Karthikeyan caps off maiden season in sports car racing with win

Tokyo

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India’s first Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan produced a brilliant drive in challenging conditions to claim an emphatic victory in the SUPER GT x DTM Dream Race here today, marking a successful end to his maiden season in sports car racing. Driving the Nakajima Racing Honda NSX-GT against an established field of 21 drivers, Karthikeyan shone in both dry and wet conditions to achieve a memorable feat in front of a packed Japanese crowd at the Fuji Speedway. The 42-year-old was hamstrung by three separate safety car interventions, but he perfected the restart on each occasion to secure a stunning victory, which follows a maiden SUPER GT podium at Sugo in September.

Chetan, Bikku shine as Gill falters

Bengaluru

Ace rally driver Gaurav Gill and his JK Tyre Motorsport teammates had a forgettable day as they bit the dust early on the final day of the K-1000 Rally — Round 4 of the Champions Yacht Club FMSCI National Rally Championship — allowing Chetan Shivram and Bikku Babu to claim top honours here today. Shivram and Babu capitalised on the pull-outs by most of the heavyweights to stage a dramatic comeback for MRF and made it a 1-2 for the team. Competing for the first time after the ill-fated Jodhpur rally, defending champion and overnight leader Gill was among the biggest casualties as he pulled out in the morning itself, with his car refusing to even start after the belting it received on the opening day.