MRF Challenge: Svendsen-Cook storms into standings' lead

British driver Ruper Svendsen-Cook became the favourite for the MRF Challenge 2013 after two convincing wins at the Madras Circuit in Chennai.

His title rival Tio Ellinas had a tough day after only one podium finish, one fourth place and a DNF which saw a 22 point advantage turn into a 9 point deficit as the championship heads into the last two races of the championship. Indian F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan thrilled the home crowd with a great effort to finish third on his return to the MMRT.

In the MRF 1600 National Racing Championship category Tarun Reddy fought back from eighth place on lap 1 to win on the last lap ahead of Advait Deodhar and Vikash Anand. In the first round of the Indian Motorcycle National Racing Championship, Sarath Kumar won ahead of Jagan K and Mathana Kumar.

Amongst the Indian contingent, it was Raj Bharath who recorded the best finish of sixth in race one. The 19-year old Indian was within the shot of the podium in race two, running in a brilliant fifth and closing in on the leading pack, but a suspension failure on the final lap ended his race in the gravel trap.

MRF Challenge Round 4 results:

Race one:

1. Rupert Svendsen-Cook
2. Tio Ellinas
3. Narain Karthikeyan

Race two:

1. Sam Dejhonge
2. Harry Tincknell
3. Rupert Svendsen-Cook

Race three:

1. Rupert Svendsen-Cook
2. Harry Tincknell
3. Dylan Young

MRF F1600 National Championship, Round 1 results

Race one:

1. Tarun Reddy
2. Advait Deodhar
3. Karthik Tharani