The Calcutta Autocross, the qualifying rounds of the eastern region for the Indian National Autocross Championship, held in association with The Telegraph, is on at the Haldia Mela Prangan over the weekend.

About 20 four-wheelers of all makes and sizes are burning rubber over a stretch of 1.5 km of dirt road in Haldia to win a place in the finals to be held at Vijaywada.

The Calcutta Autocross is being held on a single track. The course is a combination of straight 80-metre stretch followed by turns, zigzags and circuitous routes over a dirt road. Participants are timed over the entire stretch of 1.5 km and the fastest qualifies for the finals. “Normally participants pick up speed over the straight stretch and then slow down as they negotiate the turns. Speeds climb over 100 kmph. If they collide against anything in the course they are disqualified. If a vehicle touches the tyres kept along the edge of the course, the participant is penalised. All participants mandatorily are doing a course walk to familiarise themselves with the course,” said an organiser.

There are several categories in which participants are competing. The categories are according to the engine size of the cars, above 1651 cc, upto 1650 cc, upto 1400cc. They are also categorised along whether they are two-wheel drives or four-wheel drives. The first and the second place holders from each category qualify for the finals. A single competitor can compete in any number of categories with the same car.