Get trained to race and rally

The Indian racing scene is now hot and has seen unprecedented interest after the recent Formula 1 ‘Buddh Circuit Race’ in New Delhi. Youngsters have now come to see and believe all that racing has to offer in terms of a career.

‘Hot Zone Racing’, a Racing and Rally School in Bangalore founded by  Zubair Abdulla, caters to those interested in learning the art and science of motor sports. To the hot-blooded youngsters his advice is, “If you want to race, please race on the race-track, not on the roads.” 

Hot Zone has a training centre where students are taught with the help of audio-visual aids. It also has a practice-track for learning racing and rallying. Modified cars are used to practise racing as well as rallying under supervised conditions. “For racing, you just need a fast car and driving skills, but for rallying you need a car modified for rallying as well as a navigator who also has skills of driving and navigation. It is the effort of the driver and the navigator,” informes Abdulla. They also teach the rules laid by the FMSCI (Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India) and safety standards laid by the FIA. Some of which include the need to wear fireproof driving suits, gloves, helmets, shoes etc.

Hot Zone Racing trains young enthusiasts in handling a car at high speed, cornering, changing gears, overtaking and how to handle a car in different terrains. Interestingly, Hot Zone also teaches how a race car is built. The engine, gear box, suspension, inlet and exhaust have to be modified for racing.  Here too, the antiroll cage, engine, gearbox, suspension, etc. have to be modified to the specification of Federation of Motor Sports Club of India (FMSCI).

“We teach the students basic rules and regulations for safety. Then if they have the enthusiasm to race or rally, we have a professional team of racers and rallyists to teach them,”adds Abdulla.

At Hot Zone, the paramount consideration is to create awareness among the drivers to drive safe, to follow safety norms and regulations, and to be patient and co-operative with fellow drivers. It teaches the basic norms of safe and civilised driving like obeying traffic rules, following lane discipline, slowing down at corners, letting the opposite traffic flow, honking only if necessary, and avoiding road rage, which most of us, many a times, ignore.

Hot Zone’s endeavour is to inculcate a sense of road discipline so as to avoid fatal accidents and damage to vehicles and property.

For Abdulla, what started 30 years ago as a hobby for modifying bikes at home, turned into action at various rallies and races, and has now culminated in setting up Hot Zone.