The inaugural race of the second round of Volkswagen Ameo Cup 2018 at the Madras Motor Race Track featured some close shaves and epic battles. The race was held right after the MRF NRC 2018 Indian Touring Car and Turbo class races. Dhruv Mohite clocked the fastest qualifying time on Friday and started the race on pole position. Saurav Bandyopadhay from Thane was in second position with Anmol Singh and Shubomoy Ball following in the second row.
This was the first Ameo Cup race to be held in Chennai and turned out to be quite the drama as Saurav got off to a perfect start, overtaking Dhruv in the process on the very first lap. To earn maximum points, Saurav had to hold on to the lead, which he did turn after turn creating a big gap between him and Dhruv. Behind the front row the action was even more intense with Shubhomoy getting a better start to Anmol. On the second lap Anmol snatched back the second position with Dhruv rounding off the podium.
There were some bumper to bumper taps and paint rub during the last few laps, but the cars did not suffer too much of damage and are fit to race tomorrow for the second and third race.
After round two of the Volkswagen Ameo Cup 2018, Dhruv Mohite is top of the leaderboard with 220 points, Saurav Bandyopadhyay is trailing with 214 points. The junior category is being led by Shubhomoy Ball with 288 points followed by Akshay Bhivshet with 222 points and Shivani Pruthvi with 194 points. Jeet Jhabakh is in thrid place overall, 10 points behind Saurav.
Round two witnessed three different winners in the three races held at the Madras Motorsport Race Track in Chennai, The first race was won by Saurav Bandyopadhyay while Jeet Jhabakh and Dhruv Mohite won Race 2 and Race 3 respectively. Anmol Singh rounded off the podium in all three races of Round 2 and is currently in 4th position behind Jeet.
“We are now half way through the 2018 season and the coveted drivers title is up for grabs with the top four drivers favourites to clinch the title. We are also surprised with the performances showcased by Shubhomoy, Akshay and Shivani who are the top three drivers in the Junior Category and have also impressed in the overall standings with 5th, 7th and 8th places respectively. We all hope the race for driver’s title goes down to the wire at the Buddh International Circuit come October.” said Mr. Sirish Vissa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India.
The Ameo Cup races will resume on 18, August 2018 at the Madras Motorsport Race Track, in Chennai.
16 Points split the Top 3 drivers after Round 2 of the Volkswagen Ameo Cup 2018
Dhruv Mohite (Kolhapur) leads the overall driver’s standings with a difference of 6 points over Saurav Bandyopadhyay (Thane)
Shubhomoy Ball (Bangalore) leads Akshay P Bhivshet (Goa) in the Junior Category after Round Two
Pune, August 01, 2018: Volkswagen Motorsport India concluded Round 2 of its premium one-make series – Ameo Cup 2018. Round 2 witnessed three different winners over the course of the weekend, with Saurav Bandyopadhyay winning the inaugural race of Round 2 and Jeet Jhabakh and Dhruv Mohite winning Race 2 and Race 3 respectively.
Half way into the season, Dhruv Mohite (Kolhapur) leads the overall standings with 220 points with Saurav Bandyopadhyay (Thane) in second position having managed to close gap to just 6 points. Jeet Jhabakh (Hyderabad) currently sits in third place 10 points behind Saurav. Only 16 points separate the top three drivers after the first five races.
Anmol Singh (Gaziabad), finishing on the podium in all three races of Round 2 with has emerged as one of the top drivers. He is currently in 4th position behind Jeet in the overall points tally.
In the Junior category, Shubhomoy Ball (Bangalore) is leading with an overall point tally of 288, followed by Akshay Bhivshet (Goa) with 222 points and Shivani Pruthvi (Davangere) with 194 points.
Mr. Sirish Vissa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India said, “We are now half way through the 2018 season and the coveted drivers title is up for grabs with the top four drivers favourites to clinch the title. We are also surprised with the performances showcased by Shubhomoy, Akshay and Shivani who are the top three drivers in the Junior Category and have also impressed in the overall standings with 5th, 7th and 8th places respectively. We all hope the race for driver’s title goes down to the wire at the Buddh International Circuit come October.”
The fight for the 2018 Ameo Cup will resume in Round 3 at Madras Motorsport Race Track (MMRT) in Chennai on 18th and 19th August 2018.
Ameo Cup 2018: Round Two Overall Standings
Sr. No. | Driver’s Name | Car No. | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total Points | |||
Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race3 | ||||
1 | Dhruv Shivaji Mohite | 19 | 60 | 60 | 40 | DNF | 60 | 220 |
2 | Saurav Bandyopadhyay | 14 | 40 | 40 | 60 | 40 | 34 | 214 |
3 | Jeet Jhabakh | 5 | 48 | 18 | 30 | 60 | 48 | 204 |
4 | Anmol Singh | 6 | DNF | 26 | 48 | 48 | 40 | 162 |
5 | Shubhomoy Ball | 17 | 30 | 30 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 156 |
6 | Pratik Sonawane | 7 | 34 | 32 | 12 | 34 | 32 | 144 |
7 | Akshay P Bhivshet | 11 | 28 | 34 | 24 | 30 | 18 | 134 |
8 | Shivani Pruthvi | 10 | 26 | 24 | 32 | 22 | 20 | 124 |
9 | Siddharth Mehdiratta | 9 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 24 | 28 | 122 |
10 | Tauhid Anwar | 1 | 10 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 14 | 108 |
11 | Jay Sanghrajka | 16 | 24 | 10 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 108 |
12 | Affan Sadat Safwan Islam | 3 | 32 | 48 | DNS | DNS | DNS | 80 |
13 | Ayush Tainwala | 8 | 14 | DNF | 20 | 12 | 22 | 68 |
14 | Renuka G | 15 | 20 | 16 | DNF | 16 | 16 | 68 |
15 | Anuranjan Velmurugan | 2 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 18 | DNF | 64 |
16 | Arefeen Raafi Ahmed | 18 | 12 | 20 | 16 | 14 | DNF | 62 |
17 | Dr. Amjad Khan | 20 | DNS | DNS | 14 | 20 | 24 | 58 |
18 | Siddesh Mashelkar | 12 | 18 | 14 | DNS | DNS | DNS | 32 |
19 | Manoj Yanamadala | 4 | 8 | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 8 |
Ameo Cup 2018: Round Two Junior Standings
Sr. No. | Driver’s Name | Car No. | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total Points | |||
Race1 | Race2 | Race1 | Race2 | Race3 | ||||
1 | Shubhomoy Ball | 17 | 60 | 48 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 288 |
2 | Akshay P Bhivshet | 11 | 48 | 60 | 34 | 48 | 32 | 222 |
3 | Shivani Pruthvi | 10 | 40 | 40 | 48 | 32 | 34 | 194 |
4 | Siddharth Mehdiratta | 9 | 32 | 34 | 40 | 34 | 48 | 188 |
5 | Jay Sanghrajka | 16 | 34 | 30 | 32 | 40 | 40 | 176 |
6 | Anuranjan Velmurugan | 2 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 152 |