Speed demons bask in Capital’s first Supercar Show

The DB7 Vantage has a top speed of 305 km an hour and a pick-up of 0-100 km an hour within 4.2 seconds,said Kumar,who had brought the car to be part of the Capital’s first Super car Show.

He was one of the 35 car enthusiasts who showed up with their super-expensive cars at the Claridges Hotel parking lot,from where they were flagged off for a 29 km drive across Lutyens’ Delhi.

Kumar’s 20-year passion for cars was fulfilled once he bought his first Ferrari a few years ago.

“I live for these cars. My goal was always to own a fleet of luxury cars,” he said,pointing to his Audi R8,which was part of the drive.

And while Kumar pays well over Rs 80,000 annually for the maintenance of his Audi,its performance makes up for the expenditure.

“I do not drive the vehicle often and I am careful when I take it on open roads,” he said. “But driving is an important part of my routine since it acts as a stress buster.”

The show included latest sports and luxury offerings from brands like Jaguar,Porsche,Ferrari,Lamborghini,Audi,Bentley and Rolls Royce.

“Usually these cars are driven in the wee hours on empty roads when nobody notices. We thought of giving owners a platform to show off their cars and drive as a community,” said Rajesh Monga of Bellset Entertainment,the organisers of the drive.

For 20-something Harsh Sharma,who bought an electric blue Lamborghini Gallardo over two years ago — the car has a top speed of 317 km an hour — the uneven roads of the city do not pose a challenge. He has driven the car in peak traffic without discomfort.

“There is an excellent service station in Gurgaon which I rely on for genuine parts,but so far I have not needed special repairs,” said Sharma,who also owns a few BMW and Mercedes Benz models.

For most owners the prestige of owning a luxury car outweighs the utility aspect.

But for Niivit Bhasin,28,who owns a Porsche 9114S,it was his job description which pulled him in this direction.

A former rally driver,Bhasin has been jazzing up cars for some time now. “I was drawn by the power and agility of Porsche. For me,it is the thrill of having one that matters,” said Bhasin,admitting to over-speeding occasionally on the Expressway.

After making this a regular feature at Mumbai,the organisers hope to host a Supercar Show here next year too.