Grand Finale time at the Maruti Suzuki-Autocar Young Driver 2009 contest

Company Brief

New Delhi, March 03, 2009

The first and only one of its kind initiative, Maruti Suzuki-Autocar Young Driver 2009 programme, a nationwide search for India’s best young driving talent, reaches its Grand Finale this Saturday on March 7, 2009. The three stage competition that started with an online theory test taken by young enthusiasts from across the country, followed by a simulator test at Maruti Driving schools across 11 cities by 800 plus odd selected participants will now conclude with a Grand Finale featuring the best 33 safe drivers from the country at the Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) in New Delhi.

In a country which has one of the worst road safety records in the world; where road accidents claim more lives in this country than any other; which accounts for about 10 percent of road accident fatalities worldwide; Maruti Suzuki, India’s leading car manufacturer and Autocar India, country’s numero uno automobile magazine, had joined hands to make Indian roads a safer place by instituting the Maruti Suzuki - Autocar Young Driver 2009 programme.

Elaborating on the programme, Mayank Pareek, Executive Officer (Marketing and Sales), Maruti Suzuki, "Being India's leading car manufacturer, we are committed and responsible to promote safe driving and improve road safety. This event is one of our endeavours towards achieving safer roads for India. Since Autocar India shares our enthusiasm for this cause, we are pleased to partner with them for this landmark event."

Hormazd Sorabjee, Editor, Autocar India, sharing insights from previous rounds, said, “The general lack of awareness of traffic rules and safety was evident from the online tests with just 13 out of the 4000 drivers clocking a full score. A huge majority of drivers, about 47%, scored between 50-74 marks and 22.4% scored less than 50 marks in the virtual phase of the contest. In the simulator test, which focuses on road discipline amongst drivers, a lot of veteran and expert drivers faced hiccups in controlling the simulated car, driving within speed limit, honking when required and other good driving practices. Through this initiative, we want to encourage a safe driving culture among the young drivers today.”

33 finalists across the country will be flown into New Delhi for the Grand Finale at IDTR. The one of its kind initiative will crown the winner as India’s best driver for the year 2009.

For further information, please contact:

Vitcom Consulting

Siddharth Bijpuria

E-mail: siddharth.bijpuria@vitcomconsulting.com

Mobile: 9818552856