Participants gear up with a smile before the flag-off. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Sept. 24: If you thought you saw Circuit (of Munna Bhai fame) whizzing past you in a car, tarry a little before you start cursing your sanity.

Circuit might just be your very own neighbour dressed up as the complete “nutcase” and participating in the Lage Raho Bindaas Car Rally.

The rally, organised by Sushila Automobiles for families owning a Maruti car, was based on the theme of the two Munna Bhai films — Munna Bhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munna Bhai.

The race started on a soggy note after the heavens opened up during the flag-off at 3. 30 pm. But that could hardly dampen the spirits of the 26 participant teams which braved the inclement weather and negotiated a 55-km stretch from the Sushila Automobile workshop near Jumar river bridge on the Ranchi-Patna highway and winding its way through the picturesque Ormanjhi, Getalsud Dam, Angarha, Tatisilve and Booty More to return to the workshop, the terminal point.

Shobha Budhia’s team bagged the top spot and won a colour television. The prize was given away by Kiran Mala, the mother of the managing director of the automobile dealer. There was a tie between B.C. Nigam and Nidhi Wadhwzani for the second spot and both won a Tata Sky package each. Prapti Khanna, who won the third prize, was also awarded a Tata Sky package.

A fancy dress competition was also held before the rally and Reshma, who had come dressed up as Jahnvi of Munna Bhai MBBS, won the crown along with Amit Sahu and Harshwardhan Singh, who had come as Circuit and Short Circuit, respectively.

The rally participants were also expected to pick up a few items — vegetables, a packet of bidi etc — at different rally points to pick up extra points.