Naren Kumar emerges National Rally Champion

Panaji, Nov 19 (UNI) Naren Kumar further strengthened his credentials as the champion rally driver of the country when he drove away to his sixth overall National Rally Championship after winning the WIAA Rallye De Goa--the final round of the MAI's Indian National Rally Championship-- here today.

Riding easy on the overnight lead of 1 minute 20 seconds over third placed Karandeep Singh of Team MRF, Naren did just enough to keep himself in the fray without unnecessarily pushing his machine and finished the eight stages in a timing of 1: 11.24; 11 seconds ahead of teammate Gaurav Gill/Farooq Ahmed (1:11.35). Team MFRF's Lohit Urs finished overall third in 1:13.04, while Karandeep Singh was fourth in 1:13.26.

The 1400 cc category saw Girijashankar Joshy hold on to his huge overnight lead to win the title here and with it the National crown.

The same was the case in the Rally Star Cup with Rajesh Gadakh/Paritosh Kohok winning this round and with it the National title.

Gaurav Gill, who finished overall second here, scored 12 points and finished second in the National championship with 43, while Karandeep who got six points from this round finished third with 40.

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