Pune: Continuing with his zest for rally racing, international rally racer, Sanjay Takale, donned the colours of Aerpace Racers’ Team and finished overall third in T1 professional class in the first round of the Thailand Rally Raid Championship (TRRC) in Sakeo province of Thailand over the weekend.
It has been just about two months since Sanjay Takale completed the energy-sapping gruelling Dakar Rally in the Saudi Arabian desert, which was his debut in the iconic rally that he decided to commit himself to yet another rally championship.
Aerpace Racers Team entered Sanjay Takale inTRRC in a tie-up with Fast Forward Toyota Team, Thailand.
Competing in the first Round of T1 professional class in Thailand Rally Raid 4WD event in Sakeo province. Takale finished overall third. The rally was conducted in the cross-country format on March 1 and 2 in Sakeo countryside over about 250 km in which 133-km was competitive.
Takale was behind the wheels of Toyota Hilux, world’s most durable and reliable SUV, the vehicle was prepared by Fast Forward team. However, on the testing day Takale reported an issue in the electronic control unit (ECU). Of his car and though the team tried to fix it, but failed.
“So, I had to drive in less power as car was over revving once it crossed 2000 rpm forcing me to drive in higher gear,” is how Takale explained his struggle with the car on the competition day.
This peculiar situation had him lose time on short corners as he wasn;t getting enough tork.
“I used all my Dakar rally experience and managed to maintain good speed and finished 3rd overall,” beamed Takale, who suffered a big impact on a slope resulting in a wrist injury, but he still continued with one hand driving and completed the rally.
Takale ‘s co-driver for this rally was Thailand’s Keerati.
Speaking about his outing in Thailand Takale said that he was happy with his performance coming immediately after the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.
“Rallies in Thailand and other South Asian countries are very competitive because of the terrain available in this part of the world,” Takale explained .
“That is why I took part in this rally because the experience gained here helps in future rallies”, he added.
Apart from Takale there was another driver from Pune competing.
Anirudh Despande, who last competed 39 years ago in Raid de Himalaya, finished fourth in T1 class., which is quite remarkable.
Deshpande had then driven a Fiat in Himalayan rally in mid 80s
“It was quite new technology for him driving a Isuzu dmax rally-prepared car by Thailand’s Wichai” Takale spoke about his friend and fellow Pune driver.
