behind the trio already.

Quartararo was on the chase, with another – after the same in the first start – moment between Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) slightly shuffling the pack just behind as El Diablo took the inside line and the room ran out.

At the front though, Miller led Martin led Mir, but Quartararo was homing in – and closest Championship challenger Zarco was the last man going with the front group. Bagnaia, meanwhile, had dropped behind both LCR Honda Castrol's Alex Marquez and LCR Honda Idemitsu's Takaaki Nakagami. Another rider of note was Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), as

the South African started to ignite his Sunday charge, up into ninth and looking like little would stop further progress.

Up ahead, by the braking zone for Turn 3, Martin was into the lead and past Miller though, and Quartararo and Zarco switched and switched back. Mir then got past Miller to get on the chase for victory, and a gap started to open up behind the leading duo. By 21 to go, Quartararo moved past the Australian too, and Miller responded at

Turn 4 before El Diablo elbowed his way back through. With that, the gap to the lead duo only grew...

Quartararo managed to hold on in third, but then more drama hit behind him to assure it. Martin and Mir had disappeared in the distance and Miller was starting to put the pressure on the number 20 in the fight for the podium, but disaster hit for the Australian with 10 laps to go. Suddenly sliding out at Turn 7, his rostrum hopes were over and the Yamaha

ahead was released into some solid breathing space.

From there on out, the key question became: Martin or Mir? But as the laps ticked down, the answer became clearer. The number 89 was edging away, and then a mistake from Mir at Turn 3 just took the gap over a second… and that was that. If Martin could keep it clean, his first premier class win was there for the taking.

Keep it clean he did. Mir did too from there on out, but it

JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 41

SPIELBERG

STYRIA GRAND PRIX

wasn't quite enough as the Pramac Racing rider in the lead just pounded on. Over the line, the comeback fairytale was complete and Martin took the flag with a second and a half in hand, making some incredible history with an emotional victory, from a pole position lap record no less. Mir was forced to settle for second but was right back in the hunt – and moved up to third in the standings – with Quartararo a distant but valuable third as Ducati territory didn't play out that way for his closest challengers in the points.

Fourth place, meanwhile, looked set for much of the race. But Brad Binder had other ideas, and the South African absolutely smashed the final lap. Beginning it behind both Nakagami and Zarco, the KTM rider wanted more than sixth and that's exactly what he got.

Dispatching the Japanese rider AND the Frenchman in just one lap, the number 33 took fourth and the honour of top KTM on home turf.

Sunday rider can also be a compliment!

Nakagami then snatched fifth and Zarco was forced to settle for sixth, losing out some ground to Quartararo.

Alex Rins slotted into seventh, with Marc Marquez 42 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

able to salvage eighth after some dramas for the number 93 on Sunday. Alex Marquez faded in the latter stages to ninth but still took a valuable top ten… as did Pedrosa, in the end. Bagnaia was given a time penalty for not taking a Long Lap – he exceeded track limits – and that puts the number 26 back into the top ten in Grand Prix racing. An impressive achievement for any rider, but especially more than two years after retirement.

Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) took P12 and managed to stay ahead of Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT), who in turn held off Luca Marini (Sky

VR46 Avintia). Iker Lecuona (Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing), after a stronger start, completed the points in P15.

Jorge Martin: "I can't believe it, for sure I think I still don't believe it so I'm still not so excited! What I did today was amazing, I kept a really constant pace throughout the race, in the same tenth, and I was super focused.

Even if I made some mistakes, my target was to win the race. Joan was impressive today too, he was behind me almost all the race but in the last laps I tried a bit more to brake a bit harder even if the front tyre was destroyed, and I could take a gap for the lead. On the last

laps I was thinking a lot of things, about everything and everyone who helped me to arrive here and that's why I was a bit worse in the last laps! But I had the gap to manage. Thanks to all my family, this is one big step towards my dream of being World Champion. Today is one big step, we're a bit closer and I want to dedicate it to all the people who've helped me and also to my grandfather who is still fighting, this is for you. I hope to keep this line for next weekend, it'll be more difficult but I think we still have some margin to work and we'll try for the win again."

