Me and my Cars: Ranjit Pratap

What are you driving and why?

I drive an Aston Martin DB11 Volante on the weekends, and I also own a Mercedes-Benz S350 CDI, a Mini John Cooper Works, and the 2020 Audi A6. I alternate between the Mini and the Audi for my daily drive to the office.

What’s next on your wish list?

Being an avid classic car collector, I’d like to own a 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL.

The most fun you’ve had in a car?

Driving my Mini John Cooper Works to my farm situated around 60km south of Chennai, via the scenic East Coast Road.

Favourite/dream money-no-object car?

The McLaren 720S Spider. McLaren’s rich racing heritage and use of F1 technology in its road cars, coupled with the exceptional design makes them so desirable to me.

Who is your all-time greatest motorsport hero?

Ayrton Senna. Apart from his god-given talent, he was also a perfectionist and a great wet-weather driver.

Favourite road?

The Autobahn A8 from Munich in Germany to Salzburg in Austria. It’s one of the most beautiful roads and is great for high-speed driving.

What’s on your automotive bucket list?

A Bentley Continental GT Speed and the 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL.

What would you do with your last litre of fuel?

Put it in my Mini John Cooper Works and blast around the Madras Motor Race Track for as long as I can!

Your ideal 5-car garage would be?

McLaren 720S Spider,

Aston Martin DB11 Volante,

Bentley Continental GT Speed,

1960 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

E93 BMW M3

What was your first car?

A 1969 Volkswagen Beetle 1300. I had it when I was in college in the early ’70s.