Prasad clinches a double in JK Tyre Racing

Fresh after his victory in the first race, pole man Vishnu Prasad led the drivers' pack in the second race on the concluding day of Round 2 of the 16th JK Tyre Racing Championship at the Kari Motor Speedway here Sunday.

Prasad led a dominant race that he attributed to a lightning-fast opening lap. He was followed by Bangalore's Akhil Rabindra and Arjun Maini for the first few laps before Maini gave up his position to Kohlapur-based Chittesh Mandody.

The trio held onto their positions until the end and Prasad took the chequered flag with a margin of six seconds. Towards the end, an event involving Karminder Singh and Maini helped Hyderabad's Akhil Khushlani to finish fourth (17:00.389).

Starting on pole in the final FB02 race, Prasad stole the limelight yet again. He stuck to his ground despite Maini's constant pressure, who clocked the fastest lap of the race.

Prasad grabbed yet another incredible podium (17:01.571) while Mandody challenged Maini on a number of occasions but the Bangalorean finished second (17:01.891).

In a smooth Race 1 of the JK Tyre VW Polo R Cup, South African driver Jeffrey Kruger started on pole accompanied by Prashant Tharani and Yatin Magu. The race witnessed Tharani taking an early lead which he held until the end (19:12.212), trailed by Kruger (19:13.271). Rahil Noorani, drove commendably to end the race third (19:23.552) after starting fifth.

In Race 2, which started with reversed grid positions, Gowdam Raj was first on the grid. Keeping him company were Noorani and Hanoosh Supraneni. The 15-lap race witnessed a tussle between Kruger, Tharani, Yatin Magu, Raj, Angad Matharoo and Noorani, who showed the way followed by Kruger and Tharani.

Since Noorani was unlucky to be given a 20-second penalty, Kruger won registering his second podium followed by Tharani (19:43.595) and Magu (19:48.293).

The final Race 3 of the Formula LGB 4 class was the most exciting contest of the day.

Mumbai's Rayo Racing driver Ameya Bafna was on pole followed by Prasad (Meco Racing) and Advait Deodhar (Dark Don Racing). Chennai's Saran Vikram and Sarosh Hataria (Dark Don Racing) were fourth and fifth on the grid, respectively.

The Coimbatore based Hataria made his way up the order and battled it out with Bafna, who was going strong in first. The pair engaged in an enthralling race, overtaking each other a number of times.

In the ninth lap, the race was red flagged due to an incident involving Avalanche Racing driver M.D. Tushar, who skid off the track, hit the barrier and flipped over but was unhurt.

Once the race resumed, an unlucky Bafna was forced to retire due to a technical problem. There was no looking back for Hataria, who cemented his lead thereon, chased by Vikram and Prasad.

During the very last lap Karthik Krishna, at No.4, made contact with Vikram in a bid to overtake Prasad who was in third place. Krishna was given a 30-second penalty for the incident owing to which Prasad finished 10th and Vikram last. Young Meco Racing drivers Tejasram Caveripakam (11:28.794) and Akash Gowda (11:31.123) followed Hataria (11:25.798).

Results: JK Racing India Series - Race 2 (15 laps): 1. Vishnu Prasad (16:49.724) 2. Akhil Rabindra (16:55.724) 3. Chittesh Mandody (16:55.524).

JK Racing India Series - Race 3 (15 laps): 1. Vishnu Prasad (17:01.571) 2. Arjun Maini (17:01.891) 3. Chittesh Mandody (17:02.261).

Polo R Cup - Race 1 (15 laps): 1. Prashant Tharani (19:12.212) 2. Jeffrey Kruger (19:13.271) 3. Rahil Noorani (19:23.552).

Polo R Cup - Race 2 (15 laps): 1. Jeffery Kruger (19:40.847) 2. Prashanth Tharani (19:43.595) 3. Yatin Magu (19:48.293).

Formula LGB 4 - Race 3 (7 laps): 1. Sarosh Hataria (11:25.798) 2. Tejasram Caveripakam (11:28.794) 3. Akash Gowda (11:31.123).