Ashwin makes a hat trick in the MRF F1600

The new addition to the Indian National Racing Championships is the MRF Formula 1600 single seater category. It will have 6 rounds over the season along with the other NRC categories. This category was previously run just over 2 weekends as MRF International Challenge in 2010 and 2011 but the introduction of the new MRF F2000 in 2012 for the International Challenge sidelined the older version which was ultimately brought in for the National Championships to raise the bar for the single seater formula category in India.

After the scrapping of Formula Rolon in 2010, only the entry level single seater Formula LGB Swift was running in the 2011 championship. It was renamed as LGB F4 in 2012 after few upgrades to bodyworks and chasis, which eventually failed to make an impact with the drivers and was much criticized for lowering the standards of the series compared to the previous years. The long wait for a higher level single seater series was finally full filled by the entry of the MRF Formula 1600 and sure it looks promising for the future weekends and also for honing the skills of young Indian drivers who are planning for an International championship.

This MRF F1600 is 1600cc Ford Engine single seater formula developed by renowned racer J.Anand´s J.A. Motorsports.

::: MRF Formula 1600 :::
Ashwin Sundar sweeped all three races with victories

Race 1
Ashwin Sundar started on pole, led from start to finish to win for Team Motorev ahead of the returning Amer Beg and Ajay Kini. Sudarshan Rao, who qualified 2nd of the grid failed to complete a single lap as he was forced to retire.

Race 2
Ashwin Sundar got off to a great start with yet another start to finish victory in the MRF FF1600 race. Behind him there was a close battle for 2nd place with Amer Beg beating Ajay Kini to the finish line by less than a second.

Race 3
Ashwin Sundar won the third race of the weekend in this category with yet another flawless drive. The reigning LGB F4 champion looked unbeatable as he further stretched his Championship lead. Vikash Anand came in the second following a race long battle with Ajay Kini, who finished in third place for the third race in a row.