On day three of the Rain Forest Challenge – 2017, the skies were clear. However, given that it was held in the aftermath of a heavy shower only made the RFC stages worse; or do I say better? The day ended with Gurmeet Virdi and Kripal Singh Tung on the lead with 1072 points. Siddartha Santhosh and his co-driver Prithviraj AC from the Team BODA (Bangalore Offroaders Development Association) took the second spot with 1066 points. Veteran rallyist Jagat Nanjappa with his co-driver Chetan Changappa of V5 Off-roaders from Coorg came third with 1021 points.
Cedrick Jordan DaSilva and Dushyant Khosla were blazing through the track and were very close to the top on score board, with 930 points – Rank 4.
The international participants caught everyone’s eye, not because of the high visibility colour that their car was painted in but the tri coloured roof. Merwyn Lim and Tan Choon Hong stood at Rank 6 at 844 points.
Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal and Gurupratap Singh unfortunately broke the knuckle and axle of their E.O.V. However, they managed to stay on rank 7 with 795 points.
Sameer Chunawala and Jerry Tay finished all the stages so far and stood on rank 21 at the end of the day, with 520 points.
William Dwaine Jungen and V.Jaskirat Singh Nagra displayed some great team work and presence of mind. However, they finished the day with 497 points on Rank 24.
The ‘Rookie’ team – R Sumanth Shenoy and Monish L damaged their vehicle with a hasty decision, costing those few points which pushed them back on rank 36 with 140 points.
The Force Gurkha RFC is India’s only international off-road motorsport event yet and is based on the concept of the survival of the fittest. As the RFC India - 2017 progresses, day four which will comprise of the third leg – Terminator, will be held at the third camp site and will continue from Special stage 16 (SS16) giving us a set of score.
