Kohima, March 13 (MExN): The 3rd and 10th of March saw motorsports enthusiasts in Guwahati were provided with a thundering racing treat as the city witnessed the Second edition of the Torque Power Challenge, organized by the Extreme Games Association of Assam. The event was held on the sandy banks of Brahmaputra River at Bharalamukh, Guwahati. A 400mtrs drag race and extreme autocross highlighted the two-day event with three different classes of cars (below 1000cc, above 1000cc and SUV) participating.
A motley rue of motorsports enthusiasts from Nagaland under the banner of Team Nagaland led by veteran driver Along Aier comprising of Team NAC (Nagaland Adventure Club) - Peter Rutsa, Diethonguzo Miachieo, Lima Jamir, Bijo Awomi, Ruokuobeituo Kense and Team NAMSA- Along Aier, Toshi Aier, Unoka Assumi joined the competition. The 2012 edition of the event saw Nagaland drivers sweep top honors and this year’s edition saw a repetition as Team Nagaland yet again took the top honors.
An expensive and risky adventure sport, Nagaland has seen a surge in motorsports enthusiasts in the recent years, courtesy of the annual Horsepower Challenge organized by the Nagaland Adventure Club and the Hornbill International Motor Rally, a NAMSA event; however lack of sponsors has been a major setback to budding rally drivers. Team NAC from Kohima expressed their gratitude to Universal Traders, Rutsa Enterprises, Food Kraft, Dennis hardware, L.K. Hardware, Popular Bakery, Abul Gift Shop, light House Electricals, Big Bite, Cargo Tyres, TRAP, and Sekhose Maruti Service Station for the sponsorship and man labour rendered to the Kohima drivers. Veteran rally driver Along Aier of Team NAMSA, meanwhile expressing his delight at the success of the Team, added that Nagaland could go further in this sport provided avenues to go pro in this sport were opened to motorsport enthusiasts, interestingly Along won the 2001 edition of the Raid de Himalaya and he hopes that someday another Naga will accomplish this feat. The prize distribution ceremony witnessed bike stunts and a gathering of all the drivers.
The final results of the 2nd TORQUE CHALLENGE, Guwahati. DRAG RACE are as followe: Unoka Assumi (Below 1000cc, 14:28 Secs); Toshi Aier (above 1000cc, 14:44 Secs); Peter Rutsa (SUV, 12.48 Secs). In the
EXTREME AUTOCROSS Non SUVs/car category the first spot went to Unoka Assumi, Toshi Aier and Chau Naylin Chowhin were the first and second runners up. In the SUV category, Larry Mukhim bagged the first spot while Bijo Awomi and Peter Rutsa were in the second and third spots.
