July - August 2025 by Auto Track

K A R T I N G

NARAIN’S  son Shiv Neel,  in his father ’s footsteps꞉  bags a double

RAHIL PILL ARISET TY  notches ﬁrst win in four years  Double for  ANN JENNIFER

PHILIPPOS MA T THAI  tops R2 with 4 wins

2W R AC I N G I N AC A P R C A B D U L W A H I D clinches ﬁrst win of the season +

INDIAN RA CING LEA GUE  2025  ‑ ﬁrst ever drivers draft  K ARNA ‑ MUS A  T riumphant comeback

Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru  to debut in  Indian Racing Festival

The  three‑m onth  off‑s eas on  ends as m otors port  em braces the  ﬁnanci al year  calendar,  from  April  to  March,  retiring  the  January‑December  schedule.

Bollywood  is  accelerating  its  investment,  highlighted  by  two  major  events꞉  the  returning  Indian  Super  Cross  League ,  now  backed  by  mega‑star  Salman  Khan as  Brand  Ambassador,  and  the  franchise‑based  Indian  Racing  League (part  of  the  Indian  Racing  Festival).  Simultaneously,  Kannada  icon  Kichcha  Sudeep launched  his  team,  Kichcha's  Kings Bengaluru , becoming the fourth ﬁlm star to own an IRL franchise. This star power  promises  to  broaden  the  sport's  appeal  nationwide,  particularly  impacting  Southern  markets.

The  season  faced  a  bumpy  start  in  the  4‑Wheeler  category.  A  late  decision  on  the Indian  National  Rally  Championship  (INRC) promoters'  renewal  forced  a  rushed  opener,  hampering  upgrades  and  the  Hyundai  i20's  introduction.  Just  three  cars  w i l l  contest  Round  2  after  a  three‑month  gap.  JA  Motorsports ,  having  d e b u t e d a n d t e s t e d t h e i 2 0 l a s t s e a s o n , h o l d s a n e a r l y  advantage.  Snap  Racing ﬁelds  the  other  two  entries. Adding  fresh  energy,  the  new  Levitas  Cup single‑make  championship,  promoted  by  Shravanthika,  joins  the  JK  Tyre  Racing  Championship roster.

U n d e r n e w F M S C I P r e s i d e n t A r i n d h a m G h o s h , t h e  f e d e r a t i o n s i g n a l s a m b i t i o u s p l a n s G h o s h h a s

d y  appointed  promoters  for  TSD  (Tourism  and  Safari) and  Autocross  (4‑Wheelers) ,  plus  introduced  promoters  for  two  entirely  new  national  championships꞉  Hill  Climb and  Motocross He  also  replaced  himself  with  famed  Vicky  Chandhok,  for  the  R a l l y C o m m i s s i o n c h a i r m a n s h i p , t o a v o i d c o n ﬂ i c t o f  interest,  which  augurs  well.

Expect  a  packed,  dynamic  calendar  nationwide.

S. ASHOK KUMAR  TIW ARI

Editor

M꞉ +91‑9845296190

autotr ac k.editor@gmail.com IMPRINT

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e f fo r t t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e

m ag a z i n e ’ s co n t e n t s a r e

a cc u r a t e .  H o w e v e r ,  h e a cce p t s

n o r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f a ny e f fe c t s a r i s i n g t h e r e f r o m .  P r i n t e d

Gokul

Philippos Matthai tops INA C R ound 2 with f

Ne w D e l h i ' s P h i l i p p o s

Matthai  brought  into  play  all  his  vast  experience  and  undoubted  driving  skills  to  win  outright  in  four  categories  in  the

V a m c y M e r l a C h e n n a i G r a v e l  Fest  which  doubled  up  as  the

s e c o n d r o u n d o f O c t a n e P i t s

FMSCI  Indian  National  Autocross

C h a m p i o n s h i p 2 0 2 5 a t t h e

M a d r a s I n t e r n a t i o n a l C i r c u i t  recently.

Matthai,  driving  his  INRC  2  Polo  car,  blitzed  quality  ﬁelds  in  the  p r e m i e r I N A C 1 a n d I N A C 2  categories  in  both  of  which  he  won  the  Open  and  2000  classes  to  stamp  his  authority  on  the  event  as  he  also  put  in  the  fastest  t i m e o f o n e m i n u t e , 3 8 8 8 0  seconds  over  the  1.8  Kms  track  which  was  a  mix  of  dirt,  gravel  and  tarmac.

The  Delhi  ace  was  in  a  league  of  his  own  as  he  held  off  his  arch‑ r i v a l s w h o i n c l u d e d t o p g u n s  Syed  Salman  of  Mysuru,  Arnav

P r a t a p S i n g h o f G u r u g r a m ,  former  National  Rally  champion

C h e t a n S h i v r a m o f B e n g a l u r u  a n d P o n d a ' s ( G o a ) V a i b h a v  Marathe  all  of  whom  ﬁnished  on

our wins

podium  in  the  four  classes.

Matthai  said꞉  “I  am  very  happy  to  have  won  in  four  classes.  We  achieved  what  we  had  set  out  to  do.  The  track  was  a  bit  tricky  in  the  early  part  with  water  puddles  i n s o m e o f t h e c o r n e r s a f t e r  o v e r n i g h t r a i n s . H o w e v e r , t h e  track  dried  up  and  became  a  bit  rough  in  the  latter  half  of  the  day.  I  didn't  participate  in  the  ﬁrst

r o u n d i n C h i k k a m a g a l u r u l a s t  month.  So,  it  was  a  good  result  here.  I  now  look  forward  to  the  next  round  in  Coimbatore.”

M e a n w h i l e , S y e d S a l m a n a l s o  enjoyed  a  fruitful  outing  as  he  topped  the  INAC  2  Up  to  1650cc  and  Up  to  1450cc  classes  for  a  ﬁne  double.

Davangere's  Shivani  Pruthvi  won  i n t h e L a d i e s c l a s s a h e a d o f  C h e n n a i '

A n u s h a N S f r o m B e n g

u r u ,  w h i l e G o w t h a m C P  (Chikmagaluru)  topped  the  INAC  3  Open  category.

H y d e r a b a d ' s S u n d e e p K , w h o  ﬁnished  eighth  in  the  INAC  1  Unrestricted  Open  category,  was  adjudged  “Best  Novice”  driver.

Kush Maini  mak

Ues histor y with Sprint R ace victor y

nder  the  shimmering  skies  of  the  Côte  d'Azur,  Kush  M a i n i e t c h e d h i s n a m e  i n t o r a c i n g h i s t o r y , t a k i n g a  spectacular  win  in  the  Formula  2  S p r i n t R a c e o n t h e h a l l o w e d  streets  of  Monaco  in  May  2025.

W i t h p r e c i s i o n , n e r v e , a n d  unshakable  focus,  he  claimed  his  ﬁrst  F2  victory  of  the  season  and  his  ﬁrst  podium  with  Dams  Lucas  Oil  in  the  most  iconic  setting  in  motorsport,  making  him  the

ﬁ r s t I n d i a n t o w i n a t t h e  most  prestigious  track  on  the  calendar.

Having  started  from  pole,  the  B W T A l p i n e F 1 t e a m r e s e r v e  driver  showed  masterful  control  a n d s t r a t e g i c p r e c i s i o n  throughout  the  race,  capitalising  on  a  strong  start  and  managing  p r e s s u r e w i t h v e t e r a n l i k e  maturity.  The  victory  makes  him  the  only  Indian  driver  ever  to  stand  on  the  top  step  in  Monaco.

M a i n i q u a l i ﬁ e d P 1 0 f o r t h e  feature  race  on  Sunday,  which  m a d e h i m p o l e s i t t e r f o r

Saturday's  Sprint  Race  with  the  reverse  grid  system.  Having  had  a  solid  start  at  lights  out,  The  Dams  driver  enjoyed  all  30  laps  of  the  race  as  the  race  leader.

“P1  and  ﬁrst  Indian  to  win  at  Monaco. It's a great honour and  dream  come  true  really.  I  want  to  thank  DAMS  and  everyone  who's  supported  me.  We  keep  b e l i e v i n g , ” s a i d a

u m  celebration  in  Monaco.

For what had been a tough start  to  the  2025  season  for  the  young  Indian  driver,  the  Monaco  win  came  at  a  great  time  to  boost  his  conﬁdence and his performance  at  a  pivotal  time  of  the  season.

I n w h a t w a s t r u l y a s p e c i a l  moment  for  Kush  and  the  entire  n a t i o n , h e s a n g t h e n a t i o n a l  anthem  with  pride  at  the  podium  c e l e b r a t i o n s I n d i a n b u s i n e s s  tycoon  Gautam  Singhania  was  a l s o s e e n i n t h e p i t l a n e  e m b r a c i n g K u s h a f t e r t h i s  monumental  win.

