Sandeep Kumar (racing driver)

Last updated

Sandeep Kumar Ambalavanan
Sandeep Kumar 2024.jpg
Born
Occupation(s)Racing driver, Racing Coach, Legal Attorney
Years active2007 - present

Sandeep Kumar Ambalavanan is an Indian racing driver and legal attorney. He began his racing career at the age of 14 under the mentorship of Akbar Ebrahim, a former Formula 3 racer.

Contents

Kumar has won multiple national championships in India and has represented global brands and racing teams in various national and international competitions, including the European Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup, X1 Racing League (now the Indian Racing League), JK Tyre National Racing Championship, MRF National Racing Championship, and Rotax Asia Max Challenge. In 2023, Kumar was honored with the ‘Young Achievers Award’ from the Rotary Club.

Early career and karting

Kumar started his racing career in professional karting, participating in several national karting championships such as the Rotax Max Challenge India and Rotax Max Challenge Asia. He was the Vice Champion of the 2008 Indian Rotax Max Challenge (Novice Cup).

Volkswagen Polo Cup India

In 2012, Kumar won the pro class of the Volkswagen Polo Cup India and secured the Vice Champion position in the national category. [1]

Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup Europe

Kumar's performance in 2012 led to his participation in the 2013 Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup, representing Volkswagen Motorsports India. [2] He returned to the Ameo Cup Championship in 2017, finishing as vice champion. [3] In 2021, Kumar won the Polo Cup National Championship, which earned him a place on Volkswagen India’s Factory Racing team for the 2022 Indian Touring Car Championship. [4] In 2023, Kumar made history in the Polo Cup by winning all four races in a single weekend as a guest driver.

Indian Touring Cars Championship

In 2022, Kumar competed in the Indian National Touring Car Championship, driving for Volkswagen Motorsports India. He played a significant role in developing the Volkswagen ITC Virtus Car and finished as the National Vice Champion, while his team secured the National Team Championship.

LGB Formula 4

Kumar competed in the LGB Formula 4 Championship in 2017 with Dark Don Racing and was the Vice Champion. He returned to the championship in 2020, winning the LGB Formula 4 National Championship in the JK Tyre National Racing Championship.

Formula 1600 & Formula 2000

In 2017, Kumar competed in the MRF Formula 1600 class of the MRF National Racing Championship, finishing as Vice National Champion. In 2023, after successful performances in previous seasons, Kumar won the Formula 2000 National Championship title. [5]

Indian Racing League (IRL)

Kumar debuted in the Indian Racing League (IRL) in 2019 with AD Racing Delhi. He has since raced with various teams, achieving podium finishes. In 2023, he competed with Speed Demons Delhi, and in 2024, he is set to race for Chennai Turbo Riders.

Contribution to Indian motorsports

Kumar bein involved in motorsports for over a decade is also coaching and mentoring new drivers. In 2024, he took on the role of race director for the Indian National Karting Championship, organized by Meco Motorsport.

Racing record

Career summary

National

SeasonSeriesPosition
2023MRF Indian National Formula 2000 ChampionshipChampion [6]
2022Indian Touring Car Championship – Volkswagen Motorsports India

(Factory Driver)

Vice Champion [7]
2021Volkswagen Polo R CupChampion [8]
2020JK Tyre National Racing Championship - LGB Formula 4Champion [9]
2017MRF Formula 1600 National ChampionshipVice Champion [10]
JK Tyre National Racing Championship - LGB Formula 4Vice Champion
VW Ameo Cup & Scholarship AwardeeVice Champion
2015JK Formula India Series-
JK Tyre National Racing Championship - LGB Formula 4-
2012VW Polo R Pro Cup IndiaChampion
European Scirocco R Cup ScholarshipAwardee [11]
2011Formula BMW Asia - Indian GP Support RaceParticipant
Rotax Max Challenge India8th
JK Tyre National Racing Championship - Formula Swift3rd
2010MMS Rookie Cup Rotax Max KartsChampion
JK Tyre National Racing Championship - Formula Swift6th
2009MMSC Cup Formula FissmeVice Champion
2008Indian Rotax Max Challenge (Novice)2nd Overall
2007Amaron Karting Challenge, Chennai3rd

