- First Indian to compete in FIA European Rally Championship
- Amittrajit Ghosh to team up with long-time co-driver, Ashwin Naik
- To be held around the city of Lamia in Greece from 1-3 June 2018
- 170bhp Ford Fiesta R2 car in the ERC 3 category
- Car tuned by Baltic Motorsport Promotion, a renowned motorsport company from Latvia
Indian National Rally Champion (INRC), Amittrajit Ghosh, will soon emerge as the first Indian to compete in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC). The Team RRPM driver will be participating in round 3 of the championship, the EKO Acropolis Rally 2018. The rally will be held around the city of Lamia in Greece from 1-3 June 2018. The Kolkata lad, Amittrajit Ghosh will be joined by another seasoned racer from the motorsport world and long-time co-driver, Ashwin Naik. The team will be participating in selected rounds of the ERC.
FIA European Rally Championship was first contested in 1953 and regarded as one of the most prestigious rallying series in the world. With over 60 editions to its credit, it is also one of the oldest races in the world which alternates between rallies on asphalt and gravel. Holding over a decade of experience in racing, Amittrajit Ghosh has won in the following races – 2005 Indian National Racing Championship, besides winning the MRF Racing Challenge and the Indian National Rally Championship in the 1400cc category. Additionally, he also has the distinction of becoming the first Indian to gain a class podium in his maiden attempt in the British Rally Championship and has won the Indian National Rally Championship consecutively twice in 2012 and 2013. Things do not end there, he also represents Team Mahindra Adventure in the MRF FMSCI INRC 2018.
The Indian team will be using a modest 170bhp Ford Fiesta R2 car in the ERC 3 category. Tuned by Baltic Motorsport Promotion, a renowned motorsport company from Latvia, the car will get race-spec detailing in the form of a five-speed sequential gearbox, adjustable Reiger dampers, Eibach springs and AP Racing brakes. Later this week, as part of preparations for the challenging ERC, Amittrajit will be participating in the Rally Talsi 2018. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “I am treating Rally Talsi as a test event to get used to the car. Like they say, there is no better practice than match practice.”
Speaking from London on the upcoming FIA ERC races, Amittrajit said, “It is a proud moment for us to become the first Indian driver, co-driver and team to be competing in the ERC, second only to the World Rally Championship.” He further added, “Our aim will be to gather valuable miles and experience through this year, in preparation for an all-out assault in the next. I want to thank RRPM for getting us here and our new sponsor, Pana Education, for coming on board at this important juncture of our career.”