Ov e r 6 , 0 0 0 m o t o r c y c l e e n t h u s i a s t s  participated  in  International  Jawa‑ Yezdi  Day  celebrations  across  India  on  the  16th  of  July  2025  at  Pune.  The  e v e n t , h e l d a n n u a l l y o n t h e s e c o n d  Sunday  of  July,  brought  together  riders  from  12  states,  20  cities,  and  18  riding  communities,  with  support  from  120  Jawa‑ 6,000 rider s k eep the Classic spirit aliv e

Yezdi  dealerships.

From  morning  rides  in  Manipur's  hills  to  coastal  rides  in  Kochi  and  Konkan,  riders  c e l e b r a t e d t h e l e g a c y o f t h e c l a s s i c

m o t o r c y c l e b r a n d s J a w a a n d Y e z d i

Participants  included  both  long‑time  owners  of  vintage  models  and  new‑generation  riders  on  modern  versions  of  the  bikes.

Salman Khan

League pr

omises bigger f ar e with 155 international athlete r egistr ations

Actor  Salman  Khan  launched

S e a s o n 2 o f t h e I n d i a n  Supercross  Racing  League  (ISRL)  at  a  press  conference  in  Mumbai  on  July  16.  Khan,  who

i s a l s o t h e l e a g u e ' s b r a n d  ambassador,  announced  that  he

p l a n s t o i n v e s t i n t h e I S R L ,

e x p a n d i n g h i s r o l e b e y o n d  endorsement.

m o t o c r o s s , s u p e r c r o s s , A T V s ,  electric  bikes,  and  trail  riding.

T h e f a c i l i t y i s a i m e d a t  p r o v i d i n g y e a r r o u n d p r a c t i c e  o p p o r t u n i

manufacturers.

Khan  said  the  league  intends  to  promote  responsible  riding  and

“ “

“I've always been passionate about  motorcycles and off‑roading, when I saw  what ISRL is building bringing together  world‑class talent and supporting home‑ grown athletes.”

A s p a r t o f t h e l e a g u e ' s  expansion,  ISRL  introduced  the  'ISRL  Proving  Grounds',  a  7‑acre  facility  near  Pune.  This  venue  will  include  multiple  tracks  designed  f o r d i f f e r e n t c a t e g o r i e s s u c h

a s a m a t e u r r i d e r s , c h i l d r e n ,

o n g r o u n d a c t i v a t i o n s f o r  families  and  brands.  The  league  p o s i t i o n s i t s e l f a s a p l a t f o r m  for  the  automotive  industry  to  engage  directly  with  consumers  through  live‑action  events.

A c c o r d i n g t o I S R L M a n a g i n g

D i r e c t o r V e e r P a t e l , S a l m a n  K h a n ' s d e c i s i o n t o i n v e s t i s

and  mainstreaming  Supercross  racing  in  India.

tions  for  the  upcoming  season.

wanted  to

of.  With  the

youth  the  opportunity  to  access  the  support,  tools,  and  coaching  they  need  to  chase  big  dreams.”

Veer  Patel,  Managing  Director  of  I S R L , a d d e d ꞉ “ S a l m a n K h

i n g s c u l t u r a l c a p i t a l a n d  mainstream  trust  to  our  league.  H i s a s s o c i a t i o n s e n d s a c l e a r  m e s s a g e

motorsport.” I

ISRL  expansion  plans

T h e I n d i a n S u p e r c r o s s R a c i n g  L e a g u e ( I S R L ) a n n o u n c e d i t s  ﬁve‑year  roadmap.  Plans  include  e x p a n d i n g t o m o r e c

e s ,  a t t r a c t i n g g l o b a l a t h l e t e s ,  entering  international  collabora‑ tions,  and  increasing  franchise  v a l u e a n d s p o n s o r s h i p  partnerships.

F o l l o w i n g i t s d e b u t s e a s o n  across  Pune,  Ahmedabad,  and  Bengaluru,  ISRL  aims  to  establish  i t s e l f a s I n d i a ' s l e a d i n g  m o t o r s p o r t l e a g u e , b l e n d i n g  racing  with  broader  consumer  engagement  and  entertainment.

T h e I S R L a l s o a n n o u n c e d t h e  introduction  of  Fan  Parks,  which  will  combine  racing  events  with  p r o v i d e y o u n g I n d i a n r i d e r s  w i t h a c c e s s t o c o a c h i n g a n d

i n f r a s t r u c t u r e t o c o m p e t e a t  higher  levels.

Double podium delight f or

Sarthak Cha v an

Pu n e ' s y o u n g r a c i n g

s e n s a t i o n , S a r t h a k

C h a v a n , d e l i v e r e d a

s t a n d o u t p e r f o r m a n c e o v e r

t h e w e e k e n d w i t h b a c k ‑ t o ‑

b a c k s e c o n d ‑ p l a c e ﬁ n i s h e s

i n t h e T V S A s i a O n e M a k e

C h a m p i o n s h i p , a s u p p o r t  event  of  the  2025  Asia  Road

R a c i n g C h a m p i o n s h i p T h e  races,  held  at  Thailand's  Chang  International  Circuit,  marked

t h e t h i r d r o u n d o f t h e s i x r o u n d c h a m p i o n s h i p , a n d  Chavan  made  every  lap  count.

In  the  ﬁrst  race,  Chavan  started

f r o m t h i r d o n t h e g r i d a n d

q u i c k l y e s t a b l i s h e d h i m s e l f

i n t h e f r o n t r u n n i n g p a c k

D e m o n s t r a t i n g m a t u r i t y a n d  precision  beyond  his  years,  he

m a i n t a i n e d p r e s s u r e o n t h e  leaders  throughout  the  eight‑lap  sprint  and  crossed  the  line  in  second,  just  fractions  of  a  second  behind  the  winner.

The  second  race  proved  to  be

e v e n m o r e d r a m a t i c A n a i l biting  battle  unfolded  right  to  the  ﬁnal  lap,  with  Chavan  once  again  showing  nerves  of  steel  to  secure  his  second  podium  of  the

Martins Sesk s and R enar s F r

TO r l e n O i l R a l l y P o l a n d –

R a j d P o l s k i 2 0 2 5 , t h e f o u r t h  round of the FIA  European Rally  Championship  recently This  was  their  second  win  in  four  events,  returning  to  success  with  Latvian  ace  Mārtiņs Sesks.

D r i v i n g t h e S k o d a F a b i a R S  R a l l y 2 , S e s k s p r o v e d t o b e  brilliantly  ef fective  delivering  a  s t a n d o u t , m a t u r e a n d f a s t  performance  that  left  no  room  for  rivals.  He  won  the  Polish  rally  again  two  years  after  his  last

v i c t o r y , a l s o w i t h T e a m M R F

T y r e s H e c o n t r i b u t e d  signiﬁcantly  to  the  team's  bid  for  the  T eam  title,  which  the  Indian  premium  competition‑tyre  brand  is  targeting  this  year

w e e k e n d H i s c o n s i s t e n t  performance  has  now  elevated

h i m t o s e c o n d p l a c e i n t h e  overall  championship  standings  with  108  points,  just  18  points

a d r i f t o f M a l a y s i a ' s R a m d a n  Rosli,  who  currently  leads  the  title  race.

With  three  rounds  completed,  the  championship  now  moves  to  its  second  half,  with  upcoming

r a c e s s e t t o t a k e p l a c e i n

I n d o n e s i a , M a l a y s i a , a n d

T h a i l a n d C h a v a n ' s f o r m a n d  momentum  make  him  a  strong  contender  for  the  overall  title  as  the  season  progresses.

At  just  18  years  of  age,  Sarthak  Chavan is quickly becoming one

o f I n d i a ' s b r i g h t e s t h o p e s i n  international  motorcycle  racing.

His  double  podium  in  Thailand  adds  to  an  already  impressive

r e s u m e a n d r e a f ﬁ r m s h i s

g r o w i n g s t a t u r e i n t h e A s i a n  racing  scene.  As  he  heads  into  the  next  rounds,  the  spotlight

w i l l r e m a i n ﬁ r m l y o n t h i s  young  Indian  star  who  continues

t o b r e a k n e w g r o u n d f o r

t h e c o u n t r y i n t w o w h e e l e d  motorsport.

Sesks  won  9  of  the  14  special  stages  and  crossed  the  ﬁnish  line  in  Mikołajki  with  a  1min,  6.3sec  lead  over  the  nearest  rival.  He  capped  it  with  a  commanding  win  in  the  ﬁnal  Power  Stage.  “It  is  always  a  pleasure  to  be  back  in  Poland.  I'm  super  happy MRF  T yres  have  been  superb,  and  it  is  a  great  package.  Being  back  on  the  top  step  of  the  podium  is  an  amazing  feeling.  The  work  they  had  in  developing  these  gravel  tyres  is  good,  and  I  enjoy  driving  on  these  stages  a  lot. Thanks  to  everyone  involved,”  said  Sesks.

