New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS): Tata Motors Tuesday launched the first ever Truck Racing Championship in India. The one-off round will be held at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) March 23 with 12 foreign drivers forming six teams.

The auto giants said the "T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship" will be on calendars of FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) and FMSCI (the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India). IANS reported about Tata's latest motorsport initiative in December.

"Formula 1 is the pinnacle of four-wheeler racing in the world, and we are taking the initative to make the T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship as the pinnacle of truck racing. With this, we are not only adding an exciting new dimension to one of the largest trucking markets in the world, but also connecting our passion for trucks to the larger Indian audience,” said Tata Motors managing director Karl Slym here.

The championship will feature 12 Prima 4038.S road trucks which have undergone 22 modifications to be fit for racing. These include significant changes in fuel tank, brake cooling system, propeller shaft guards, racing seats and safety belts, exhaust, steering wheel among others.

The big machines will be powered by 370bhp engine having a top speed of 110 kmph.

Two-time British Truck Racing Champion, Steve Horne, will be part of the event's operational team besides outgoing FMSCI president Vicky Chandhok.

At least for the first year, there will be no Indians on the grid.

R. Ramakrishan, a senior vice president at Tata Motors, told IANS that the plan was to get Indian drivers in the cockpit after they gain the required experience.

"It is only the first year. We will surely be looking at Indians for the future. Truck racing is new to India and we need to have the local drivers groomed," he said.