Jagat and Anita Nanjappa
Jagat and Anita Nanjappa are a well-known couple in the sport of
Kodagu district of Karnataka. They have participated and won many motorbike and car rallies in India. Jagat is usually the driver while his wife Anita dons the role of the navigator. Together, they have won nine Indian National Rally Riders Championship awards in the motorbike section from 1986 to 1996.[1] Known for their grit and determination, they once completed a rally despite having a flat rear tyre with Anita having to sit on the petrol tank of the bike for a distance of 70 kilometres (43 mi) to reduce the weight on the flat tyre.[2]
Initiation
Jagat, who grew up in
MRF
to sponsor them, and Jagat and Anita raced under the title Team MRF in the subsequent rallies.
Victories
Jagat and Anita won the Annual Indian National Rally Riders Championship in the motorbike section nine times between 1986 and 1996 losing out only in the years 1990 and 1992.[4] Some of the other rallies won by the couple include:[5]
- The Great Desert Rally in 1988.
- The Coimbatore rally in 1992.
- The MASA rally held at Mumbai in the years 1993 and 1994.
- The Popular rally held at Kochiin the years 1993 and 1994.
In car racing, they were runners up in the Indian National Racing championship in the 1400cc category in the years 1998, 2000 and 2001.
Promoting the sport
Jagat and Anita started the Universal Sports Club in the year 2002 in
Jagat has also lent his expertise in designing dirt race tracks and has been chosen by
Jakkur Airfield attracted around 20,000 spectators.[8]
Notes
- ^ a b "In the driver's seat through slush and sand". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 13 March 2004. Archived from the original on 4 May 2004. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
- ^ D. Ravi Shankar (5 August 2004). "K – 1000 anyone?". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 31 October 2004. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
- ^ Harvinder Khetal. "Revving up car thrills this champ". Online Edition of The Tribune, dated 2004-01-05. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
- ^ "About NRF". Online webpage of Nanjappas Racing Foundation. Retrieved 6 August 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Track Record". Online Webpage of The MRF Tyres. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
- ^ Vinita G Singh (21 January 2002). "Racing duo on full throttle". Online edition of The Times of India, dated 2002-01-21. Times Internet Limited. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
- ^ "Events". Online Webpage of the Nanjappas Racing Foundation. Retrieved 6 August 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Varuna Verma. "Men in drag". Online edition of The Telegraph, dated 2006-04-09. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2007.