V. R. Naren Kumar
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| Image:V.R.Naren Kumar.jpg V.R.Naren_Kumar. |
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| Nationality |  Indian |
| Years | 1994 - Present |
| Teams | Team MRF,Team JK,Team India Rally, Team Sidvin India |
| Championships | National INRC:7;Asia Zone : 1 |
| Wins | n/a |
| Podiums | n/a |
| First Race | 1994 Cotton City Challenge,Coimbatore,India |
| Current Action | 2007 Asia Pacific Rally Championship |
V. R. Naren Kumar is a six-time INRC Rally Champion and Two time runner-up from Coimbatore,India.
Kumar started his career in Team MRF, operated by another Rally driver N. Leelakrishnan. He briefly appeared (with a promising drive) in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 7 for the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, until bogged down with sponsorship. Currently driving (re-appeared after 4 years) in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship as a privateer (Team Rally India), he is again set to attack the WRC championship (in Groun N Category) driving a factory supported works Subaru Impreza World Rally Car for Team Sidvin India (supported by Four time WRC Rally Champion Tommi Makinen.
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[edit] National Championship
In India, he won four championships for Team MRF,including an Asia Zone Championship in Honda Civic then switched to Team JK, who themselves reappeared into the rallying scene after a seven-year gap, just to sponsor Naren and won another two championships. Yet Naren won the 2005 crown for JK in a rally tyre pulled out of their old stock.
He won the National Championships in the years 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 and Runner-up in 2001 and 2004 which was mainly due APRC Commitments.
[edit] International Championships
[edit] Asia Pacific
Currently (2007) Naren is participating in the 2007 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, and is within top 5 places. His entry as a privateer with part support from Sidvin and Red Rooster Racing made him the top title contender among the other privateers, while all his close rivals are factory teams. He however finished fourth in the championships and with a podium (Second overall) and by the end of the season he was invited for a test drive by Subaru World Rally Team.
[edit] World Rally Championship
[edit] Team Abarth Offer
In 2005 the Italian team and Fiat/Lancia tuning specialist Abarth offered a drive for Naren. But he could not raise the required sponsorship at that time and opted for APRC.
[edit] Subaru WRC Testing
During the end of 2007 APRC season where Team Subaru impressed with his driving skills offered him a test drive session .The early month of October 2007 saw Naren in Wales,England testing for the new Subaru Impreza Group N World Rally for Subaru World Rally Team.[1]
[edit] Production Car World Rally Championship (P-WRC)
In Early February 2008,Team Sidvin was launched technical and vehicle support from four-time world rally champion Tommi Makinen's Racity Oy Limited. Naren Kumar will start in the Production Car World Rally Championship (P-WRC) series run alongside the regular WRC series. Naren Kumar will be driving a Subaru Impreza.His main sponsor will be the Bangaluru based oil and gas company Sidvin Core-Tech.
