FMSCI president R Bharat Raj suffers fatal heart attack

R Bharat Raj, the president of Indian motorsport's governing body, the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of India (FMSCI), passed away today at the age of 56 owing to a heart attack.

Aside from being the president of the FMSCI, Raj was also the chairman of the Karnataka Motor Sports Club. He was the owner of the India Mines Group since 1991 and owing to his interest in motorsport, particularly rallying, his company IMG Sports promoted the Indian Rally Championship (IRC) from the 2008 to 2010 seasons.

IMG Sports has also been a long time sponsor of the Bangalore-based K-1000 rally, the event on the IRC calendar that more often than not, features the highest number of entrants for a rally weekend in India.

Raj was appointed the president of the FMSCI after being unanimously voted to the post in late December, last year. KD Madan was appointed the vice-president and is likely to take over the post vacated by Raj until the next elections are held next year.

R Bharat Raj is survived by his wife.