[Ashley2]

SOme more News:

Tata Motors is all set to take its trucks to the racing track. If everything goes as planned, you will have the unusual spectacle of the big-built machines racing in March, 2014.
Tata Motors officials were unavailable for comment, but president of Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI) Vicky Chandhok gave IANS a sneak peek of the initiative.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/b...w/27022698.cms

[muditgrover]

Tata Motors is all set to take its trucks to the racing track. If everything goes as planned, you will have the unusual spectacle of the big-built machines racing in March, 2014.

Tata Motors officials were unavailable for comment, but president of Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI) Vicky Chandhok gave IANS a sneak peek of the initiative.

"It has been my longtime goal that we have all the popular racing series in India. And that is why I am happy that Tata has decided to enter the world of truck racing. It is something which is popular in America and Europe, I hope the fans here connect with it too. I consider myself fortunate to be part of the project from day one," Chandhok told IANS.

Chandhok, who has been working on the project with Tata's, said the one-off race in 2014 will take place at India's sole Formula 1 track, the Buddh International Circuit (BIC).

Though a formal announcement is expected soon, the FMSCI boss said 12 modified Tata Prima heavy trucks will careen around the BIC with experienced international drivers behind its wheels.

Though called a truck race, the vehicles deployed are six-wheeled prime movers to which longer trailers are attached.

Truck racing began in America in the late 1970s and is popular in parts of Europe. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, which is run on pick-up trucks, is one of the most popular events in North America. FIA, the world governing body for motorsports, organises a heavy truck competition in Europe.

Though Tata Motors has fielded teams in national rallies in the past, it is the first time it is pushing one of its best selling products into the racing arena. It can be said that it has taken long for the fifth largest truck maker in the world to enter this space. Volkswagen and Toyota are the other major auto manufacturers which have a presence in Indian motorsports.

"The idea was conceived about a year and a half ago. The plan is to have a single round in the opening year. Depending on its success, the future course of the series will be decided. The aim is to make it a multi-make series by year three."

What about the drivers and the bulky machines?

"It looks we will have a 12-truck grid in the first year comprising experienced Indian and international drivers. The truck will have basic safety features such as the roll cage, fire extinguisher, fuel tank, brake coolers etc," said Chandhok adding that testing was done in Jamshedpur last month and the results of which were satisfactory.

The event will be listed on the FIA and FMSCI calendar, he said.

The truck's top speed will be around 100 kmph, a far cry from the F1 cars which zoom around at 300 kmph with ease.

The BIC officials, however, are excited to host the first ever truck race in India.

"It is something we are looking forward to. We are told that we will have it by mid-March. There won't be any track changes required for the event but we will need some bigger recovery equipment," BIC race operations in-charge Farhan Vora told IANS.

Soure: http://www.newindianexpress.com/spor...cle1933501.ece

Related Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToDyZXdO8Mc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmUMP2XJ618

[Aditya]

Tata Motors has launched of the T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship in India, which will take place on the 23rd March, 2014 at the Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida.

Link to Team-BHP News Article

[JayKis]

Tata Motors announced the launch of its T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship to be held at the BIC on March 23. Truck racing involves the use of modified versions of heavy tractor units on closed racing circuits. The sport had its roots in the United States but eventually became popular throughout the world, including in Europe and South America.

Currently, Truck Racing is an FIA-regulated sport in Europe – with the FIA European Truck Racing Championship running since 1985. The Indian edition will be held under the supervision of the FIA and the FMSCI. The race itself will be handled the MMSCI, conforming to the standards set by the British Truck Racing Association (BTRA).

The championship will feature 12 purpose-built Prima trucks that make 370bhp and hit a top-speed of 110kph. Tata claims to have made 22 specific modifications to get the trucks track ready, including tweaks to the fuel tank, brake cooling system, propeller shaft guards, racing seats, among others. Racing trucks look like their road-going counterparts and conform to preset regulations to ensure that the major components used are the same. Internationally, their maximum speeds are restricted to 160kph for safety reasons, and the minimum weight limit is 5500kg.

The event will consist of two races, the first is qualifying, followed by the main race (all races begin with a rolling start). The participants for Prima race include internationally acclaimed truck racing drivers. Most global truck manufacturers participate in Truck Racing championships around the world, including companies such as MAN, Mercedes-Benz, VW and Volvo.

Nice initiative by TATA


Source:http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-new...ip-370285.aspx

[i74js]

Tata is seriously working on a revival path.

- New Turbo Charged Petrol Engine Family
- Launch of Nano Twist and New Vista Tech
- Repositioning of Tata Sumo with good technical modifications
- and now Truck Racing.

I hope to see them back in the race for 2nd position in Indian Automobile Market catching up with Hyundai in next 5 years.

Well done Tata

[NiInJa]

Will be a nice thing to watch, hope Tata gives it enough publicity so that people will show up at BIC. I do expect some media criticism on wasting fuel, money etc. saying India doesn't need such races.

On a lighter note: We see lot of buses (Volvos and Force Travellers especially) doing some urban racing in Bengaluru. Could easily pass as race drivers.

[supercars]

Is it possible to join this series ?

Who to contact ? Does anyone have an idea of how much would it cost ?

[Latheesh]

See the ad by Tata Motors.. looks like it is going to be awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evoGiN-ia7c

[Gannu_1]

Saw the ad while watching the Asia cup match few days back. Nicely done!

Originally Posted by Motoroids

Tata Prima 4038.S truck that will compete in the T1 PRIMA TRUCK RACING CHAMPIONSHIP has a max power of 370 BHP @ 2100 RPM and a claimed top speed of 110 kmph. 22 key modifications have been made to Prima to make it race-ready.

These changes are in reflection of the safety and performance guidelines set by British Truck Racing Association. Among these changes, the most significant are- a smaller 90 litres fuel tank, a first of its kind brake cooling system, propeller shaft guards, racing seats and safety belts, exhaust and race steering wheel.

Motoroids