CYCLE

LANDMARK

TRACKING BRANDS

SILVER JUBILEE

not just partnered a girl's self-determined quest for independence, but also been an extension of her personality and style statement. Over the last decade alone, 3.5 million young girls and women have experienced the joy of riding a BSA Ladybird Cycle. To celebrate this feeling, we are releasing a film, in which we have attempted to capture how early experiences and childhood, evolve us. In order for women to pursue their dreams, it is imperative for us to acknowledge the importance of freedom for the girls, at the right time, to emerge stronger than ever.

Today, we thank them for trusting and including us in their journey of growth."

BSA Ladybird completes

landmark 25 years of success

B

SA's Ladybird, India's first bicycle brand for girls, completes 25 years of success in the market. Under the BSA banner of Tube Investments of India Limited, Ladybird cycles continue to be preferred for features such as elegance and feminine charm. These cycles have been and continue to be, popular amongst the Indian Tween girls.

For over two and a half decade, the brand has empowered girls to be independent, responsible and given a sense of ownership during a phase where tween girls are figuring out their individuality, identity and standing in the society.

On the product front, BSA has offered a wide range of customer-centric bicycles, which is known for being stylish, yet fun, practical, reliable and user friendly.

With Anti Slip Chain, cushioned saddles, soft hand-grips, step-through frames, easy-glide hubs, front basket and many more features, the brand takes pride in offering a comfortable ride for its young, unstoppable consumers.

Announcing the silver jubilee milestone, KK Paul, President, TI Cycles of India, said, "Fun, freedom, energy, style and comfort are some of the values that define the BSA Ladybird. Over the last 25 years, BSA Ladybird has JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 43

MOTO GP NETHERLAND

Fabio Quartararo wins at Cathedral of Speed Maverick Vinales finishes second for a Yamaha 1-2

F

abio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) pitched the tactics to perfection in the Motul TT Assen to come out on top, heading a Yamaha 1-2 ahead of teammate Maverick Viñales as the two Iwata marque machines pulled the pin once again, in the Round 9 of the MotoGP World Championship at Assen, Netherlands, on June 27 before the summer break.

The duo also push the factory past the milestone of 750 podiums, with Yamaha now counting on 751 with two riders on the rostrum at Assen, known as Cathedral of Speed. Reigning Champion 44 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) completed the podium, slicing through from 10th on the grid.

Fabio Quartararo: "I trained with the ball a little bit higher all the days but this one was tough. Was really tough race, I was struggling so much to overtake Pecco. I struggled a little bit all weekend with my right arm, and in the race, I could have gone three or four tenths faster every lap, but I was feeling really bad and, at the half race I was a bit scared, but I kept the pace and I can be happy because with the battle with Maverick on Saturday, he won, but the points arrive on Sunday so I

am so happy."

Quartararo took the holeshot from second, but the Frenchman wasn't allowed to escape early as fellow front row starter as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) went for a Lap 1 leap at Turn 8. It was close between Quartararo and Pecco, their exits compromised, with that allowing Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) up alongside the pair as Quartararo ran hot into Turn 9. Bagnaia said thank you very much, the Italian through to lead and holding station – for now.

Quartararo went for a move at the final chicane to answer back but was wide, and

Bagnaia got his GP21 stood up and blasted back past.

That happened again on Lap 6, before Lap 7 saw Quartararo grab P1 through Turns 12 and 13. How crucial was that going to prove?

Meanwhile, Nakagami was still holding Viñales at bay, with Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), Mir and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) line astern right behind.

Two 1:32.8s saw Quartararo stretch a 1.2 lead to Bagnaia on Lap 9, hammer down. On Lap 11, that gap was up to 2.5 as Bagnaia had to switch focus to keeping Nakagami behind him. The Japanese rider passed the Ducati rider

ASSEN on Lap 11 through the rapid kinks, but Bagnaia grabbed P2 back down the front straight. Viñales, Zarco, Mir and Oliveira were all waiting in the wings and there was a copy paste of Nakagami vs Bagnaia a couple of laps later. Drama hit then though as the number 63 was handed a long-lap penalty for exceeding track limits.

On Lap 15, there was plenty of action. Bagnaia dived into

the long-lap penalty loop, and then teammate Jack Miller crashed unhurt at Turn 5. Nakagami was sat up by Mir at the same corner and it was now Viñales in second place, four seconds behind runaway leader Quartararo.

Mir was then up past Zarco at Turn 5 with eight laps to go into third, with Oliveira around half a second away back on the Pramac rider, in fifth.

At the front, the gap came down to 2.5 with two laps to go between Quartararo and Viñales as the latter seemed quicker, but after too much lost ground no one had an answer to El Diablo at Assen.