S i m o n e Te m p e s t i n i a n d

S e r g i u I t u p r o d u c e d a s t r o n g  d r i v e i n t h e Š k o d a F a b i a R S  Rally2.  After  a  tricky  Saturday

ships.  T eam  MRF  T yres  leads  t h e T e a

a n d i n g s w i t h 1 5 0  points  after  Rally  Poland.  “It  was  a  really  nice  event;  I  enjoyed  it  e

s  tough.  The  team  did  great,  and  today  I  felt  stronger .  I  knew  I  c o u l d p u s h a n d i n t h e e n d ,  w e l e f t w i t h g o o d r e s u l t s , ”  T empestini  said.

A potential  one‑two  ﬁnish  slipped  a w a y w h e n R o o p e K o r h o n e n  a n d A n s s i V i i n i k k a , d r i v i n g a

T oyota  GR  Y aris  Rally2,  the  only  crew  matching  Sesks,  slid  of f  on  SS10,  the  second  day's  longest  stage.  In  second  place  at  the  t i m e , t h e y c l i p p e d a t r e e ;  fortunately  unhurt,  but  forced  to  retire. Their  pace,  however ,  was  a n o t h e r c o n ﬁ r m a t i o n o f M R F  T yres'  competitiveness,  as  the  brand  claimed  10  out  of  14  stage  wins  over  the  weekend. m o r n i n g , t h e y r e g r o u p e d a n d  fought  their  way  to  sixth  overall.  Despite  a  tyre  coming  of f  the  rim  on  SS1 1,  T empestini  rebounded  to  record  the  third‑fastest  time  in  the  Power  Stage,  earning  crucial  c h a m p i o n s h i p p o i n t s f o r b o t h

“W e're  okay W e  pushed  a  bit  too  h a r d i n t h a t l e f t h a n d c o r n e r ,  went  wide  and  hit  a  tree  on  the  o t h e r s i d e o f t h e r o a d i t ' s a  s h a m e T h e c h a m p i o n s h i p  situation  is  tight,  but  in  these  three  gravel  rounds  we've  taken  a  win  and  a  second  place,  so  there's  plenty  to  be  proud  of,”  Korhonen  reﬂected.

Th e 2 0 2 5 s e a s o n o f t h e

I n d i a n R a c i n g F e s t i v a l  (IRF)  began  with  the  ﬁrst‑

e v e r D r i v e r D r a f t f o r t h e

I n d i a n R a c i n g L e a g u e ( I R L ) ,  held  at  the  Taj  Lands  End  in  Mumbai  on  July  20.  The  event  marked  a  new  step  for  Indian

m o t o r s p o r t , i n t r o d u c i n g a

s t r u c t u r e d t e a m b u i l d i n g

p r o c e s s a i m e d a t c r e a t i n g

c o m p e t i t i v e b a l a n c e a n d  promoting  inclusivity.

A t o t a l o f 2 4 d r i v e r s w e r e

s e l e c t e d a c r o s s s i x c i t y b a s e d

f r a n c h i s e s E a c h t e a m p i c k e d  four  drivers  to  form  a  diverse  roster  comprising  an  experien‑

c e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l d r i v e r , a n

e m e r g i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r  Indian‑origin  talent,  a  domestic  Indian  driver,  and  a  female  racer.  This  approach  aims  to  broaden  participation  while  maintaining  competitive  standards.

The  draft  featured  established  names  like  Neel  Jani,  a  former

F o r m u l a 1 t e s t d r i v e r a n d L e  Mans  winner;  Jon  Lancaster,  with  e x p e r i e n c e i n G P 2 a n d e n d u rance  racing;  and  Raoul  Hyman,  a  two‑time  IRL  champion  of  Indian

o r i g i n I n d i a n d r i v e r s s e l e c t e d  include  Ruhaan  Alva,  Sohil  Shah,  Sai  Sanjay,  and  Akshay  Bohra.

T h e g r i d a l s o i n c l u d e s f e m a l e  r a c e r s s u c h a s F a b i e n n e  Wohlwend, Gabriela Jilkova, and  Caitlin  Wood,  all  of  whom  have  international  racing  experience  in  W  Series,  F3,  and  GT.  evaluations.

Franchise  owners  and  key

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , i n c l u d i n g  personalities  from  Indian  cinema  and  sport,  took  part  in  the  draft.

T e a m o w n e r s w o r k e d c l o s e l y  w i t h t e c h n i c a l s t a f f t o b u i l d  their  line‑ups  based  on  driving

s t y l e , t r a c k e x p e r i e n c e , a n d  d a t a b a c k e d p e r f o r m a n c e

Akhilesh  Reddy,  Chairman  and  M a n a g i n g D i r e c t o r o f R a c i n g  Promotions  Pvt.  Ltd.  (RPPL),  the  promoter  of  IRF,  said,  “With  this  driver  draft,  we  are  building  a  new  foundation  for  motorsport  in  India  –  one  that  is  inclusive,  structured,  and  competitive.  This  i s a b o u t c r e a t i n g a s p o r t f o r  India,  by  India,  with  the  world  watching.” T h

n g  S peed  D em ons D el hi and  the  n

ﬁnalised  rosters  as  they  prepare  for  the  2025  season.  Races  are  scheduled  to  begin  in  August  and  will  take  place  on  permanent  circuits  and  urban  street  tracks  in  multiple  cities.

IRL  2025  Team  Line‑Ups

Speed  Demons  Delhi  (Owner꞉

Arjun  Kapoor)

A l i s t e r Y o o n g ( M a l a y s i a ) –

Regular  in  Asian  single‑seaters,

s o n o f f o r m e r F 1 d r i v e r A l e x  Yoong;

Sai  Sanjay  (India)  –  Consistent

d o m e s t i c p e r f o r m e r a c r o s s  Indian  circuit  championships;

S h a h a n A l i M o h s i n ( I n d i a ) –

Former  F4  SEA  champion  and  o n e o f I n d i a ' s t o p k a r t i n g  graduates;

C a i t l i n W o o d ( A u s t r a l i a ) –  Experienced  in  W  Series  and  GT  World  Challenge.

Hyderabad  Blackbirds  (Owner꞉  Naga  Chaitanya)

Jon  Lancaster  (UK)  –  Former  GP2  w i n n e r a n d L e M a n s p o d i u m  ﬁnisher;

Akshay  Bohra  (India)  –  Promising

I n d i a n o r i g i n d r i v e r w i t h F 4  experience  in  Europe  and  UAE; Mohamed  Ryan  (India)  –  Young  t a l e n t w i t h s t r o n g s i m r a c i n g  and  F4  credentials; Gabriela  Jilkova  (Czech  Republic)  –  Sim  and  GT  racing  expert  with  international  recognition.

G o a A c e s ( O w n e r ꞉ J o h n  Abraham)

Raoul  Hyman  (UK/SA)  –  Two‑

t i m e I R L c h a m p i o n a n d F 3  veteran;

Akash  Gowda  (India)  –  Versatile

I n d i a n r a c e r w i t h m u l t i p l e  podiums  in  national  series;

C h e t a n S u r i n e n i ( I n d i a ) –  Emerging  domestic  competitor  known  for  pace  and  consistency;

Fabienne   Wohlwend

(Liechtenstein)  –  W  Series  and  Ferrari  Challenge  star.

Kolkata  Royal  Tigers  (Owner꞉  Sourav  Ganguly)

Tom  Canning  (UK)  –  British  GT

C h a m p i o n w i t h e n d u r a n c e  racing  experience;

S o h i l S h a h ( I n d i a ) – F 4 I n d i a  podium  ﬁnisher  and  consistent  IRL  performer;

S a n d e e p K u m a r ( I n d i a ) –

Returning  driver  with  national  championship  wins;

Alexandra  Hervé  (France)  –  F4

a n d E u r o c u p c o n t e n d e r w i t h  strong  racecraft.

K i c h c h a ' s K i n g s B e n g a l u r u

(Owner꞉  Sudeep  Kichcha)

N e e l J a n i ( S w i t z e r l a n d ) – L e

Mans  winner  and  former  F1  test  driver;

R u h a a n A l v a ( I n d i a ) –  Bengaluru's  young  prodigy  and  F4  India  front‑runner; Kyle  Kumaran  (India)  –  National  karting  and  F4  talent;

J e m H e p w o r t h ( U K ) – B r i t i s h  endurance  and  GT  racing  driver.

C h e n n a i T u r b o R i d e r s ( D r .

Swetha  Sundeep  Anand  )

Aqil  Alibhai  (Kenya)  –  Formula  4

U A E r a c e w i n n e r w i t h s t r o n g  international  pedigree; Shibin  Yousaf  (India)  –  Consist‑ ent  performer  in  Indian  circuit  racing;

Tijil  Rao  (India)  –  Part  of  India's  new  wave  of  single‑seater  talent; Laura  Camps  Torras  (Spain)  –  Ferrari  Driver  Academy  alumna  and  standout  karting  graduate.

Actor  and  ﬁlmmaker  Kichcha

S u d e e p a h a s o f ﬁ c i a l l y

e n t e r e d t h e w o r l d o f

m o t o r s p o r t s b y a c q u i r i n g t h e

B e n g a l u r u f r a n c h i s e i n t h e  upcoming  Indian  Racing  Festival.

