ITC: Volkswagen completes clean sweep in Coimbatore

Following Dhurv Mohite’s victory in Race 1 yesterday, Karthik Tharani added another two wins to Volkswagen’s kitty at the Kari Motor Speedway on Sunday.

Tharani started race 2 from fifth on the grid, but made a rocketing start to take the lead into turn 1.

Mohite also managed to pass the lead pack of privateer-run cars and later indulged in a fight for victory against Tharani, the two running closely matched on the final lap.

However, multiple-national level champion Tharani managed to just hold on from last year’s Ameo Cup winner, taking the chequered flag by a slender margin of 0.343s.

Ishaan Dodhiwala, another graduate from Volkswagen’s one-make programme, finished third, making it an all-Volkswagen podium.

Volkswagen’s India arm, however, was unable to repeat the same feat in Race 3 as Ishaan Dodhiwala crashed into the barriers at turn 1 while chasing lead privateer Arjun Balu for third.

That prompted a safety car period, but Tharani and Mohite - who both had started on the front-row - were able to pull away cleanly once the SC retreated, finishing first and second respectively.

Balu crossed the line in third, securing his second podium finish of the weekend. 77-year old D Vidyaprakash took a shock fourth place finish in both races today, driving an old-generation Esteem tuned by Prime Racing.

Volkswagen’s impressive run of three victories was a massive endorsement for the new rules, which have been designed to entice manufacturer participation and modernise a series hampered by out-of-production cars.

Volkswagen is the launch partner for the new regulations, having helped devise them in association with FMSCI.