Chennai: The sixth edition of the MRF Challenge will begin with a race in Bahrain on November 16. The season-opener will be held alongside the season finale of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The edition features four rounds with 16 races plus those to Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Chennai. The MRF Challenge machine has been tweaked with the updated car featuring inputs from famous F1 engineer Adrian Newey. The car will now feature a Hewland 6-speed sequential gearbox integrated dash and paddle shift system as well as upgraded aero and an underbody diffuser.
Arun Mammen, MD, MRF Tyres, said progress is key. “We will continue to push the envelope and showcase India as a key hub for R&D development in motorsport. We provide drivers with identical cars so talent plays a key role,” he said.
Drivers line-up: Nazim Azman (Malaysia), Harri Jones (Australia), Richard Wagner (Germany), Robert Megennis (USA), Henning Enqvist (Sweden), Julien Falchero (France), Daniel Nielsen Frost (Singapore), Rinus Van Kalmthout (Netherlands), Perdana Putra Minang (Indonesia), Kurt Hill (Australia), Dylan Young (Australia), Pavan Ravishankar (Singapore), Alex Karkosik (Poland), Michelangelo Amendola (Belgium), Felipe Drugovich (Brazil), Presley Martono (Indonesia), Louis Gachot (France), Manuel Maldonado (Venezuela).
Calendar Round 1: November 16-18 (Bahrain); Round 2: December 7-9 (Dubai); Round 3: December 13-15 (Abu Dhabi); Round 4: February 2-4, 2018 (Chennai).
