Though MMSC officials showed plenty of grace (and pluck) at the media briefing on Monday night, it was obvious the country's premier event, enjoying the highest possible co-efficient of 1.75, would be held on a shoe-string budget.

The pity is that the MMSC can hardly count on Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), the sport's governing body in the country, for any help with Castrol India withdrawing sponsorship of individual National events while enjoying the title rights of the championship.

Consequently, the MMSC, like the Nashik Association (NASA) before them, are forced to pass the hat around with the FMSCI who, unlike other National federations, do not provide financial succour to their own affiliated units inconducting events. It only reflects the sorry system which governs motor sport in the country.

In fact, NASA struggled to run the second leg of the National Championship last month and moved by their financial plight, Team JK Tyre's Manik Raikhy and his navigator P Vivekanandan donated their prize-money to the organisers! Surely, it was cause enough for FMSCI, boasting a Rs 1 crore-plus bank balance, to chip in.

The MMSC, at this late stage, could hardly afford to dwell on off-the-track happenings, and, as their president S Muthukrishnan observed, ``the show must go on''. And so, with an entry list of 23 cars and 45 motorcycles to contend with, the MMSC have their hands full.

Among the cars, only seven are in Group `A' (modified) category while the rest are Group `N' (unmodified) vehicles. The field, as usual, includes the big guns, Team MRF and JK Tyre. Reigning National champions Narayanaswamy Leelakrishnan/co-driver Farooq Ahmed (MRF) and Hari Singh/co-driver Gurinder Singh Mann (JK) head thelist.

Incidentally, MRF's Upkar Dicky Gill and his co-driver Aditya Jaswal have switched over to JK, a move that is not without significance. Also, JK will be fielding two Malaysians, the 1997 Asia-Pacific champion Karanjeet Singh and co-driver Jagdev Singh.

The Chettinad Sporting has entered two cars, including the all-woman team of Navaz Bhathena (the Tarmac Queen) and co-driver Sherin Balachandran.

The field in the two-wheeler class is brimming with hot shot riders in Rohitaaz Kumar, K Prasad, Zubin Patel, Nipender Jessy, RH Vikram, Amar Sandhu, Paritosh Kohok and Amol Talpade among others.

The rally will start and finish at Music Academy in the heart of the City on both days with a total prize-money of Rs 2.5 lakh plus trophies on offer.