Day Three
Stages six to nine were held at Suquerbag in Quepem. Everyone seemed determined to give the S-shaped track in SS six their best shot and as many as 20 teams managed to comfortably reach the finish. SS seven was more technical and demanded a smart rather than fast approach. Drivers and co-drivers alike enjoyed the challenge it presented and some teams came up with rather innovative techniques to overcome the obstacles. The following course comprised a speed run, an almost four-foot tall wall, and a steep slope. Another opportunity to pick up some easy points. SS nine was undoubtedly the toughest one of the day. Top men managed to clear it within time, some had to settle for a DNF, and a few decided not to attempt it at all.
With nine stages wrapped up, Sanbir and Gurpartap continued to stay at the top of the board with 687 points.
Day Four
Eight stages had to be overcome, four during the day and four at night. All of them were held at the same venue as the previous day with a distinct set of challenges.
Things such as winch set-up and anchor-placing were crucial in clearing the day’s stages. The 10th stage featured challenges such as a deep pit and an incline that required some carefully planned winching. The spectators who stood along the periphery of the pit where the 11th stage was set up were treated to a spectacle when the drivers had to tackle an incline and a wall using a winch and an anchor respectively. SS 12 also had a similar setting and required clever use of the teams’ inventory. Towards the end of the course, vehicles had to ascend a 45-degree slope that had steps cut into the wall on one side. The co-drivers’ vehicle-aligning skill and sand-ladders were crucial for setting a quick time. Unlike the previous stages, SS 13 was laid out in an open space. A shallow creek and a rocky incline were two of its toughest obstacles. SS 14-17 were held after sunset and added the challenge of low visibility to the already demanding stages.
At the end of day four, the competition had new leaders; Jagat Nanjappa and Chetan Changappa of V5 Offroaders (1,261 points). The points table also revealed that in spite of a taxing day, fewer teams earned DNFs in the stages as compared to the previous days.
Day Five
The convoy moved to Green Hills Agri Farm, Maina, Quepem, for the next set of stages. Far away from civilization, marshals had charted challenging trails within a beautiful forest. It began with SS 18, where all competitors were expected to winch down a rather steep descent. Teams that used a dummy winch ended up snapping their winch cables. SS 19 was a short trek away and tested a team’s proficiency in changing a flat tyre by having them perform a timed mock drill. SS 20 was the toughest of the day. Most participants failed to clear the stage and had to retire with a DNF. However, Jagat and Chetan broke the jinx and completed it with a perfect score. SS 21 was a similarly difficult stage and witnessed a large number of DNFs.
At the end of day five, Jagat and Chetan continued to hold on to their lead with 1,614 points.
Day Six
SS 22 was an exercise that required precision handling because penalties awaited those who were careless enough to touch the marker cones. SS 23 was another challenge that set the seasoned drivers apart from the newcomers. Experienced teams made quick work of the stage while others toiled hard to finish. Fewer participants managed to finish SS 24 that day. The toughest bit of the stage was to use the rear winch to align the vehicle for a precarious ascent over a couple of rock faces. SS 25 required experience, intelligence, and foresight on the part of the co-drivers. They had to guide their partners and use winches to turn the car 90 degrees, pointing it along the optimal path down a bank of perilous boulders. Sometimes winches snapped and almost sent the cars tumbling down the slope.
Day Seven
The final stage of the event was held at the Rajiv Gandhi IT Park, Dona Paula. Unlike the previous stages, this one did not feature hardcore locations or axle-breaking obstacles. It was a speed run. Therefore, fairly simple by RFC standards. Although official results were yet to be announced, congratulations poured in for Jagat and Chetan because they seemed the most likely to be crowned champions. Sure enough, as soon as they completed SS 26, celebrations began for the Kodagu (Coorg)-based duo.
Official points charts were launched later that day and it was confirmed that Jagat and Chetan had indeed clinched the title with a whopping 2,006 points. They were followed by Mervyn Lim and Alex Tan of G.O.A. Fairmont (1,849 points), and Gurmeet Virdi and Kirpal Singh Tung of Gerrari Offroaders (1,800 points) in second and third places respectively.
Cougar Motorsport and all the supporting crew did a fine job in conducting an event of this magnitude so well. All participants were given a fair chance to perform even when inclement weather forced a few stages to be postponed. Marshals and competitors alike put physical exhaustion aside and tackled the forest together, displaying a commendable level of sportsmanship. Specific care was also taken to ensure that the environment was not damaged any more than strictly necessary. Later during the award ceremony, Cougar Motorsport announced that they had bagged the exclusive rights to RFC India until 2022. Well deserved, we would say.
It was great to see that a large number of spectators attended the event. However, a few of them behaved in a manner that did not respect the sport. This included littering, carelessly loitering across the track during a live stage, and other impetuous acts. India is on track to becoming a country that is conducive to motor sport, so, as citizens and spectators, it is our responsibility to respect the participants, the venue and, most importantly, the rules. At the end of the day, the rules are in place to prevent any unfortunate incidents.
Make sure you follow and support our champions when they head to Malaysia to have a go at the mother event.
