Driving with spirit and skill, Sohrab Zorabian and co-driver Rio (Rayomand) Kapadia won the Nasik round of the MSAI (Motor Sports Association of India) national rally in June 2004. "In rally driving, the trust factor is tremendous (between driver and navigator). You’re coming around a corner at speed, so you can’t really see it. A lot depends on the navigator by your side and his caution calls. If it is a medium (intensity) corner and you take it as a fast corner, there is likely to be an accident,” describes Zorabian. "We team up very well. The communication in the car is very cohesive,” adds Kapadia.
The pair have been rallying since 2001 and drive a Maruti Esteem modified to rally specifications. Zorabian relates: "In our first season itself we had secured second and third place finishes and were running as high as second in the Star Cup Championship.” However, mechanical and driving errors as well as paucity of funds punctured their aspirations halfway through that season.
The next year brought "a new attitude, with one intention only — to win. We generated great pace in the Nasik rally to win by 58 seconds (in 2002). It was long overdue and the relief to have finally done it was overwhelming,” declares Zorabian. Unfortunately, personal situations put roadblocks in that season too.
Zorabian and Kapadia: the pride and passion of rallying
"After a two-year break, we decided to do a one-off event and where else than the Nasik rally. Two years is a long time and winning it again was incredible!” Zorabian’s kinetic energy surfaces. "I just love the sport, the thrill of competing, racing against time” and showing competitors a clean quadruple of wheels!
"The recce (reconnaissance) of the route is most important,” explains Kapadia. "We do take adequate safety measures.” In a sport which generally commands shock and awe, "there is a risk, but it’s not such a big risk as it looks, unless you do something really stupid. Walking on Bombay roads is risky too!”
Whereas Zorabian hits the road running his outdoor catering business under the Cheron Caterers banner or zips across to the family poultry farm at Khopoli, Kapadia is on track as model and actor, starring in popular Hindi TV serials like Kyu ki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi and Kutumb, or playing a cameo role in the movie Dil Chahta Hai or acting in Joggers Park which had Sohrab’s sister Perizaad in a star role.
Gearing up for rallies alongside other work commitments is no mean task — for man and machine. Since rallies in India are conducted on the world rally format, entering the race means revving up costs as well! "Expenses can range from Rs 80,000 to one lakh rupees per rally,” says Zorabian, appreciating the role of Chettinad Sporting (a cement company) in sponsoring their team. "In India, corporates love to sponsor just one game and that is cricket,” rues Kapadia. "Sponsorships there are so huge. Nobody seems to be interested in other sports where the amounts involved (for corporate sponsorship) are not so big at all. It’s very upsetting and very sad.” But for drivers for whom pride and passion is the engine, rallying continues.