The  team  will  compete  under  the  name  Kichcha's  Kings  Bengaluru  (KKB)  in  the  city‑based  racing  league  set  to  begin  this  August,  said  the  team  in  Bengaluru  in  an  ofﬁcial  announcement

T h e m o v e m a r k s S u d e e p ' s  ﬁ r s t f o r a y i n t o p r o f e s s i o n a l  motorsport  ownership,  aligning  him  with  a  growing  list  of  Indian  celebrities  investing  in  franchise‑ based  sports.  Known  for  his  work  i n K a n n a d a c i n e m a a n d p a n

I n d i a a p p e a l , S u d e e p b r i n g s  s i g n i ﬁ c a n t v i s i b i l i t y t o t h e  Bengaluru  team  and  the  league  a t l a r g e A d o m e s t i c N a t i o n a l

r a c i n g c h a m p i o n s h i p , t h e J K

T y r e N a t i o n a l s , a n d s o m e  promotional  events  are  bunched  with  the  IRL  and  were  named  together   as   Indian   Racing

Festival.  The  name  festival  may  be  misleading  but  it  is  pure  hard‑ core,  competitive  racing  on  offer.

The   IRL   features   teams

representing  major  Indian  cities,  i n c l u d i n g D e l h i , H y d e r a b a d ,  Kolkata,  Chennai,  and  Goa.  The  format  blends  traditional  circuit  racing  with  an  entertainment‑ centric  presentation,  aiming  to  a t t r a c t a w i d e r a u d i e n c e t o  motorsport  in  India.

Akhilesh  Reddy,  Chairman  and

M a n a g i n g D i r e c t o r o f R a c i n g  P r o m o t i o n s P r i v a t e L i m i t e d  (RPPL),  the  league's  promoter,  s a i d t h e a d d i t i o n o f a h i g h proﬁle  ﬁgure  like  Sudeepa  would  help  broaden  the  sport's  appeal.

“The  entry  of  a  superstar  like  Kichcha  into  IRF  is  a  game‑ changer.  With  KKB,  we  now

have  a  team  that  represents  the  spirit  of  the  South,  grounded  and  ambitious,”  he  said. T

gender‑balanced  driver  line‑ups.  Organisers  hope  the  combina‑ tion  of  competitive  racing,  city  rivalries,  and  celebrity  involve‑ ment  will  help  build  a  new  fan‑

country.

e x p e c t e d t o u n v e i l i t s d r i v e r  roster  and  team  branding  in  the  lead‑up  to  the  opening  race

Chandan Manchegowda and Musa Sherif  nd ﬁnish 2  in their class

Th e L e v i t a s C u p i s a  groundbreaking  new  racing  series  founded  by  21‑year‑ old  racing  driver  Shravanthika  L a k s h m i f r o m C o i m b a t o r e A s  p a r t o f t h e J K T y r e N a t i o n a l  Racing  Championship,  the  series  b r i n g s a f r e s h a n d i n c l u s i v e  approach  to  touring  car  racing  in  India.  It  has  been  conceptualised  with  the  aim  of  nurturing  new  talent  and  creating  an  accessible,

p r o f e s s i o n a l p l a t f o r m t h a t  breaks  traditional  barriers  within  Indian  motorsport.

Driven  by  a  strong  vision,  the  Levitas  Cup  was  created  to  open

n e w p a t h w a y s f o r a s p i r i n g  racers,  especially  young  rookies  and  women.  It  promotes  gender  diversity not only among drivers  but  also  in  roles  such  as  race  ofﬁcials  and  support  staff.  The

s e r i e s a i m s t o c o m b i n e  p r o f e s s i o n a l r a c i n g s t a n d a r d s

w i t h m e a n i n g f u l d e v e l o p m e n t  opportunities,  positioning  itself  as  a  transformative  force  in  the  Indian  motorsport  scene.

The  championship  runs  a  16‑car  grid  featuring  equally  prepared

r a c i n g c a r s b u i l t t o a s t r i c t  technical  framework.  All  vehicles  are  engineered  and  maintained  by  SPEEDSMITHS,  a  professional  technical  team  with  international

a n d n a t i o n a l e x p e r t i s e T h e  focus  is  ﬁrmly  on  driver  talent,

w i t h s t a n d a r d i s e d r e g u l a t i o n s

e l i m i n a t i n g a n y m e c h a n i c a l

a d v a n t a g e D r i v e r s r e c e i v e  expert  coaching  supported  by  data  analysis,  ensuring  that  each

r a c e b e c o m e s a l e a r n i n g  experience  as  well  as  a  test  of  skill.

With  its  'Race  True'  philosophy  at  its  heart,  the  Levitas  Cup  sets  out

t o b e c o m e a p l a t f o r m f o r  discovering  and  developing  the  next  generation  of  Indian  racing  talent.  The  structure  includes  a  seasonal  format  of  three  rounds  and  eight  races,  all  hosted  at

t h e K a r i M o t o r S p e e d w a y i n  Coimbatore.  The  ﬁeld  is  divided  into Pro and Rookie classes, and  the  series  offers  an  'Arrive‑and‑

D r i v e ' f o r m a t I t r e m o v e s t h e  logistical  and  ﬁnancial  barriers

t y p i c a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h  motorsport.  This  model  ensures

t h a t r a c i n g r e m a i n s p u r e l y

d r i v e r c e n t r i c , g i v i n g  participants  a  rare  opportunity  to  compete  on  equal  footing.

The  cars  used  in  the  Levitas  Cup  are  based  on  the  Maruti  Ignis

p l a t f o r m , b u t u n d e r g o

s i g n i ﬁ c a n t p e r f o r m a n c e

u p g r a

s t a n d a l o n e E C U m a n a g e m e n t ,  W i l w o o d 4 p o t b i g b r a k e  systems,  cold  air  intakes,  free‑ ﬂ o w e x h a u s t s , a

chassis.  All  cars  meet  FIA  safety  standards  and  come  equipped  with  roll  cages,  racing  seats,  six‑

p o i n t h a r n e s s e s , a n d ﬁ r e

e x t i n g u i s h e r s E n c r y p t e d E C U s  a n d i d e n t i c a l c o m p o n e n t  s p e c i ﬁ c a t i o n s a r e s t r i c t l y

e n f o r c e d t h r o u g h r e g u l a r

t e c h n i c a l i n s p e c t i o n s

Arally  tested  both  man  and  m a c h i n e c o n s i d e r i n g t h e  extreme  and  quick  weather  which  changed  from  sunny,  hot  and  humid  to  heavy  rain  in  a  short  span  of  time.  The  ever‑ changing  terrain  in  each  stage  a l s o m a d e i t a n i n t e r e s t i n g  compromise  in  setup. Day  1  started  well  with  a  brilliant  o p e n i n g s t a g e b u t p o w e r  steering  failure  made  us  drop  pace  and  nurse  the  car  to  end  of

Leg.  Day  2  had  us  running  close  b e h i n d t h e l e a d e r s i n t h e  category  after  ﬁxing  the  steering  overnight.  However,  a  sudden  downpour  in  the  latter  half  of  the  day  caused  heavy  degradation  in  some  sections  of  the  stage  with  d e e p s l u s h w h e r e e v e n 4 W D  vehicles  struggled  to  make  it  out.  T h i s u n f o r t u n a t e s i t u a t i o n  caused  us  to  drop  well  behind  the  leaders.  Still  the  pair  picked  up  a  podium  in  their  class.

In d i a n r a l l y d r i v e r J a s o n  S a l d a n h a a n d e x p e r i e n c e d  co‑driver  PVS  Murthy  dished  out  a  commanding  performance  in  the  second  round  of  the  RAAT  Rally  of  Thailand,  to  clinch  an  impressive  overall  2nd  place  and  a  victory  in  the  RC  2.1  category,  t o c e m e n t t h e i r s t a t u s a s t h e  f r o n t r u n n e r s i n t h e 2 0 2 5  i n t e r n a t i o n a l r a l l y s e a s o n a t  Lopburi,  Thailand

I n 2 0 2 3 , J a s o n m a d e h i s t o r y

becoming  the  ﬁrst  Indian  to  win  a  class  title  in  the  RAAT  Rally  of  Thailand  and  has  since  continued  his  upward  trajectory. Behind  the  wheel  of  a  1.4‑litre  t u r b o c h a r g e d S u z u k i S w i f t , a  2WD  machine,  Saldanha  was  up  against  a  ﬁeld  packed  with  more  p o w e r f u l 4 w h e e l d r i v e ( 4 W D )  cars.  Yet  his  strategic  driving  and  relentless  pace  secured  him  a  place  on  the  overall  podium  with  a  timing  of  1hr,  7min,  58sec.  20.

PHOTO BY꞉ GHANSHYAM A TIWARI

Ab d u l W a h i d c l a i m e d h i s

ﬁ r s t v i c t o r y o f t h e 2 0 2 5  season  at  the  MRF  Mogrip  K1000  Rally,  becoming  the  third

P e t r o n a s T V S R a c i n g r i d e r t o  secure  a  win  this  year.  The  third  round  of  the  MRF  Mogrip  FMSCI

N a t i o n a l R a l l y C h a m p i o n s h i p  (2W) 2025 unfolded near Nittur,  attracting  a  record  98  entries.

