Round 1 of Royal Enfield GT Cup 2024 concludes at MIC, Chennai
A high octane round 1 of the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup 2024 presented by JK Tyre concluded at the Madras International Circuit, Chennai on August 24 and 25, 2024. After a rigorous selection procedure across four corners of the country (Guwahati, Bangalore, Pune and Delhi), 24 racers from India took to the track for an action-packed racing weekend.
The nail-biting racing spectacle saw Anish Shetty emerge victorious securing the top spot followed by Navaneeth Kumar S. However the deciding factor was their qualifying time where Anish finished the race faster. The third position was bagged by PM Soorya. Although Kayan Zubin Patel also finished the round 1 with the same points, PM Soorya's standings in both the races helped in securing the third position over Kayan. Yogesh P led the leaderboard in the first round in the amateur category followed by Nijin A in the second position and Johnson Saldanha in the third position. In the newly introduced Twin Power Trophy, Navneeth Kumar & Johnson Saldhana are currently at the top of the leaderboard, followed by Kayan Zubin Patel & Johring Warisa in the second position and PM Soorya & Madhusudan Reddy in the third position.
In the fourth edition of Continental GT Cup, Royal Enfield upped the ante with its newly introduced 'Twin Power Trophy' Championship. With a truly thrilling display of adrenaline-fueled racing transcending the circuit, each professional was paired with a grassroot amateur making the race more fierce, while also cementing a sense of camaraderie amongst the racers. While the professionals brought a higher level of skill and expertise to the track, the amateurs introduced the thrill of unpredictability to this incredibly dynamic mentor-protege equation. This unique combination not only helps the amateur riders grow their practical knowledge and skill, but allows them to battle it out on the same platform as established professionals. The professional racers, on the other hand, benefit from adopting a mentorship role, accelerating their development and understanding of racing strategies and techniques. The Twin Power Trophy has redefined the level of accessibility attached to the Indian racing circuit, bringing in passionate amateur riders and investing in rigorous upskilling in a safe and sustainable learning environment.
The fight for the podium in round 1 was equal parts grueling and intense, witnessing 12 professionals and 12 amateurs battle it out till the end under the 'Pro-Am' format. Both races, though varied in competition and racecraft, were consistent in the level of adrenaline and excitement. Race 1 on the Continental GT-R650 saw Anish Shetty emerge in first place, followed closely by Navaneeth Kumar S in second position and Jagadeesh Nagaraja in third place in the professional category. In the amateur category, Yogesh P bagged the first position, Johring Warisa and Nijin A secured the second and third position respectively.
Race 2 similarly continued the same intensity with Navaneeth Kumar S at the top of the standings; while Anish Shetty came second and Soorya PM came third in the professional category. Yogesh P won the 2nd race too, followed closely by Johnson Saldanha in the second position and Nijin A bagged the third place at the podium.
The 24 racers will compete in the remaining two rounds of the Continental GT Cup 2024 scheduled in September and November.