Bangalore, Nov 21 (IANS) About 40 entries are expected for the Coffee Day Rally, the fifth and concluding round of the FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship to be held Chikmagalur Dec 19-21.
The popular Rally, conducted by the Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur, will see fresh special stages covering 110.50 km with a liaison distance of 167.70 km, according to a press release here Thursday.
Sponsored by Coffee Day in association with Volkswagen and hosted by The Serai Resorts, Chikmagalur, the event will also be a contender for a round of the 2014 Asia Pacific Rally Championship and FIA observers will be present during the Rally.
Venkatesh, Director, Coffee Day Hotels and Resorts, said: “The Coffee Day Rally has become a tradition and year after year people from all over the country arrive in Chikmagalur to witness world class rally drivers compete against one another in demanding conditions.
“This year too we expect over 7,000 spectators to be present for the rally. At Coffee Day we are very passionate about motorsports and hope to see India become a force to reckon with in the international circuit in the next few years.
“Also, this year, for the first time, the Rally will be run in four Coffee Day estates spread over 2,500 acres namely Chetanahalli, Kumaragode, Chandrapore and Jagrimane.”
K. Farooq Ahmed, vice president, MSCC, said: “We are very pleased with the initial response of participants and expect the rally this year to be even more challenging than the previous editions.
“With the addition of new routes and the participation of drivers from abroad, we aim to take the rally to the next level.
“The Super Special Stage will be run on dirt surface in Amber Valley Residential School premises with the cars starting in reverse order with a time interval of three minutes between two cars.”
