Hyderabad
Regional Trials gives the Force India F1 Team
Academy’s One From A Billion Hunt its first female
finalist
14
participants come closer to their dream of
becoming the next Indian Formula One drive
Hyderabad|India|May '2011: After the
phenomenal response at the Hyderabad Regional
round of the “One From A Billion Hunt”, the Force
India Formula One Team Academy and Mobil 1
announced the 14 participants who have qualified
for the National Finals.
The Hyderabad regional trials which begun on 23rd
May 2011, came to a close with the announcement of
the 14 finalists on 29th May, 2011. The 14
finalists were selected on the basis of the best
lap times posted by them during the qualifying
sessions. Each applicant was allowed five laps to
log their best possible lap time to qualify for
the National Finals.
The Hyderabad Regional round became the city to
give the One From A Billion Hunt, its first female
finalist. Abha Mankar not only progressed to the
national final but also topped the charts in
Hyderabad with a scorching lap time of 23.828.
Mankar was full of confidence as she took to the
track and displayed her control over the kart.
Mankar feels that if girls put their mind to
something and start believing in themselves then
they can surely do anything.
Darshan Mehta secured the second fastest lap time
of the Hyderabad regional trials with a lap time
of 24.079. Seeing the One From A Billion Hunt as
an event that could make an entire career, Mehta
ensured he gave it his very best and made the most
of the opportunity.
Runai Desai rounded up the Top 14 from Hyderabad
with a lap time of 25.376. Desai closely missed
qualifying for the Top 14 in the Kolhapur regional
trials and ensured he did not make the same
mistakes as he tried to qualify for the National
Final through the Hyderabad Regional Round.
The National Finals scheduled to be held in
September, 2011, will have 100 finalists , 14 from
each of the seven regional rounds plus two wild
card entries, compete against each other to win a
place among ten finalists who will move on to the
next level of the programme, the Silverstone
Finale.
Commenting on the conclusion of the Hyderabad leg
of the One From A Billion Hunt, Dr. Vijay Mallya,
Chairman & Team Principal, Force India Formula One
Team said, “Since we launched India’s first ever
serious initiative and platform for young Indians
to showcase their racing talent via a karting
programme in India, we have had an extremely
enthusiastic response in all the regional trials
so far. The week-long Hyderabad leg of the One
From a Billion Hunt has given us 14 talented
finalists who will now proceed to the national
final where they will compete with 86 other
talented finalists later this year and I wish the
14 finalists from Hyderabad all the very best. It
is a pleasure to see the Hunt get its first female
finalist at the Hyderabad Regional Round.”
Speaking on the occasion, a Mobil 1 representative
said “We are delighted that Mobil 1 sponsored,
Force India's' initiative, One from a Billion Hunt
has received a phenomenal response from the motor
sports enthusiasts in Hyderabad. We would like to
congratulate the 14 finalists of regional trial in
Hyderabad and wish them all the best for the
national trials."
May.2011