A fourth 25-point haul of the season extends his Championship advantage to 34 points heading into the summer break. Viñales delivered impressive laterace pace on the front soft tyre, but it wasn't enough to reel in Quartararo.

Nevertheless, after finishing last at the Sachsenring, P2 for the Spaniard is a splendid effort as the number 12 returns to the podium for the first time since his Qatar GP win. Mir kept his powder dry ahead of Zarco to secure third, the podium also his third of the season.

Zarco was forced to settle for fourth ahead of Oliveira in fifth, with a real battle deciding sixth just behind.

Marc Marquez made a stunning start from 20th on the grid to gain ten places in what seemed like the blink of an eye, and he hustled on to the back of Bagnaia after the Italian's Long Lap penalty.

The eight-time World Champion couldn't quite find a way past, although he was within 0.075 over the line as

Bagnaia held on for sixth.

Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) took eighth, with Nakagami disappointed with ninth after an early podium challenge and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) completing the top ten.

11th went to Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) despite a run off for the number 42 following contact early in the race with Johann Zarco, with the Suzuki holding off Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) as the South African got his first taste of Assen on a MotoGP™ bike. Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) took 13th, ahead of Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) – another debuting at the track in the premier class – as was rookie Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama), who completed the points.

Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) crashed out fast at Turn 7 but rider ok, Miller went down at Turn 5.

He rejoined but then had to stop with a mechanical problem. Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) also crashed, and Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) was forced back into pitlane with an issue.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 autotrack.ind.in 45

NEWS

INDIA'S TEAM averera BEATS MORE THAN 200 OTHER TEAMS AS FIRST 2021 SHELL ECO-MARATHON VIRTUAL LeAGUE CHAMPION

T

he first Shell Ecomarathon Virtual League concluded with an exciting win by Team AVERERA from Indian Institute of Technology BHU, India. The team was declared the Virtual League Champion, having garnered 1,498 points, the most throughout this 2021 season.

In second place was Team Green Team Twente from University of Twente, Netherlands with 1,421 points, and in third place was Team DTU SUPERMILEAGE from Delhi Technological University, India, with 1,296 points.

46 autotrack.ind.in JULY / AUGUST 2021

The Virtual League required teams to earn points across five different challenges, including the well-known Off-track Awards and the new Autonomous Programming Competition, with each counting towards the team standings in a global ranking. An entirely virtual format did not dissuade students from stepping up their game to compete and celebrate innovation among teams across the world.

Sweekar Banthiya, Team Manager, Team Averera, said, "We are thrilled to have been named champions at

the Shell Eco-marathon virtual global league.

Working through the pandemic was quite an exceptional challenge. We had to leave all the physical work on the vehicle, wrap up and head to our respective homes. But we completely restructured our plans to continue work remotely. As a team, it was the innovation, persistence and passion that drove us to victory. And this acknowledgement, is motivation to do even better."

A second bonus challenge introduced this year was Road to 2050, where teams

were asked to creatively capture in a 30-sec ad what mobility should look like in their future. Team ETA from Somaiya Vidyavihar University, India, won first place in the Road to 2050 for Asia Pac and the Middle East, with their imaginative depiction of a futuristic vehicle that showcased a range of possible mobility solutions and ideas. Team Sadewa from Universitas Indonesia, and De La Salle University Eco Car Team, from De La Salle University, Philippines, garnered second and third place.

The final challenge was the Virtual Technical Inspections, where teams demonstrated their vehicle's compliance to a selection of rigorous safety and technical rules. Indian teams took top prizes across Asia Pac and the Middle East with Team ETA from Somaiya Vidyavihar University winning the Prototype category and Team AVERERA from Indian Institute of Technology BHU winning Urban Concept category.

Both teams impressed the judges not only with their well-designed vehicles and effective use of various equipment, scales and rulers, but also making the technical content explanation interesting for a broader, non-technical audience.

The winners were announced in a ceremony streamed on Shell Eco-marathon's YouTube channel July 8, 2021, hosted by Shell Ecomarathon Global General Manager Norman Koch.

Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, Jr., as well as Shell Pennzoil NASCAR driver for Team Penske Joey Logano and Nissan e.dams Formula E driver Sebastien Buemi joined the online ceremony as special guests.

RNI No. KARENG/2007/21952 Pages 46+4