Satish keeps vice-like grip over Rally Ndure

by sportswire4u.blogspot.com
BIKANER, FEB 28
Satish Gopalkrishnan, the Bangalore-based software guru who developed the TSD meter – the calculator especially developed for TSD rallying – has kept a vice-like grip over the top position in Rally Ndure at The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, which ends at Jaipur on March 1.
Satish Gopalkrishnan and Savera D’Souza, often referred to as Indian motorsport’s first couple, have several firsts to their credit. They have been winners in the TSD category at all major marathon motorsport events in the country – The Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya, the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm and also the Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare. They have also clinched the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) title.
Satish and Savera are now within easy reach of the Ndure crown at the 12thedition of the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm. Before the rally began, TSD national champion Jagmeet Gill had stated that among the top favourites for the TSD crown were Satish and Savera. His words might prove to be prophetic.
Mr Manohar Bhat, Vice President Marketing of Maruti Suzuki, had flagged off the rally from Delhi on February 24. Till now, the rally has covered the wild outback desert region of Sardarshahar, Jaisalmer and Bikaner.
At the 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, Satish-Savera are driving a Grand Vitara for Team Maruti Suzuki. On Day Five of the rally, the champion couple are way ahead of competition with total penalties at 17.05 minutes. Their closest competitor, Pratap Thakur, is at 28.33 minutes. Third in Rally Ndure is Ashish Budhia, driving a Maruti Gypsy, with penalties at 41.42 minutes. Defending champion Somdeb Chanda is fourth in the category, with penalties at 54.17 minutes.
In Rally Xplore, Rajesh Chalana and Yogesh Gupta lead the tally, driving an SX4 for Team Maruti Suzuki.
In Rally Xtreme Sunny Sidhu of Chandigarh leads the pack with penalties at 12.10.44. Sandeep Sharma of Delhi, driving a Maruti Gypsy, is close at his heels with total penalties at 12.26.09. Third in this category is Amartej Pal Buwal of Delhi, driving a Maruti Gypsy, with total penalties at 12.31.49.
In Rally Moto, CS Santosh of Bangalore continues to lead with total penalties of 8.55.49. Second is Helmut Frauwallner of Austria with penalties at 9.29.52. Third is Suresh Babu with penalties at 10.40.47, and fourth is Trivikram Singh Rathore, with penalties at 10.46.40.
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