Itanagar: The third annual JK Tyre Arunachal Festival of Speed (AFoS) concluded in Dirang as Philippos Matthai of Delhi won the overall title after stringing together consistent performances in the Auto Cross, Hill Climb and Rally Sprint events. The veteran rally driver was pushed to by the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship regular, Sanjay Takle and the defending national champion in the Group N 2000cc class, Rahul Kantraj from Bangalore.

Each of the three drivers registered wins in the three categories – Auto Cross, Hill Climb and Rally Sprint – that make up the AFoS. Matthai threw down the gauntlet by winning the Auto Cross yesterday in front of packed house at the Lopon Stadium in the centre of the town, but Kantraj and Takle hit back by winning the 5 km Hill Climb and the 6 km Rally Sprint, respectively.

Kantraj was in command over the 5-km Hill Climb in the run up the mountain face at the Rungja Apple and Kiwi Farm. Matthai, who was plagued by car troubles in the Hill Climb event in the last two editions of the AFoS, managed to finish second behind Kantraj.

Takle won the Rally Sprint in his his Mitsubishi Cedia through riverbeds and sandy soil of the Sangti Valley to beat Matthai by over 10 seconds. Kantraj claimed third place in the sprint that was good enough to assure him of overall second.

In the 1600cc class of the Arunachal Festival of Speed, Karna Kadur, who dominated this category in the last year’s Indian Rally Championship, was the man to beat right from the first day, although Dean Mascarenhas tried to keep the Bangalore driver honest. Bangalore’s Druva Chandrashekar finished in third place.

Nine-time Raid de Himalaya winner, Suresh Rana, posted the fastest times in the SUV class in all the three disciplines ahead of Lima Jamir of Nagaland and local favourite Naku.

In the quad class of the Arunachal Festival of Speed, Chibor from Meghalaya, who finished second in this class last year, managed to take an easy win ahead of Bitu and Kevin Salo from Nagaland. In the ladies class, Bethadsha Bareh took the top honours by winning the Hill Climb and Rally Sprint.

Resutls:

2000 cc
1. Philippos Mathai – New Delhi
2. Rahul Kanthraj – Bangalore
3. Sanjay Takle – Pune

1600cc
1. Karna Kadur – Bangalore
2. Dean Mascarenhas – Mangalore
3. Druva Chandrashekar – Bangalore

SUV
1 Suresh Rana – Manali
2 Lima Jamir – Nagaland
3 Naku – Arunachal Pradesh

Quad
1 Chibor – Meghalaya
2 Bitu – Arunachal Pradesh
3 Kevin Salo – Nagaland

North East Class
1. Lima Jamir – Nagaland
2. Naku – Arunachal Pradesh
3 Sajad – Guwahati

Fastest driver: Philippos Mathai – New Delhi
Ladies class winner: Bethadsha Bareh

(This appeared in autox on March 31, 2016)