T h e G o d S p e e d p r o m o t e d a n d  KMSC‑organised  event  featured  over  51  km  of  Special  Stages,  r u n t h r i c e i n t h e f o r w a r d  d i r e c t i o n p u t t i n g b o t h r i d e r s  and  machines  to  the  test.

Overall꞉

Abdul  Wahid  led  a  commanding

t o p t h r e e s w e e p f o r P e t r o n a s

T V S R a c i n g , w h i l e V M  Motorsports  riders  rounded  off

t h e t o p ﬁ v e S e a s o n o p e n e r  winner  Samuel  Jacob  kept  the  pressure  on,  ﬁnishing  second,  just  17  seconds  behind  Abdul.

R a j e n d r a R E , w i n n e r o f t h e  previous  round,  completed  the  podium  with  a  further  5‑second  gap.

V M M o t o r s p o r t s ' N a t a r a j R  followed  in  fourth,  trailing  by  1

m i n u t e a n d 2 s e c o n d s , w h i l e

t e a m m a t e S a n j a y S o m a s h e k a r  closed  the  top  ﬁve,  another  16

S u p e r B i k e P r o E x p e r t U p t o  500cc  Group  A꞉ seconds  adrift.

The top‑three ﬁnishers mirrored  the  overall  standings  in  this  class,  with  Abdul  Wahid  taking  the  win,  followed  by  Samuel  Jacob  and  Rajendra  RE.

SuperBike  Expert  Upto  500cc  Group  A꞉

VM Motorsports' Nataraj R took  top  honours  in  this  class,  with

b e h i n d K e r a l a r i d e r S i n a n  Francis  of  Team  Ace  Mobikes

s e c u r e d t h i r d p l a c e w i

( V M  Motorsports)  and  Kousthubha  M  (Privateer)  ﬁnished  fourth  and  ﬁfth  respectively.

SuperSport  Upto  165cc  Group  B꞉

VM  Motorsports  continued  their  d o m i n a n c e w i t h N i t h y a n L  clinching  the  win  in  41  minutes  33  seconds.  Bharath  L  followed  in  second,  33  seconds  behind,  while  Abdul  Raheman  took  third,  trailing  by  another  29  seconds.  Varun  Kumar  A  narrowly  missed  out  on  the  podium  by  1  minute

18  seconds,  while  Shivamogga's  Privateer  Darpan  Darshan  came  in  ﬁfth.

Group  B꞉

Petronas  TVS  Racing  was  third

Kumar  and  Stephen  Roy  ﬁnished  fourth  and  ﬁfth.

Nithyan L winner of Supersport upto 165cc GroupB

Imran Pasha winner of Supersport 165 to 260 GroupB Rajesh Swami winner of Supersport 260 to 450cc GroupB

Nataraj R winner of Superbike Expert upto 500 GroupA

Navneeth Kumar winner of Superstock 165 to 260cc GroupD

S u p e r S p o r t 2 6 0 t o 4 6 0 c c  Group  B꞉

VM  Motorsports'  Rajesh  Swami  d e l i v e r e d a d o m i n a n t  performance,  ﬁnishing  with  a  1  m i n u t e 2 7 s e c o n d s l e a d o v e r  M a d h u s u d h a n S , a P r i v a t e e r  from  Shivamogga.  Hemanth  M  (VM  Motorsports)  took  the  third  spot,  23  seconds  further  back.  Privateer  M  Rajesh  Kumar  from  Bengaluru  placed  fourth,  trailing  by  1  minute  32  seconds,  while  a n o t h e r P r i v a t e e r f r o m

Mettupalayam claimed ﬁfth, just  14  seconds  behind.

Scooters  Upto  210cc  Group  B꞉

Petronas  TVS  Racing's  Karthik  N  and  Shamim  Khan  sealed  a  1‑2

ﬁ n i s h , s e p a r a t e d b y j u s t 2 8  seconds.  Goutham  N,  a  Privateer  from  Bengaluru,  completed  the  podium,  trailing  by  36  seconds.

B e n g a l u r u ' s A d i t y a D u t t a n d

Dilip  Kumar  M,  both  Privateers,  took  fourth  and  ﬁfth.

W o m e n ' s C l a s s U p t o 4 6 0 c c  Group  B꞉

A i s h w a r y a P i s s a y o f P e t r o n a s

Karthik N winner of Scooters upto 210cc GroupB

Devraj Venkatesh winner of Superstock 260 to 450cc GroupD

T V S R a c i n g c o n t i n u e d h e r

d o m i n a n c e i n t h e w o m e n ' s

c a t e g o r y , k e e p i n g C h e n n a i ' s

P r i v a t e e r R y h a n a B e e a t b a y  with  a  comfortable  margin  of

2 m i n u t e s 0 5 s e c o n d s Coimbatore's  Mynthuri  Iswarya,  another  Privateer,  rounded  off  the  podium  in  third.

Aishwarya Pissay winner of Women’s class upto 460cc GroupB

Samuel  wins season opener

Nataraj R winner of Superbike Expert upto 500 GroupA

Banteilang Jyrwa winner of Supersport 165 to 260 GroupB

Aishw ar y a Pissa y r eturns to domestic cir cuit in style

The  season  opener  of  the

M R F M o G r i p F M S C I

N a t i o n a l R a l l y  Championship  2025  for  two‑ wheelers  roared  to  life  at  the  NATRAX  facility  in  Pithampur,  Indore,  with  the  MRF  Rally  of  Indore .  The  rally  featured  a  17.1  km  stage  run  thrice  in  the

f o r w a r d d i r e c t i o n , t o t a l l i n g

5 1 3 k m T h e e v e n t w a s  promoted  by  Godspeed  and

o r g a n i z e d b y A W E v e n t s i n  May  2025.

Super  Bike  –  Pro  Expert  (Up  to  500cc  Group  A)꞉  Samuel  Jacob  from  Kerala  emerged  victorious  in  the  Super  Bike  Pro‑Expert  up

t o 5 0 0 c c G r o u p A c a t e g o r y ,

c l o c k i n g a t o t a l t i m e o f 4 8

m i n u t e s a n d 3 4 s e c o n d s H e  edged  out  Abdul  Wahid  Tanveer  from  Mysuru  by  less  than  four

s e c o n d s . A l t h o u g h d e f e n d i n g

c h a m p i o n R a j e n d r a R E f r o m

S h i v a m o g g a w a s t h e f a s t e s t

o v e r a l l , h o l d i n g a 1 0 s e c o n d  lead,  a  1‑minute  liaison  penalty  for  early  check‑in  pushed  him

d o w n t o t h i r d . R a j e n d r a

d o m i n a t e d t h e ﬁ r s t a n d ﬁ n a l  stages,  while  Samuel  capitalised  on  Stage  2,  giving  Petronas  TVS  Racing  a  clean  sweep  of  the  top  three  positions.

c h a m p i o n N a t a r a j R f r o m

M y s u r u , r e p r e s e n t i n g V M

Motorsports,  won  the  Super  Bike  Expert  class  with  a  time  of  52

m i n u t e s a n d 2 0 s e c o n d s .

T e a m m a t e N a r e s h V S f r o m  Bengaluru  followed,  58  seconds

b e h i n d A m a n P a w d e , a  privateer  from  Nagpur,  secured  third  place,  trailing  Naresh  by  39  seconds.  Sinan  Francis  from

Team  Ace  Mobikes,  Ernakulam,  missed  the  podium  by  1  minute  and  17  seconds,  while  Amogh  Nag,  a  privateer  from  Bengaluru,  came  in  ﬁfth,  34  seconds  adrift.

S u p e r S p o r t ( U p t o 1 6 5 c c  Group B)꞉  Abdul Raheman from  Shivamogga  clinched  victory  in

t h e S u p e r S p o r t u p t o 1 6 5 c c  Group  B  class.  VM  Motorsports  d o m i n a t e d t h e p o d i u m w i t h  B e n g a l u r u r i d e r s B h a r a t h L  ﬁnishing  second,  1  minute  and

21  seconds  behind,  and  Varun  K u m a r A s e c u r i n g t h i r d b y a  s l e n d e r o n e s e c o n d m a r g i n .  P r i v a t e e r s N i t h y a n L  ( C o i m b a t o r e ) a n d D h e e r a j H  (Shivamogga)  rounded  off  the  top  ﬁve.

Super  Sport  (165cc  to  260cc  Group  B)꞉  Petronas  TVS  Racing's

B a n t e i l a n g J y r w a t o p p e d t h e  165cc  to  260cc  Group  B  category  with  a  time  of  50  minutes  and  15  seconds.  Arun  T  from  Hassan,

PHOTO BY꞉ GHANSHYAM A TIWARI

M u d i g e r e ﬁ n i s h e d s e c o n d , 1  minute  and  55  seconds  behind,  while  Bengaluru's  Hemanth  M  (VM  Motorsports)  secured  third  with  a  1  minute  and  9  seconds  g a p P r i v a t e e r s S u h a s S S

( P i r i y a p a t n a ) a n d D a r s h a n

Chaure  (Nashik)  ﬁnished  fourth  and  ﬁfth,  respectively.