International

SeasonSeriesPosition
2024Indian Racing League – Driver for Chennai Turbo Riders- Current
2023Indian Racing League – Driver for Speed Demons Delhi-
2022Indian Racing League – Driver for Chennai Turbo Riders| [12] Multiple Top 3 finishes
2019X1 Racing League – Team AD Racing (Delhi Franchise Team)-
2013VW Scirocco R Cup Europe | [13] 8th (Novice)
2012VW Polo Cup Colombo Night Race, Sri Lanka | [14] 2nd
2011JKRAS Formula BMW - Indian GP Support Race-
2009Rotax Max Asia Challenge in Indonesia and Malaysia-

Related Research Articles

MRF, or MRF Tyres, is an Indian multinational tyre manufacturing company and the largest manufacturer of tyres in India. It is headquartered in Chennai. The acronym MRF comes from the company's initial days when it was called as Madras Rubber Factory. The company manufactures rubber products including tyres, treads, tubes and conveyor belts, paints and toys. MRF was named the world's second-strongest tyre brand by Brand Finance, with a AAA− brand grade.

Armaan Ebrahim is a car racer from Chennai, India. He is the vice-president of MECO Motorsports.

Formula LGB Hyundai is a single seater, open wheel class of motorsport in India launched in 2006 by LGB with Hyundai the engine supplier. The cars are powered by 1.4 liter Indian built Hyundai Accent engines in the entry level JK Road Racing National Championship series. This car along with Formula LGB Swift can be considered as an Indian equivalent of Europe's Formula Ford series, where it is void of aerodynamic aids like wings. This series is one of the starter formula series to enable karting drivers step into a formula car.

Formula Rolon, also known as Formula Rolon Chevrolet and later Formula Rolon 2010 is an open wheel single seater Formula Racing car made and raced in India. They run in the single make championships held in the tracks of Coimbatore and Chennai. The car is similar to Formula Asia, and was powered by 1600cc Chevrolet and later Suzuki engines with a racing gear box. The car was launched in Mumbai December 2005 and made its debut in Coimbatore track in September 2006. The 2010 season was its last season as LG Sports announced that it will not enter Formula Rolon for the 2011 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formula Maruti</span> Single-seat racing championship

Formula Maruti was a single-seater, open-wheel class in motorsport made and raced in India. Many of the top teams in Indian motorsports have run in the series, including Team Lakshmi Mills Superspeeds, Team JK, Team MRF, Gabriel Racing, WSRF Racing, McDowell Racing, and Team Valvoline. Top Indian drivers have started their career racing in Formula Maruti, most notably Narain Karthikeyan, Parthiva Sureshwaren, Karun Chandhok and other drivers who have had quite a successful outing in this form are Ajay Kini, Mohit Aryan, Goutham Parekh, Devang Shah, Narendhran, Sudarshan Rao, Kartik Shankar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian National Rally Championship</span> Indias top rallying series

Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) is a rallying National Championship in different classes with a series of rounds, organised under the aegis of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), which is the Governing Body or ASN of India recognised by FIA culminating with National Champion Driver and Co-Driver. The driver and co-drivers's championship are based on a point system. The championship first received its National Championship Title status in 1988. Aroor Arjun Rao of Mangaluru is the reigning National champion. Supported by MRF Tyres, he drives for Mandovi Racing team in a Maruti Baleno. The 2024 National Championship begins in Chennai from 15 March 2024 with the South India Rally (SIR) which is also a round of the APRC Asia Cup.

The JK Tyre National Racing Championship also known as JK-NRC is an auto racing championship series consisting of several one-make series events of open wheel single seater formula cars and saloon cars in India. This championship series is also considered to be the stepping stone for Indian Racing drivers who want to break into international motorsports. Several drivers have gone on to take part in international events including Formula One and A1 Grand Prix and other premier racing series around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madras International Circuit</span> Motor racing circuit in Chennai, India

The Madras International Circuit is a permanent motor racing circuit located in Irungattukottai, Chennai, India. It was built in the late 1980s and was inaugurated in 1990. It was the first permanent racing circuit in India and is owned by the Madras Motor Sports Club. In July 2022, the track was renamed as Madras International Circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup</span>

Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup was a one-make racing series by Volkswagen based in Germany, which used the Volkswagen Scirocco model. The first season was in 2010, having replaced the previous ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup which had run since 2004. It was a support series for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, and was replaced in 2015 by the Audi Sport TT Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorsport in India</span>

Motorsport is a popular form of sport in India for over 100 years.The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs in India (fmsci) is the National governing body for motorsports approved by FIA and FIM. FMSCI, usually written in small caps, is the National Federation that organises nearly a dozen Nationals in various disciplines of motorsport. Some of the popular Indian motorsports Nationals are: Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), Indian National Supercross Championship, Indian National Car Racing Championship, Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship and Indian National Rotax Max Karting Championship.

