FMSCI HONOURS 2013 NATIONAL RACING CHAMPIONS IN GLITZY FUNCTION

• K KRISHNAMURTHY RECEIVES MOTORSPORT LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
• VISHNU PRASAD VOTED MOTORSPORT MAN OF THE YEAR

March 8, 2014: The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) honoured their 2013 National Champions in a glittering function in Mumbai. Long time Scrutineer K Krishnamurthy was presented with Lifetime Achievement award for his contribution to motorsport in India. Vishnu Prasad was voted Most Promising Motorsport Man of the Year in the newly instituted rolling trophy promoted by Raymonds.

Also present at the event were FIA APRC Champion Gaurav Gill and Indian racer Armaan Ebhrahim. The FMSCI honoured all the their National Champions in the categories of MMSC FMSCI National Racing Championship, FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship, JK Tyre FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship, FMSCI Indian National TSD Rally Championship, FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship and MRF MoGrip FMSCI National Supercross Championship.

Indians who excelled abroad were also recognized with awards including Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok, Armaan Ebrahim and Gaurav Gill. India´s superbike team Mahi Racing were also recognized for winning the World Supersport constructors title in their first year. Sahara Force Academy Driver Jehan Daruvala, who became the first Indian to win the British KF3 Karting Championship was also given an award by the FMSCI. Two wheeler riders including K Rajni Krishnan, winner at Losail Asia Road Racing Championship, R Deepak and K Jagan were also given awards for their great effort internationally.

Newly elected President J Prithviraj started the event off with a rousing speech on the future of motorsports in India. He commented, "It is important that we honour our champions and show them the respect that they deserve. This is the start of better things to come and we are up to the challenge of taking the sport to greater heights. F1 not looking to India is only a small turbulence which will pass soon and India will be back on the map. I would also like to thank Mr. Gautam Singhania for not only being our Chief Guest but also his commitment to drifting. He has committed a Rolling Trophy with a cash prize for Rs. 2 lakhs starting this year for the most promising youngster in our sport. "
K Krishnamurthy was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for undying commitment to motorsport in the country. He has been a scrutineer since 1968 and has officiated as Chief Scrutineer in all forms of motorsports be it rally, racing, motocross, dirt track etc.

The award for Most Promising Motorsport Man of the Year was selected by the council members who had nominees from Racing, Rallying, Karting and Motorcycle Racing. It was a unanimous decision to award Vishnu Prasad, who had won the 2013 JK Tyre–FMSCI National Karting Title in the Senior Max category and the JK Racing India Series title.

Mr. Prithviraj also reiterated the FMSCI´s focus on working closely with the Government, Manufacturers and sponsors to take the sport forward. He said, "We still need to focus our efforts towards getting clearances from the sports ministry and many other pending matters.
This process will take some time but we have made the necessary steps to ensure we achieve this. No sport in the world would survive without sponsors and the same is true for us. Motorsport serves as an ideal platform for companies to showcase and promote their brands, especially with the increasing interest of the sport among Indians as this is certainly a great opportunity to drive visibility amongst businesses and end–customers. I would also like to emphasize that progress in motorsport will be extremely difficult without the manufacturers support. At the same time it is our responsibility to provide manufacturers a platform that benefits them, either through development of their products or technology used or visibility."