JK Tyre has entered the realm of drifting motorsports with the inaugural JK Tyre Drift Challenge held at the Buddh International Circuit. Sanam Sekhon secured victories in two out of three categories, but Mudit Grover prevented a complete sweep by winning the Open category. Notably, this event marked India’s first drifting competition to be officially backed by FMSCI (Federation of Motor Sports Club of India).
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JK Tyre Drift Challenge
Drifting is all about showcasing skill, precision, and car control. The JK Tyre Drift Challenge featured three distinct categories: D1, D2, and Open. D1 involved cars equipped with tires ranging from 215-255mm in width, while the D2 category allowed a maximum tire width of 205mm. The Open category, on the other hand, was open to all competitors, irrespective of tire width. Participants in the event were evaluated and scored based on various criteria, including their line, angle, style, and speed. The judges provided competitors with guidance on the optimal racing line through corners, which participants were required to adhere to as accurately as possible.
In the scoring system, the angle at which a driver executes a drift significantly influences their score, with sharper angles earning higher points. Precision in the drift is crucial for achieving a higher style score. Drivers making numerous corrections on the steering wheel while navigating corners may receive lower scores. Furthermore, maintaining higher speeds through the corners contributes to earning more points. The judging panel for the inaugural edition featured esteemed members, including Japanese drift racer Taniguchi Atsushi and experienced drift experts Tanakorn Lertyaovarit from Thailand and Alistair Woodham representing India.
Speaking on the inaugural event, Sanjay Sharma, Head Motorsports, JK Tyre, said, “We are overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response we’ve received for India’s first ever Drifting competition. Drifting has been gaining popularity all over the world it’s great to see the turnout we had today. We had a field of 20 incredibly talented drivers, who served up a truly heart-stopping, tyre-smoking spectacle. They put on quite a show and we’re confident that this discipline in general and the JK Tyre Drift Challenge in particular will get bigger and better in the coming years.”
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Sanam Sekhon in 2JZ-Equipped Modified Lexus GS300
Sanam Sekhon, driving a specially prepared Lexus GS 300, secured an impressive win in the D1 category, amassing 744 points. In the same category, Jugraj Singh Bhurjee, behind the wheel of a BMW M3, clinched the second spot with 476 points, while Mudit Grover, driving a BMW E46, took the third position with 286 points.
Sekhon continued to shine in the D2 category, claiming victory with 460 points. In this category, Mudit Grover secured the second position with 262 points, followed by Mugdha Grover, driving a Mercedes C200 K, who earned 156 points. Despite a strong performance, Sekhon narrowly missed a clean sweep by Mudit Grover in the Open category, where Grover scored 700 points to Sekhon’s 636 points, securing the second place. Samyak Kapoor finished third with 281 points.
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