Narayanaswamy "N." Leelakrishnan, also known as Leela in Indian motorsport circles, is a six-time Indian National Rally Championship Champion and one time Indian Formula 3 champion from Coimbatore, India. He is also a rally and race car tuner and is currently the Chief Technical Director of Red Rooster Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aditya Patel</span> Indian racing driver

Aditya Patel is an Indian racing driver that represents Audi India Motorsport. Prior to this, he has competed in the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup, Polo Cup, Formula BMW Pacific and the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raj Bharath</span> Indian professional race car driver

Raj Bharath Swaminathan is an Indian professional race car driver who raced in the Formula 2000 MRF Challenge 2014.

MRF Racing is an Indian racing team that competes in car racing and rallies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akhil Rabindra</span> Indian racing driver

Akhil Rabindra is an Indian racing driver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shahan Ali Mohsin</span> Indian racing driver

Shahan Ali Mohsin is an Indian racing driver from India, an Asia Max Karting Champion and two-time JK Tyre Rotax Max Championship in the Micro Max category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arjun Maini</span> Indian racing driver

Arjun Maini is an Indian professional racing driver, currently competing in the DTM. He has previously also competed in FIA Formula 2 Championship with Trident Racing and Campos Racing. He was the winner of Force India's 'One in a Billion' driver hunt in 2011.

Karna Kadur is an Indian National Rally Champion. He began with road racing and also achieved immense success in Indian rallying with seven National rally titles in different classes. He won two Overall National Rally Championship victories 2016 and 2022 with Arka Motorsports. He is with Arka Motorsports and drives in MRF Tyres colours under the mentorship of N Leelakrishnan, his engineer and tuner. He is also the first driver to get a National Championship title for Volkswagen Polo along with co-driver Nikhil Pai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chetan Korada</span> Indian racing driver (born 1986)

Chetan Korada is an Indian racing driver who holds the distinction of being the first ever driver in the world to win a race using synthetic feet. He is also the first in Asia, and second in the world after former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi, to compete in motorsport using a prosthetic leg. Having been born with a deformity during birth, he had undergone bi-lateral amputation at a very tender age under medical advice.

Diana Pundole is an Indian racing driver from Pune, Maharashtra. She is the first Indian woman to win a National championship in the history of Indian motorsports where lady racing drivers compete on equal footing with male drivers. She won the National title in the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Car Racing Championship 2024 in the saloon cars class organised by Madras Motor Sports Club at the Madras International Circuit, near Chennai on 18 August 2024.

References

  1. "Volkswagen Polo R Cup India". 3 December 2012.
  2. "Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup". The Times of India. 17 September 2013.
  3. "Ameo Cup Championship Results". 18 July 2017.
  4. "Polo Cup National Championship". The Times of India. 13 February 2022.
  5. "Sandeep claims MRF Formula 2000 crown". The Hindu. 17 December 2023. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  6. "Sandeep Claims MRF Formula 2000 Crown". The Hindu. 18 December 2023.
  7. "Indian National Touring Car Championship: - National Team Champions and National Driver Vice Champion". 4 March 2023 via Instagram.
  8. "Sandeep Kumar wins inaugural VW Polo Cup". Times of India. 13 February 2022.
  9. "2020 JK NRC: Sandeep Kumar secures LGB Formula 4 title". 25 January 2021 via Autocar India.
  10. "MRF Formula 1600: Kumar Sweeps as Reddy Claims title". 17 September 2017 via USF 2000 News.
  11. "A.Sandeep Kumar to represent India at 2013 Scirocco R-Cup". 3 December 2012 via APN News.
  12. "Official website of Chennai Turbo Riders". 2022 via Chennai Turbo Riders Website.
  13. "Sandeep Kumar represents india at 2013 Scirocco R Cup". 3 December 2012 via APN News.
  14. "Volkswagen Polo race returns to Colombo Night Races". 24 January 2013 via Business Standard.