Ryhana  Bee  from  Chennai  did  not  ﬁnish.

Super  Stock  (165cc  to  260cc  G r o u p D ) ꞉ C o i m b a t o r e ' s  Jagadeesh  G  clocked  59  minutes  and  24  seconds  to  win  the  Super  Stock  165cc  to  260cc  Group  D  c l a s s . N a v

Abdul Raheman winner Supersport upto 165 GroupB

Scooter  (Up  to  210cc  Group  B)꞉  In  the  scooter  category,  Petronas  TVS  Racing  swept  the  podium.

Syed  Asif  Ali  won  with  a  total  t i m e o f 5 9 m i n u t e s a n d 3 7  seconds,  followed  by  Karthik  N,  38 seconds behind, and Shamim  Khan,  a  further  20  seconds  adrift.

P r i v a t e e r D i l i p K u m a r M

( B e n g a l u r u ) a n d V M M o t o r

s p o r t s ' G o u t h a m N s e c u r e d  fourth  and  ﬁfth,  respectively.

Women's  Class  (Up  to  450cc

G r o u p C ) ꞉ A i s h w a r y a P i s s a y

Pondicherry  ﬁnished  second,  19  s e c o n d s b e h i n d , a n d N i t i s h  C

followed  in  third,  just  5  seconds

)  completed  the  top  ﬁve. Super  Stock  (260cc  to  450cc  Group  D)꞉  Bengaluru's  Devaraj  V e n k a t e s h w o n t h e 2 6 0 c c t o  450cc  Group  D  class  with  a  time  of  1  hour,  2  minutes,  and  14  seconds.  Chetan  B  Hosatti  from  H u b l i ﬁ n i s h e d s e c o

Rajesh Swami winner of Supersport 260 to 450 GroupB

m a r k e d h e r r e t u r n t o t h e

, 5 9  seconds behind. Durgesh J from  M

)  secured  third,  while  teammates

National  Rally  with  a  comman‑

d i n g v i c t o r y i n t h e W o m e n ' s

u p t o 4 5 0 c c G r o u p C c l a s s

R e p r e s e n t i n g P e t r o n a s T V S  Racing,  she  ﬁnished  2  minutes  and  14  seconds  ahead  of  Jaipur

p r i v a t e e r S o m y y a C h a u d h a r y

M i s r i y a K S f r o m E r n a k u l a m ,  riding  for  Team  Ace  Mobikes,  t o o k t h i r d S n e h a C C f r o m  Thrissur  (VM  Motorsports)  came  f o u r t h , w h i l e h e r t e a m m a t e

from  Nashik  came  sixth.

Star  of  Madhya  Pradesh꞉  Local  rider  Shadab  Karim  Chishti  from  Indore  took  top  honours  in  the  “Star  of  Madhya  Pradesh”  class,  followed  by  Harshit  Chourasiya  from  Gurgaon.

Superstock 260 to 450cc GroupD winner Devaraj Venkatesh

representing  Hero  Motorsports

T e a m R a l l y , ﬁ n i s h e d s e c o n d ,  t r a i l i n g b y 1 9 s e c o n d s , w h i l e  Imran  Pasha  from  Mysuru,  also  with  Petronas  TVS  Racing,  was  third,  18  seconds  behind.  Hero

M o t o r s p o r t s ' K a r a n K u m a r  (Coimbatore)  and  Yuva  Kumar  (Bengaluru)  completed  the  top  ﬁve.

Super  Sport  (260cc  to  460cc  Group  B)꞉  Rajesh  Swami  from  R a i g a d , r e p r e s e n t i n g V M  Motorsports, took top honors in  t h e 2 6 0 c c t o 4 6 0 c c G r o u p B  class.  Privateer  Syed  Aqib  from

Jagadeesh G winner of Superstock 165 to 260cc GroupD

R ajendr a RE dominates; Aishw ar y a tops

Ne wbie Somyy a in impr essiv e 2

Hardworking  Rajendra  RE  secured  a  deserving  victory  at  the  MRF Rally of Nashik, the second round of the MRF MoGrip  FMSCI  National  Rally  Championship  2025  for  Two‑Wheelers  promoted  by  Godspeed,  held  on  the  outskirts  of  Trimbakeshwar,  Nashik  on  June  15.  The  tarmac  stage,  17  km  long,  was  run  three  times  for  a  total  rally  distance  of  51  km.

Sanjay Somashekar winner, Expert upto 500 GroupA

Rajesh Swami winner of Supersport 260 to 460cc GroupD

Overall꞉ Shivamogga's  Rajendra  R E , r i d i n g f o r P e t r o n a s T V S  Racing,  reclaimed  his  dominance  after  a  penalty  denied  him  the  w i n i n t h e s e a s o n o p e n e r Although  he  had  a  slow  start,

.  Kaushubha  M,  also  a  privateer  from  Bengaluru,  ﬁnished  fourth  (36  seconds  behind),  followed  by  Gidyun  (VM  Motorsports)  and  J a t i n J a i n , a p r i v a t

Nithyan winner of Supersport upto 165cc GroupA

ﬁ n i s h i n g 2 3 s e c o n d s b e h i n d  stage  leader  Imran  Pasha  in  the  opener,  Rajendra  bounced  back  to  take  the  lead  in  the  second  stage.  He  then  improved  on  his  o w n t i m i n g i n t h e ﬁ n a l r u n ,  c l i n c h i n g v i c t o r y w i t h a n 1 8 second  lead.

H i s t e a m m a t e A b d u l W a h i d  Tanveer  showed  consistency  by

i m p r o v i n g i n e v e r y s t a g e a n d  s e c u r e d s e c o n d p l a c e . I m r a n  Pasha  ﬁnished  third,  14  seconds  behind,  while  Samuel  Jacob  was  f o u r t h , j u s t 9 s e c o n d s a d r i f t

K a r a n K u m a r o f H e r o  MotoSports  Team  Rally  rounded  out  the  top  ﬁve,  only  one  second  behind  Samuel.

Pro  Expert  Up  to  500cc  Group

m  Nagpur,  in  ﬁfth  and  sixth.

Super  Sport  Up  to  165cc  Group  B꞉  Nithyan  L  from  Coimbatore  c l i n c h e d t h e w i n i n t h i s V M  M o t o r s p o r t s d o m i n a

d c l a s s Abdul  Raheman  finished  second,  j u s t 7 s e c o n d s b e h i n d , w h i l e  Bharath  L  secured  third  despite  a  1 m i n u t e 3 3 s e c o n d g a p Shivamogga  privateers  Dheeraj  H  (who  missed  the  podium  by  under  2  seconds)  and  Darpan  Darshan  finished  fourth  and  fifth.

Imran Pasha winner of Supersport 165 to 260cc GroupB

Syed Asif Ali winner Scooter upto 210cc GroupB

A ꞉ P e t r o n a s T V S R a c i n g  dominated  this  category,  with  Rajendra RE taking top honours.

Abdul  Wahid  followed  in  second,  and  Samuel  Jacob  claimed  third,  ﬁ n i s h i n g 1 4 s e c o n d s b e h i n d

W a h i d N i k h i l B a l a k r i s h n a , a  privateer  from  Nashik,  secured  a  commendable  fourth  place.

Expert  Up  to  500cc  Group  A꞉  Bengaluru's  Sanjay  Somashekar  (VM  Motorsports)  took  the  win  w i t h a 2 1 s e c o n d l e a d o v e r  teammate  Nataraj  R.  Privateer  S i n a n F r a n c i s f r o m E r n a k u l a m  completed  the  podium,  trailing

S u p e r S p o r t 1 6 5 c c t o 2 6 0 c c  Group  B꞉  Imran  Pasha  (Petronas  TVS  Racing)  topped  the  class,  w i t h K a r a n K u m a r ( H e r o  MotoSports  Team  Rally)  trailing  b y 1 1 s e c o n d s i n s e c o n d Banteilang  Jyrwa  (Petronas  TVS  R a c i n g ) ﬁ n i s h e d

, 2 6  seconds  behind.  His  teammate  Sachin  D  narrowly  missed  the  p o d i u m b y j

6 s e c o n d s ,  ﬁnishing  fourth.  Kathuroli  Senthil  Kumar,  a  privateer  from  Jaipur,  w

(Hero  MotoSports)  ended  sixth.

S u p e r S p o r t 2 6 0 c

Group  B꞉  Rajesh  Narajan  Swami  (VM  Motorsports,  Raigad)  won  the  class,  with  privateer  Akbar  from  Coimbatore  in  second,  33  seconds  behind.  Madhusudhan  S,  a  privateer  from  Shivamogga,  secured  third,  trailing  Akbar  by

Superstock 165 to 260cc GroupD winner Jagadeesh

Women’s class winner Aishwarya Pissay

2 0 s e c o n d s H e m a n t h M ( V M  Motorsports)  and  privateer  Syed

Aqib  from  Chikkamagaluru  took  fourth  and  ﬁfth  places.

