Led by J Anand, these three young engineers and their mechanics have set some records. “In 20 minutes we can change a car’s suspension, gearbox and engine,” boasts S Anirudh Vaidya, an engineer from the HC Engineering Institute of Chennai.

Well, not only is it impressive (incidentally, 20 minutes is the time given to a competitor to his repairs in a service park during a rally), it also means that the kids are attuned to motorsport in a big way. His friends Varun Lakshman and Aneesh, all from the same institution, are not only heavily into automobile engineering, they are also into the racing mould. “That is the passion you need,” Vaidya says. “Your regular car is like a lady going to the opera. It is all set. We are always setting standards for ourselves, beating them and improvising.”

“It isn’t just about cars,” says Anand. “It’s about how we look at the profession. For over two decades JA Motor Sport has been in the forefront of research and development.” Anand should know. He has been a champion racer himself for long, and “after I started doing up my own cars, I decided I could do it professionally too.” The big break came when they got themselves associated with Tata Motors. “That was the engineering part assured. There was enough R&D scope and we got down to work, developing a ‘concept car’ for them that they unveiled at a motor show. It has a special power engine other system to fit in, but it is a low chassis car, suitable only for track racing. It was something we needed to do to prove ourselves.”

... contd.