IMG RALLY DE COORG 2008 started off with a colorful flag off at the Ghandhi Maidan, where a large No. of Spectators, Cheered the competing crews. The Stages were smooth and fast and the rain gods blessed us by not showering.

Stage 1 was finished by all competitors and in Stage 2 two competitors dropped off due to mechanical failure. Further through out the 2nd stage to 6th Stage 6 competitors dropped out due to various reasons.

Master ace Vikram Mathias of Red Rooster Racing once again delighted the spectators with a spirited drive and took a good lead on day 1. Mathias, who leads the championship table with 47 points, seemed well on course to clinch the title, topping day one in his Mitsubishi Lancer Cedia with 51 minutes and 29 seconds.

Said Mathias after the first day: “It is a pleasure to be back in competition at Coorg after many years. The last rally here was held in 2001. We are enjoying the stages thoroughly, though they are tight and the smallest mistake may cost us the rally, but I have a very good navigator in PVS Murthy and his calling has been on the dot. Our car is running well, thanks to the effort and co-ordination of the team. With a 3 mins 30 secs lead we should be able to win the rally tomorrow and put Red Rooster racing on the podium again.”

He was followed by Girija Shankar Joshi of Team Winspeed and in 3rd place was S.Sujay.
The RSC Class competitors Shailendra Hegde and Den THimmaiah, also had a brilliant driving claiming 4th and 5th Positions.

It was unfortunate that the Cedia of Amitrajit Gosh of Team Red Rooster Racing dropping out due to mechanical failure.

A close fight is on between, Sujay and Mazdayar in the 1400CC class and between Shailendra Hegde and local boy Den Thimmaiah in the RSC Class, where they will be fighting for seconds on Day 2.

Tomorrow the rally will be flagged off at 7.00hrs from the Parc ferme at Gandhi Maidan.
 
PARTIAL UNNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Leg 1

OVERALL
1    VIKRAM MATHIAS   51.29 (TEAM RED ROOSTER)
2    G S JOSHY  55.01(TEAM WINSPEED)
3    SUJAY S 55.25
4    SHAILENDRA HEGDE  55.48
5    DEN THIMMIAH  55.51
1600CC
1    G S JOSHY 55.01
2    VISHAL G A  68.54
1400 CC
1    SUJAY S  55.25
2    MAZDAYAR VATCHA  56.00
3    SAMURTH K V  57.54
RALLY STAR CUP
1    SHAILENDRA HEGDE 55.48
2    DEN THIMMIAH 55.41
3    RAGHURAM C.G 57.24
GYPSY CUP
1    SANJAY AGARWAL  61.32
2    J ARVIND 61.35
3    VENKETESH BABU  62 38

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