MRF launches Formula 1600

Chennai, Dec 23 (UNI) Buoyed by its success in rallying, motocross and karting, MRF has now forayed into race car sector by launching 'MRF Formula 1600', an imported formula car manufactured by Elan Motorsports Technologies (EMI), at a glittering function here last night.

Bollywood star Soha Ali Khan launched the new car.

The MRF Formula 1600 is a 2007-spec car, powered with a twin-cam, 16-valve Ford Duratec 1.6 litre engine with a five-speed sequential gear box.

As co-sponsors, Ford India would be supplying 15 Ford Duratec 1.6 engines. The cars would have MRF slick tyres, the same that had been developed for Formula 3 cars.

Speaking to reporters at the launch function, MRF Chairman and MD K M Mammen said at a time when Indian racing was going to a different level ''we decided on a technical update with this Formula 1600, an ideal car for Indian track conditions.'' Mammen said ''we have been out of racing for a while but with this new venture we are back with a bang.'' He said MRF's rally programmes would not take a back seat with this foray into racing.

To begin with MRF would promote 10 such cars, which would be ready for the MAI (Motorsports Association of India) Indian National Racing Championship in 2008. The critical parts of the car would be imported from EMI and the cars would be assembled at Jayem Automobiles, Coimbatore, he added.

UNI