Etios Motor Racing pit-stops at Bangalore

The next leg of Toyota’s promotional activities for the Etios Motor Racing (EMR) series will be held over the next weekend in Bangalore. Motorsport enthusiasts will be able to touch and feel the souped-up Etios and Liva race cars, participate in various events held at the venue, and purchase apparel and accessories.

The one make racing series, which will be held in 2013, aims to become a racing platform to help talented young racers develop their skills. Phase one of the driver training programme was held in Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore and Delhi during which 70 drivers were shortlisted. These 70 drivers will be tested on go-karts in Bangalore, and the best 25 will feature in exhibition races to be held later this year and at the EMR Series next year. The result of this selection process will be posted on the EMR website on May 10, 2012.

The FIA-qualified race cars provided by Toyota and tuned in partnership with racing house Red Rooster Racing will ensure that all drivers get equal opportunities while placing an emphasis on the driver’s skill and talent. The cars used in the series are proper race cars, with the requisite aero kits, race tyres, racing suspension and engine modifications. This could become the second platform at the grassroots motorsports level, which would spawn international standard race drivers from India.

Motorsport in India will obviously get a big boost because of this race series, along with the Polo R Cup and the proposed i1 Super Series. Single make race series have a lower entry fee for participants, a good lure for those who found racing prohibitively expensive earlier. These developments also raise the hope that if more people show interest in motor racing events, manufacturers could launch the crazy sport versions of road cars in our market.