Lapping up the laurels

Blazing the track

ShuchindraGowdaBF30sept2015

His journey is one behind the wheels and his mind moves at the same pace as his vehicle. Final-year medical student and City-based racer, Shuchindra Gowda made his foray into motorsport four years back and since then, he is an alter ego of his car — fast-paced, edgy, rushing and rolling outside the track as well.

He is a man of few words but has traversed a long, tough journey. His first lap was ‘just for fun’, he recalls, when he was a newbie to the sport and didn’t know the basics, including tuning the car. From there, he has driven a long route.

After steering through some nail-biting rounds, he participated in the finale of Toyota’s Etios Motor Racing (EMR) recently at Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida.

He says, “It was my first time in this Circuit. It’s a very well-respected and inspiring track. Great racers with shining careers have come here. It’s a humbling feeling to have represented my State and country.” After bagging the Indian National Autocross Championship in 2012, which was one of his biggest milestones, he wishes to make his friends and family proud here now. Though he has no strategy planned out as he is yet to analyse the race track, he is mentally prepared and bustling with confidence.

The only student to be stepping into the circuit this year, especially from a world of skulls and cadavers, he practises as much as he can during the weekend at his own race tracks in Nelamangala and Hesaraghatta. Happy that he is representing Bengaluru, he wishes that the racing circuit grows in the City.

“The City lacks professional tracks and hence fails to promote more racers. Racing is still an expensive sport so the growth is slow. However, the Federation is supporting us so that the racing scene around the country can become active. There are many races now which promote freshers in the novice category, which is helpful for them so that they can gauge their interest and see if they want to continue with racing.”

Though these loopholes are taken care of, Shuchindra believes that winning a lap depends on the driver and his relationship with the car. He adds, “There is nothing like a perfect lap. One can lose out within a fraction of a second here. The most important thing is to be focussed. Racers have to understand the nuances within racing and different kinds of tracks and rallies to continue. More sponsors, race tracks and awareness will only follow after dedicated racers.”  And this dedicated racer will not stop his lap here. With veteran Michael Schumacher as his inspiration, he plans to participate in “many more races” and conquer the racing circuit.

“I feel like I am living in two different worlds altogether. There are times when I have thought of quitting medical school and taking this up professionally to continue living a swift life.”

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Metrolife / by Anushka Sivakumar / DHNS – September 30th, 2015

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