Scooter  Up  to  210cc  Group  B꞉  Petronas  TVS  Racing  dominated  again,  with  Syed  Asif  Ali  winning  in  48  minutes  and  21  seconds,

f o l l o w e d b y S h a m i m K h a n i n

s e c o n d G o u t h a m N ( V M

M o t o r s p o r t s ) s e c u r e d a c l e a r

t h i r d P r i v a t e e r D e v e n d r a

D a t t a t r a y G u n j a l ( N a s h i k )  ﬁnished  fourth,  while  Karthik  N  and  Hiten  D  Thakkar  completed  the  top  six.

Women's  Class  Up  to  460cc

Group  B꞉  Aishwarya  Pissay  of  Petronas  TVS  Racing  overcame  early  bike  issues  that  cost  her  over  a  minute  in  Stage  1  but  bounced  back  to  take  her  second

c o n s e c u t i v e w i n P r i v a t e e r

S o m y y a C h a u d h a r y , a f t e r

l e a d i n g t h e ﬁ r s t s t a g e a n d

a p p e a r i n g p o i s e d f o r v i c t o r y ,  suffered  mechanical  issues  in  the  ﬁ n a l s t a g e a n d l o s t o v e r 2  minutes  30  seconds,  sliding  to

t h i r d F e l l o w p r i v a t e e r a n d

f o r m e r n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n i n  racing,  Ryhana  Bee,  took  second  place.

S u p e r S t o c k 1 6 5 c c t o 2 6 0 c c

Group  D꞉  A  class  dominated  by  privateers  saw  Jagadeesh  from

C o i m b a t o r e w i n w i t h a 3 2

s e c o n d l e a d o v e r A s h u t o s h

K a u s h i k ( H a r i d w a r ) T h a n g a r a j ,  also  from  Coimbatore,  secured

t h i r d . V i s h n u S a c h i n J i t h  (Thrissur)  narrowly  missed  the  podium  by  8  seconds,  followed

by  Pradeep  C  (Bengaluru)  and  Jeevanandham  D  (Coimbatore)  in  ﬁfth  and  sixth.

S u p e r S t o c

G r o u p D ꞉ C h e t a n H o s a t t i  (Hubballi)  won  this  class  with  a  t i m e o f 5 1 m i n u t e s a n d 5 8  seconds.  Durgesh  J  (Mysuru)  was  s e c o n d , 1 m i n u t e 1 1 s e c o n d s  behind,  while  Shivam  Sonawane  ( N a s h i k ) c l a i m e d t h i r d w i t h a  further  1  minute  3  second  deficit.  Nilesh  Thakre  (Nashik)  finished  fourth,  just  4  seconds  behind,  after  losing  over  30  seconds  in  the  final  stage  while  checking  on  D e v a r a j V e n k a t e s h ( V M  Motorsports),  the  class  leader  at  the  time,  who  had  slid  into  a  ditch  but  still  completed  the  rally  in  fifth.

Superstock 260 to 450cc GroupD winner Chetan Hosatti

Star  of  Maharashtra꞉  Mumbai  privateer  Clinton  John  Cordeiro  won  the  class  with  a  total  time  of  4 9 m i n u t e s a n d 4 4 s e c o n d s ,  ﬁnishing  with  a  commanding  1  m i n u t e 3 0 s e c o n d l e a d o v e r  Abhishek  M  Pardeshi  (Nashik).

Abhimanyu  Ray  (Pune)  placed

(Nashik)  rounded  out  the  top  ﬁve.

T arushi V ikr am clinches W omen INR

The  season  opener  of  the

B l u e B a n d F M S C I I n d i a n

N a t i o n a l R a l l y  Championship  2025,  the  South  India  Rally,  began  with  a  short  notice.  It  is  the  fourth  season  under  the  banner  of  promoter  Blueband  Sports.  The  last  minute  approval as the INRC round, put  the  participants  count  just  below  49,  and  among  the  same  INRC  participants,  20  were  part  of  the  A P R C w h i c h w a s r u n  c o n c u r r e n t l y w i t h t h e I n d u  th Chandhok  Memorial  48 South  India  Rally  2025.

R i s i n g t e m p e r a t u r e a n d t h e  harsh  heat  wave  was  the  biggest  challenge  which  put  the  whole

r a l l y i n g f r a t e r n i t y t o t e s t Especially,  the  ground  staff  and

c o m p e t i t o r s h a d t o s h i e l d  themselves  from  extreme  heat  and  the  resultant  dehydration.

The  same  Super  Special  Stage  (SSS),  Madras  Motorsports  Race  Track  (MMRT)  stage  and  Aavisa  were  in  the  menu.  The  latter  two  were  taken  on  multiple  times  to

p u t t h e t o t a l s p e c i a l s t a g e

d i s t a n c e , a l o n g w i t h S S S , a t  135.66  km.

C win on debut

Overall꞉

It  was  a  near‑ﬂawless  drive  in  the  Volkswagen  Polo  by  the  36‑year‑ old  Karna  Kadur  who  was  greatly

a i d e d b y h i s e x p e r i e n c e d c o d r i v e r M u s a S h e r i f f r o m  Kasargod  as  the  MRF  supported  d u o f r o m A r k a M o t o r s p o r t s  combined  beautifully  to  clinch  the  crown  in  the  ﬁrst  round  of  the  BlueBand  Fmsci  Indian  National  Championship  2025.  They  also  m a n a g e d t o e x t e n d t h e

o v e r n i g h t l e a d b y a d d i t i o n a l  46sec  amounting  to  1min  50sec  lead  over  their  teammate  and

England‑based  former  National  champion  Amittrajit  Ghosh  co‑ d r i v e n b y A s h w i n N a i k f r o m  Mangaluru.

G h o s h h a d t o o v e r c o m e a  m i s b e h a v i n g V W P o l o , w h i c h  was  put  together  about  three  days  before  the  event,  after  his  Mahindra  XUV  300  packed  up  during  testing.  Also  struggling  t h r o u g h o u t t h e w e e k e n d w i t h  clutch  issues,  they  had  to  slow  down  and  despite  these  issues  with  their  VW  Polo,  they  did  well.

The  Keralites  pair  of  Fabid  Ahmer  a n d M i l e n G e o r g e f r o m

Karna Kadur and Musa Sherif overall winners

mechanical  problem  about  ﬁve  kms  to  the  ﬁnish  of  the  day's  last  Special  Stage.

The  Bengaluru  pair  of  Pragathi  Gowda  along  with  Chandramouli  M,  supported  by  MRF  and  Sidvin,  in  a  Chettinad  Sporting  tuned  car,  began  the  day  with  14‑sec  deﬁcit  behind  Fabid  and  were  consistently  improving  on  their  o w n t i m i n g o n t h e ﬁ n a

difference.

final  day  but  had  to  pull  out  in  the  final  stage  with  just  2  km  remaining  due  to  a  right‑side  drive  shaft  issue.  The  final  day  was  no  different  for  the  pair  of

C h e t a n S h i v r a m a n d S h i v

P r a k a s h ; a f t e r l o s i n g a b o u t 9  minutes  on  SS6,  they  once  again  had  to  retire  in  the  second  stage  of  the  day.

INRC2꞉

Arnav  Pratap  Singh  along  with  R o h i t N a g a r a j b e g a n t h e d a y  with  27‑sec  difference.  Though  he  was  improving  on  his  own  timing,  he  lost  ground  and  in  the  ﬁnal  stage,  they  were  behind  by  about  82sec.  With  a  total  time  of

2 m i n 0 2 s e c d i f f e r e n c e , t h e y  ﬁnished  ﬁfth.

INRC1꞉

Fabid Ahmer and Milen George winners INRC2

C h e t t i n a d S p o r t i n g , s u p p o r t e d  by  MRF,  began  the  day  in  fourth  position  with  4‑sec  deﬁcit.  But

t h e y m a n a g e d t o c l i m b u p a  position  by  the  end  of  the  fourth

stage  of  the  day.  The  Delhi  based  driver  Philippos  Matthai  along  with  Bengalurian  Harish  KN  from  Arka  Motorsports,  began  the  day  in  third  but  retired  with  a

The  two  overall  top  slots  were  bagged  by  the  same  winners  of  this  class.  Karna  Kadur  along  with  Musa  Sherif  were  the  winners,  w i t h A m i t t r a j i t G h o s h a n d  Ashwin  Naik  in  second.  The  third  p o s i t i o n b e l o n g e d t o d r i v e r

S u h e m K a b i r , w h o m a d e a  comeback  into  rallying  after  a  season's  break.  He,  along  with  V i n a y P a d m a s h a l i f r o m  Bengaluru, ﬁnished a clear third.

