In 2002, during the Formula Maruti race in Chennai, Ameya Walawalkar had a horrific accident, breaking his shin in six places.
Ameya Walawalkar confident of fourth national karting title after victory in Kolhapur
KOHLAPUR: In 2002, during the Formula Maruti race in Chennai, Ameya Walawalkar had a horrific accident, breaking his shin in six places.
Not many would have given him a chance of coming back to racing, but after four operations and almost two-years off the track he returned with a vengeance in 2005 by winning two national karting titles (he had won his first in 2001).
The Mumbai lad won both the races of the MRF-MAI National Karting Championship held at Mohite’s Racing Academy here on Sunday to claim the top position after three rounds, with 116 points to keep alive his quest for a fourth title.
He is followed by former team mate Rayomand Banajee with 96 points.
The reigning champion had a bad start to the season in Kochi. He finished the first race in third spot and in the second race his tyre came off resulting in a DNF.
But he bounced back in style at Coimbatore winning both races and continued his form in the Kolhapur leg. “It was just a technical error during the first race.
But I’m back on pace now. And after Coimbatore, it was a good weekend for me over here as well,” said Walawalkar.
A keen racing enthusiast, Walawalkar began competing at the age of 20 and in his first year won the national karting championship, which was held for the first time in 2002.
In 2002, he moved to the Formula Maruti series where he met with the accident. “I slid off the track and the Marshalls were clearing my vehicle. I was standing besides it and one of the drivers didn’t see the yellow flags and just banged into me.”
He added: “The injury healed early, but I wanted to be hundred per cent fit before I came back to racing.”
Walawalkar feels that besides talent one must have a strong financial backing to go to the top. “Motorsports is very expensive. But if you have the talent, you will get the backing as well,” quips Walawalkar.
Does he regret the fact that he started racing quite late? “Karting started in India quite late,” he replies. “If I had came quite early I could have been racing in some formula races. There is positive wind about Formula One in India and for the younger generation it a good opportunity.”
Walawalkar has a 20 points lead over his nearest rival Banajee and will hope to wrap up his fourth title in the penultimate round at Goa this weekend.
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