For the motorsport enthusiast in India, it’s time to face a cold hard truth – if you haven’t already that is. Largely speaking, the only sport that this country really cares about is cricket – motorsport isn’t even a spec on that vast horizon. The large majority of people simply wouldn’t understand why you’d want to be quicker over a certain section of road (or dirt, or track) than the next guy (or girl). But really, my guess is that the complacency stems largely from a lack of understanding – a lack of involvement. Motorsport in India is considered an elitist sport. So, isn’t it time we learnt a little from cricket? In today’s fast paced world, the 5-day game has given way to the equally fast paced and concise 20-20 format.

To apply the same formula to the world of rallying would mean to take a cross-country event, which lasts anywhere from a few days to two weeks, and to shorten it to a single day. This not only compresses the action, but also means that a single day event is easier to participate in – not to mention far cheaper. It also means that, theoretically, you involve a lot more people in the sport.

This is exactly what Northern Motorsport did recently on the outskirts of the Capital. This group of ex-rallyists is best known for conducting the annual Maruti-Suzuki Desert Storm, which stretches from Rajasthan to Gujrat. Well, on a scorching Sunday at the end of May, Northern Motorsport conducted the Summer Sprint, which consisted of a single 6 kilometre dirt stage that each competitor would cover twice over the course of the day. The fastest driver wins the day – simple.



The event was open to anyone with a car that met the safety requirements to compete in a rally, which meant that it had to have a roll cage, racing seats, racing harness, etc. Of course, the Gypsy’s were out in full force, along with a smattering of Esteems, a Swift and a Grand Vitara.

The route was disclosed on the morning of the event, and the competitors were allowed two run-throughs apiece to get a sense of the terrain. The 6 kilometre closed stretch consisted of a long flat-out straight that was strewn with bumps to ensure that you were always fighting to keep the car on track. This was followed by a sharp left that offered very little grip, and a series of bends that kept the drivers in check, and the spectators (yes, there were quite a few despite the heat) entertained. There were only a handful of minor mishaps, and, as expected, the Grand Vitara set the quickest time –at 4 minutes and 6 seconds – with Gaurav Chiripal at the wheel.

Northern Motorsport could really be onto something with what appears to be a great new format. There was little need for a service car, a team of mechanics, sets of spares, and all the other money eating elements of the sport. You only needed a fast and reliable car, some talent behind the wheel doesn’t hurt either.