Gautam Singhania proves mettle on track

ABU DHABI: He is the proud owner of a fleet of mean machines, and is labelled an adrenaline junkie, and yet Gautam Singhania - chairman & managing director of Raymond Limited - has enough time to successfully run his business.
Singhania, on Thursday, became the first Indian to participate in the finale of the world's biggest Ferrari event -Finali Mondiali, which kick-started at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
"This is one of the biggest events for Ferrari, and to be the first Indian taking part is something special," Singhania told TOI.
Singhania, who has been part of two races of the European leg which ultimately culminates in the Ferrari World Finals, has been in good form at the recently-held NGK Racing Series in Yas Marina Circuit, securing a double win.
Singhania has been setting the track on fire for long now. In 2008, he made it to the Limca Book of Records, clocking the fastest time across a quarter mile (in 9.2 seconds) for a drag race in India while driving a Nissan Skyline GTR.
Singhania finishes fourth in Race 1 Abu Dhabi:
Singhania, making his debut at the 2014 Finali Mondiali Ferrari at the Yas Marina Circuit, finished fourth in the Race 1 (Coppa Shell category) of the Ferrari Challenge European Union (EU). The 49-year-old business czar was 12th overall in the race which also includes the Trofeo Pirelli series.
Singhania had qualified 3rd on the grid earlier in the day, and was running third for a better part of the race before Thomas Loeflad overtook him. Defending champion Massimiliano Bianchi of Italy came first, while the Netherlands' Dirk Adamski stood second.
In the Trofeo Pirelli series, Austria's Philipp Baron clinched the top honours, while Castantino Bertuzzi came second. Italy's Daniele Di Amato finished third in the race which had a total of 43 cars on the grid (including both Trofeo and Coppa Shell).