Accordingly, Leelakrishnan finished second in the Overall category and third in Group `A' (modified). Hari Singh topped both the categories, as per a FMSCI press release here.

Earlier this year, following a stay order brought by Leelakrishnan, the final standings in the four-wheeler section was withheld.

Subsequently, Leelakrishnan withdrew the case which allowed team-mate Naren Kumar to take part in the South India Rally at Chennai. Naren was serving a two-year suspension, but after the compromise and payment of a Rs 5 lakh fine, had his competition licence restored.

Naren was penalisedfor not presenting his car for the post-event scrutiny at Hyderabad in December 1997 after winning the Deccan Rally, the concluding round of the National championship. But the Stewards, while excluding Naren, did not elevate Leelakrishnan, who had finished second, to the top spot. He promptly objected and the matter eventually went to the court after IMSAC rejected his appeal and the FMSCI Council decided against refering a review petition back to IMSAC.

Had Leelakrishnan been elevated to the winner's position, then he would have finished ahead of Hari Singh on points and emerged the National champion.

Hari Singh and Leelakrishnan tied with 60 points apiece, but the former won on the basis of three victories. Leelakrishnan had three second-place finishes during the season.

Curiously, the latest IMSAC hearing was held on October 10, the first day of the two-day Cotton City Rally at Coimbatore.

The final 1997 standings (4-wheelers):

Drivers: Overall: Hari Singh (JK Tyre) 1 (60 pts); NLeelakrishnan (Team MRF) 2 (60); Sanjay Agarwal 3 (41); Manik Raikhy (JK) 4 (37); Atikur Rehman 5 (33). Group `A':Hari Singh 1 (35); Agarwal 2 (32); Leelakrishnan 3 (32); O G Sunil 4 (13). Group `N': Raikhy 1 (30); Rehman 2 (20); Ravi Jouhari 3 (19); Upkar Dicky Gill (MRF) 4 (18).

Navigators: Overall: Gurinder Singh Mann (JK) 1 (60); Farooq Ahmed (MRF) 2 (60); Shivu Shivappa 3 (41); C K Chinnappa (JK) 4 (37); Sanjeev Shah 5 (33).Group `A':Mann 1 (35); Farooq 2 (32); Shivappa 3 (27); R Dileep 4 (13).Group `N': Chinnappa 1 (30); Shah 2 (20); Deepak Jouhari 3 (19); Nikhil Pai 4 (17).