Tata T1 Prima Truck Race: Jagat Singh and Nagarjuna A become first ever Indian winners

Truck drivers Jagat Singh and Nagarjuna A were crowned winners at the first ever Super Class category race during the third edition of the Tata T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship at Buddh International Circuit on Sunday. Elsewhere, David Jenkins of Tata Technologies grabbed the pole position in the Pro Class category of the championship.

A turn out to the tune of 50,000 people witnessed history being created in Indian motorsport as the first lot of the country’s champion truck racers were crowned in front of them.

After two promising previous seasons featuring foreign truck racers, the championship this time featured two separate categories. The Super Class saw Indian race truck drivers fight it out for the title while the Pro Class comprised internationally acclaimed truck racers.

Among the 12 Indian truck drivers, who were selected for the final race through a comprehensive training and selection program from Tata Motors fleet customers' operations across the country, Jagat Singh and Nagarjuna A grabbed the maiden Super Class Tata T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship.

Upon the achievement of this historic feat, the drivers were also in for momentous prize money. While the winners

 were rewarded Rs 10 lakh, the two other podium finishers were made richer by sums of Rs 6 lakh and Rs 4 lakh.

Meanwhile, David Jenkins of Tata Technologies grabbed top honours in the final-20 lap race in the Pro Class category, which comprised international drivers, after having finished fourth in the first 8-lap race. He was followed by Rick Collett and Graham Powell, both from Tata Cummins, in second and third positions respectively.

All drivers were equipped with identical Tata Prima 4038.S trucks that churned out 375PS of peak power and had top speeds of above 130kph. The vehicles were fitted with key modifications to make them fit for racing as per safety and performance guidelines from BRTA. Changes in fuel tank, propeller shaft guards, seats, exhaust, brake cooling system were among the notable ones on these trucks.