Gautam Singhania to take part in global drift event

Gautam Singhania will take part in the open drift event of the Nissan Extreme Torque Show to be held in Sunderland (England) on May 25 and 26 as an official Indian entry endorsed by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI).

 According to an FMSCI press release, drifting is a driving technique where the driver uses throttle, brakes, clutch, gear shifting and steering input to keep the car in a condition of oversteer while manoeuvring from turn to turn. Competitors are judged according to the speed, angle, showmanship and line taken through a corner or set of corners.

 Seen as an extremely exciting sport, drifting is accessible, safe and affordable, and fits nicely as a demanding yet a leisure motorsport activity and is growing in popularity especially in the Asia Pacific region.

 This was noted during the FIA’s Asia Pacific Motor Sport Forum held in Colombo last month where the Chinese Taipei Motor Sports Association (CTMSA) extended to other ASNs (National Sporting Authority) in the Region an invitation to participate in their inaugural Green Drifting Gymkhana Prix 2015 to be held in Kaohsiung.

 “Nine ASNs have already shown interest,” the CTMSA said in a communiqué. The FMSCI has also proposed to send an official Indian team.

 “Drifting is very exciting to watch, and I am sure being a viewer-friendly and easy-to-practice sport, it will go a long way in promoting motorsports amongst the auto buffs in the country,” said Akbar Ebrahim who was recently nominated by the FMSCI as India’s Deputy representative in the FIA.

 A racing enthusiast since his college days, Singhania on his debut won the amateur category in the All Stars European Drifting Championship in Malta in September 2012, and last year unveiled India’s first purpose-built drifting car. The Super Car Club that he co-founded is promoting drifting as an auto sport in a big way in the country.

 “Gautam Singhania’s passion for motorsports in general and his pioneering effort in popularizing drifting in India is well known,” said Ebrahim.

Earlier this month, Singhania, who is the Chairman and Managing Director of Raymond Group, won both races in the opening round of the 2014 Pirelli Ferrari Open held at Brands Hatch in the United Kingdom. Singhania also holds the lap record at the Buddh International Circuit in a non-open wheel car.

 Gautam Singhania said: “I am delighted to represent India in the forthcoming Nissan Extreme Torque Show in England. I am looking forward to participate in this event. Drifting as a motorsport has always attracted and intrigued me. I always wanted to learn this form of motorsport and will definitely pursue this sport further. The drifting car is a testimony to that and I have been practicing in it to hone my drifting skills.”

Source: FMSCI