India’s Ultimate MotoStar wraps up Kolkata auditions
Strong support from biker community in Kolkata for India’s Ultimate MotoStar.
Kolkata, 4 April 2024
1,631 registrations received from the region
Castrol POWER1, India’s premier performance lubricant brand, in collaboration with Viacom18 and Rajni Academy for Competitive Racing (RACR), concluded the final leg of auditions for Castrol POWER1 Presents India’s Ultimate MotoStar on MTV in Kolkata. The event garnered an astounding 1,600+ registrations from passionate motor racers in the region, part of the pan-India total of around 10,000 registrations. The Kolkata auditions also saw spirited participation from talented and resolute women, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with men, displaying their amazing skills and trailblazing performance in motoracing.
The overwhelming support from Kolkata’s vibrant biking community underscores the city’s status as a hub for motorsport enthusiasm. Participants showcased their skills through introductory videos, with the on-ground auditions in Kolkata witnessing a stellar display of talent, making the selection process challenging for the esteemed jury including experts from RACR.
Reflecting on the initiative’s significance and the remarkable response, Mr. Rohit Talwar, Vice President and Head of Marketing of Castrol India Limited, remarked, “We are delighted by the surge of interest in motoracing across India, particularly in Kolkata, where we received 1,631 registrations. Our aim with India’s Ultimate MotoStar is to provide a platform for budding talents to pursue their passion for racing, and the enthusiastic participation reaffirms our commitment to nurturing the country’s motorsport talent.”
Participants selected in the rigorous auditions being conducted across metros will undergo intensive training by the renowned Indian racing legend Rajini Krishnan at the Kari Motorway in Coimbatore, culminating in an electrifying final race to determine the winners. The ultimate victors will earn the opportunity to visit the Castrol Honda LCR MotoGP™ team facility in Europe for an unforgettable moto-racing experience.
Expressing his appreciation for the initiative, Rajini Krishnan, founder of RACR, said, “I commend Castrol India for creating a national platform to unearth India’s motorsport gems. I am honoured to mentor some of the country’s finest motorcycle racing talents at my RACR academy, guiding them towards global recognition and success.”
The final leg of auditions in Kolkata witnessed inspiring stories of women participants from different walks of life. The story of 32-year-old independent business owner and mother, Baishali Nath, revealed how her passion for motoracing has been fueled by the desire to motivate her 3-year-old son by accomplishing all that she sets her mind to. Athira Francis, a 45-year-old biker and owner of a construction business in Kerala, showcased her riding skills and sent out a strong message for the young and old to take up biking. Jaspreet Kaur, a banker by profession showcased her dedication when she attended the auditions on the busiest day in a banker’s life – 31 March, which is the close of the financial year.
Among other key participants, there was 42-year-old former addict, Harminder Singh, who says his passion for motoracing has kept him sober the last 20 years. He runs an NGO to help the youth in his hometown stay sober by taking up safe biking. The Kolkata IUM auditions edition also witnessed Guwahati residents Sashanka Sekhar Sharma, an experienced motoracing competitor with past participation in 1,000CC and 600CC national championships, and his protégé, Mukrang Terang, hit the tracks to compete with each other.
Castrol POWER1’s legacy in supporting motosport excellence has led to the development of advanced lubricants tailored for motorcycles. Through India’s Ultimate MotoStar platform, Castrol aims to empower riders to showcase their skills on the global stage, ensuring their talent receives the recognition it deserves.