Anthony Rodricks quits MRF; Formula car project in trouble?

[1]

MRF are on course to win their first team trophy in the FIA-Asia Pacific Rally Championship, but the man who played an instrumental role in putting the Indian tyre major on international map – Anthony Rodricks – will not be there with the team to celebrate their significant achievement.

In the past, MRF drivers have won the coveted APRC crown thrice (2003, 2005 and 2010), but the team trophy was introduced only last year where Malaysia-based Proton took the honours.

Rodricks, who quit JK Tyre to join as motorsport head of rivals MRF in 1982 and went on to establish the Chennai-based tyre manufacturers as one of the leading promoters in the country, has left the company rather startlingly. Rodricks’ departure has come as a big surprise especially when MRF are set to unveil their dream Formula car project.

In collaboration with Italian manufacturers Dallara, MRF were supposed to launch their path-breaking Renault-powered Formula 2000 car in the last week of June, but after a change in the management and delay in assembling of vehicles in Coimbatore, the unveiling of prototype is expected only in July giving them a very little time to produce a fleet of 20 cars for their scheduled championship in September. In October, the cars will have to be running at the Indian Grand Prix support race.

Not just in motorsport, Rodricks also struck major deals in cricket, signing the marquee names such as Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Steve Waugh, Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma as MRF’s brand ambassadors.

Under Rodricks, MRF’s rally team dominated the Indian National Rally Championship and their rivalry with Team JK Tyre livened up the sport in the country. He orchestrated strategic deals with racers such as Vicky Chandhok, Naren Kumar, Narain Karthikeyan, Leela Krishnan, Shyam Kothari, Farad Bathena and J. Anand.

It’s learnt that Soman Joseph will be handling motorsport activities in Rodricks’ absence. MRF are hunting for foreign drivers for their new championship. With high budget, the series is likely to attract little interest from local drivers unless MRF themselves come forward to sponsor the drive.