AMIT, PARMA PLOT FOR 2012 AUTOCROSS SEASON

Amit Bhatt and his partner Sukhi Parma will for the third year running share theirStarlet-powered 1300cc turbo buggy for the 2012 Kenya National Autocross Championship.After making their debut in 2009, the Suvi Racing-sponsored duo are already hatching plans for an exciting speed drive in the new season. They have already made extensive modifications to their ex-Kirit Rajput buggy in preparation for the nine-round Autocross series which revs off at the Jamhuri Park on the weekend of February 11-12.Amit and Parma have made extensive adjustments to the frame, suspensions set up, tuned-up the engine and gearbox in a bid to outclass their adversaries. Amit is confident that the team has done everything they can to contest for a credible position this year.

Commenting on the changes Amit said; “Although we’ve done everything we can and we’re confident, we’re also realistic. We are trying to get into the top 5 because in the last two tyears we have driven quite slower as compared to the leading pack.” Amit’s most memorable and best race was the day he finished the 2010 MMC Ganze Autocross in 4th place and lost to eventual under-24 champion Charles Mugo by a few seconds. “Ganze was quite impressive and challenging in some way. There were too many jumps, blind bends and this was ideally a setting for rallying,." remarked.

Amit’s short term goal is to improve on his driving lines before announcing a major arrival into the rally sport. His buggy is being prepared at the Suvi Racing Workshop off Busia Road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. Amit’s role model is indeed his Australia based father, Anil Bhatt, who raced a Datsun 1600SSS and a Toyota Levin in the 70s. That rallying runs in the blood of the Bhatts family goes without saying. His uncle Ramesh Bhatt also raced on Kenyan circuits a couple of years back.

“Being a second generation driver, I have leant quite a lot from these guys. I met Sukhi seven years ago. From the onset, we had rallying in mind but we later found out that the costs are prohibitive and time consuming. So we settled on buggies instead,” said Amit.