Vizag boy Sailesh set to scorch tracks in Europe

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After taking the domestic racing circuits by storm, Sailesh Bolisetti can’t wait to make his international debut, at the Scirocco Cup in Germany. The 22-year-old from Vizag, who earned his graduation for winning the inaugural season of the Volkswagen Polo Cup, wants to make full use of the opportunity in the Saloon car series, which kicks off at Hockenheim on April 29.

The championship, which caters for gas-powered cars that reduce C02 emissions by 80 per cent, was a big success in 2010. The new season boast an ultra competitive 30-car grid including two Indians – Sailesh and Chennai boy Aditya Patel.

To prepare for his maiden overseas race, Sailesh completed a pre-season test in Germany. “Though I was a few seconds off the pace, the testing helped me understand the car. I must admit that it’s totally a different vehicle from what I drove here. The Scirocco Cup car is powered by 240BHP engine, which is almost 100BHP higher than what I am used to. But the biggest challenge will be the left-hand drive,” said Sailesh, a computer science engineer.

The realistic target, Sailesh said, is to finish among the points. “A couple of podiums in the second half would make it a dream season. I know it’s really difficult. We are not allowed to practice on track before the race weekend. And the fact that I haven’t raced on these tracks before is a big disadvantage for me,” he added.

The eight-round series will make two trips outside of Germany – the refurbished Red Bull Ring in Austria and Brands Hatch in England. Sailesh is excited to race at the famous Nurburgring, considered one of the more demanding tracks in the world.

“I am also looking forward drive at Hockenheim, which is an F1 circuit. Aditya and I interacted a lot about the racing line and breaking points during the pre-season test. Once the season begins, I will have a better knowledge,” he said.

Sailesh’s entry into motorsport came rather late in 2007. His unique talent was spotted by veteran Radha Selvaraj. While a majority of the young drivers dream about making it big in the glamorous world of Formula cars, Sailesh has been passionate about Saloon cars with an ultimate goal of driving in the US-based Nascar or World Touring Car Championship.