B e n g a l u r i a n s M o n i s h L a n d  Manjunath  GM  rejoined  on  the

Keralites  Fabid  Ahmer  and  Milen  George  from  Chettinad  Sporting,  supported  by  MRF,  managed  to  o v e r c o m e t h e 5 s e c o n d  overnight  deﬁcit  and  secured  the  win  with  a  1‑minute  13‑second  lead.  The  lone  lady  driver  from  B e n g a l u r u , P r a g a t h i G o w d a ,  along  with  Chandramouli  M,  also  f r o m C h e t t i n

t i n g  supported  by  MRF  and  Sidvin,  ﬁ n i s h e d s e c o n d T h e A r k a  Motorsports  pair  of  Harkrishan  Wadia  and  Kunal  Kashyap  from  Delhi,  despite  a  2‑minute  Day  One  penalty,  managed  to  hold  on  to  the  podium  with  a  15‑ second  margin.

I NRC3꞉

The  pair  of  Arnav  Pratap  Singh  from  Haryana  and  Rohit  Nagaraj  began the day with a 25‑second  a

i ran t h J ai n  driving  for  Chettinad  Sporting.  They  were  lucky  to  hold  on  to  their  overnight  top  position  with  a  narrow  2‑second  lead,  having

lost  about  80  seconds  in  the  ﬁnal  stage.

T h e p a i r o f A b h i n R a i a n d

M o i d e e n J a s h e e r f r o m S n a p  Racing  completed  the  podium  with  a  51‑second  gap.  Vaibhav  Marathe  from  Goa  and  Arvind

D h e e r e n d r a f r o m B e n g a l u r u  narrowly  missed  the  podium  by  just  3  seconds.  Coimbatorians  Ajay  Sankar  and  Venu  Ramesh  Kumar  ﬁnished  in  ﬁfth,  1  minute  and  27  seconds  behind.

INRC3T꞉

R a m c h a r a n C a n d V i g n e s h  Mahalingam  from  Coimbatore,  driving  for  Falkon  Motorsports,  were  the  winners  with  a  total  time  of  2  hours,  20  minutes,  and

2 2 s e c o n d s . N a v e e n P u l i g i l l a

f r o m H y d e r a b a d a n d S a n t o s h  Thomas  ﬁnished  second  with  a  2‑minute  43‑second  difference.

J e e t J h a b a k h f r o m H y d e r a b a d  and  V.  Sekar  from  Coimbatore

o v e r c a m e t h e p r e v i o u s d a y ' s

s e t b a c k a n d m a n a g e d t o  complete  the  rally  in  third  place.

Women's  Class꞉

A n o t h e r n o t a b l e p e r f o r m a n c e

c a m e f r o m C h i k k a m a g a l u r u

based  teenager  Tarushi  Vikram,

Tarushi Vikram and Vybhav Mukund Rao winner of Women’s class

Karna Kadur꞉ “After a long time, we had a trouble‑free  run. The car was great, and just about everything fell  into place. We had carefully planned our strategy, and it  was executed ﬂawlessly. We could have gone faster, but  in view of the rising temperature, we had to exercise  some caution. A few competitors suffered as they didn't  back off, and having seen this, I kept something in  reserve in case I needed to push hard. Anyway, it's a  good start to the season. Also, my co‑driver Musa's calls  were spot‑on, and it greatly helped.”

great  pace  and  control.

N a s h

timings  and  extending  their  lead.

minutes  in  the  ﬁnal  two  stages  due  to  tie  rod  issues,  eventually  slipping  to  second.

There  was  no  relief  for  the  pair  of  A

timings  in  both  the  ﬁrst  and  ﬁnal

times  in  three  of  the  ﬁve  stages  and  ﬁnished  third.

JINRC꞉

Abhin  Rai  along  with  Moideen  Jasheer  secured  the  win  with  a  c o m f o r t a

second  lead.  Coimbatorians  Ajay

S h a n k a r a n d V e n u R a m e s h  Kumar  from  Falkon  Motorsports  ﬁ n i s h e d s e c o n d , w h i l e R B  Kharbirymbai  and  Dhanush  CP  from  Snap  Racing  came  a  distinct  third.

GYPSY꞉

Veteran  rallyist  Sanjay  Agarwal  from  Bengaluru,  along  with  co‑ driver  Dheeraj  Manae,  also  from

B e n g a l u r u , w o n t h e c a t e g o r y  with  a  2‑minute  16‑second  lead

o v e r s e c o n d p l a c e d K a r i a p p a

M e k e r i r a f r o m K o d a g u a n d

Supreeth  Sagar  from  Bengaluru. Pankaj  Dutt  and  Jibran  Ahmed  managed  to  hold  on  to  third

p l a c e w i t h a n 8 m i n u t e 2 6 second  deﬁcit.  After  pulling  out  on  the  Aavisa  stage  on  Day  One,  D r A k a r s h S u n d a r a n d A r j u n  Dheerendra,  both  from

Bengaluru,  rejoined  and  ﬁnished  fourth.

A m i t t r a j i t G h o s h ꞉ “ W e h a d  issues  with  the  car  throughout  the  weekend.  Today,  we  lost  the  clutch,  and  it  slowed  us  d o w n . B u t c o n s i d e r i n g  everything,  including  having  only  a  few  days  to  prepare  this  VW  Polo,  we  did  pretty  well.” Harkrishan  Wadia꞉  “The  two‑ m i n u t e p e n a l t y I c o p p e d  y e s t e r d a y f o r e a r l y c h e c k i n  really  hurt.  Though  I  was  on

lucky  in  the  end  with  Philippos  retiring,  and  I  managed  to  gain  over  50  seconds  on  my  rivals  today.

CLASSIC꞉

B e n g a l u r i a n s P r a m o d R a m a n  and  Dheeraj  KV,  after  being  hit  by  stones  on  the  Aavisa  stage  the  previous  day,  began  the  ﬁnal  day  w i t h a 1 m i n u t e 2 0 s e c o n d  advantage.  They  had  to  defend  t h e i r p o s i t i o n a g a i n s t r a l l y

Sathyanarayan  from  Bengaluru.  Siddartha  was  closing  the  gap  by  c l o c

times,  but  lost  2  minutes  in  the  ﬁnal  stage,  having  to  settle  for  second.

Thus,  with  a  ﬁnal  difference  of  1  minute  and  12  seconds,  Pramod  was  declared  the  winner.  Satish  P

third.

pace  through  both  days,  those  two  minutes  kept  pulling  me  down.  However,  I  guess  I  got

T w o old driv er s, one insane dr eam꞉

The comeback stor y of Sang eeth & Sachin

“ When Death F inds You, May It F ind You Alive”

In  the  adrenaline‑fuelled  world  of  rally  racing,  where

m i l l i s e c o n d s m

companion,  two  48‑year‑old  men  are  tearing  up  gravel  and  expectations.  Meet  Sangeeth  Samuel  and  Sachin

B o p a n n a , c

addicts,  and  now,  the  very  likely  comeback  kings.

This  isn't  just  a  racing  story.  It's  a  life  story  of  detours,  d e l a y s , d e v o t i o n , a n d a d e c i s i o n t o '

y a

'  again…  in  their  own  words.

The  F irst  L ap  —  Where  It  All  Began

For  Sangeeth  Samuel,  motorsport  was  always  the  dream.  But  dreams  often  come  with  a  price  tag.  “When  you  don't  have  the  money  to  compete  as  a  driver,  the  best  thing  you  can  do  is  co‑drive,”  he  reﬂects.

He  entered  the  motorsport  arena  in  2006  as  a  co‑driver,  l

winning  a  few  events.  Occasionally,  he  slipped  into  the  driver's  seat  for  autocross  events,  tasting  the  thrill  he  truly  longed  for.

Then  came  2013!  A  brief,  glorious  moment  when  Red  Rooster  Racing  and  mentors  like  Leela  Krishna,  Dinesh  Reddy,  along  with  good  friend,  Karna  Kadur,  put  him  behind  the  wheel  of  a  Maruti  Esteem  in  a  National  rally.  It  was  electric.  It  was  everything.  And  it  was  over  just  as  fast.

Life  in  the  P it  Stop

Real  life  hit  hard.  Sangeeth  stepped  away  from  the  track.  N o t b y c h o i c e , b u t b y n e c e s s i t y . “ M o t o r s p o r t i s  expensive,”  he  says  plainly.  “And  I  had  to  survive.”

Y e a r s p a s s e d R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s g r e w T h e w h e e l  turned—just  not  the  rally  kind.  But  something  in  Sangeeth  never  let  go.

The  Comeback  —  Gif ted  a  Dream

On  his  48th  birthday  in  2024,  fate  intervened  in  the  form  of  family.  His  cousin  and  close  friend,  Asool  Albert,  gifted  him  a  fully  prepared  rally  car.  Around  the  same  time,  a  friend  sent  him  a  quote  that  landed  like  lightning꞉

“When  death  ﬁnds  you,  may  it  ﬁnd  you  alive.”

That  line  did  more  than  inspire.  It  shook  him  awake.  “I  realized  I  wasn't  living  fully,”  he  says.  “Motorsport  had  always  been  my  way  to  feel  alive.  It  was  time  to  come  back.”

Together  with  Asool,  he  launched  Ford  John  Motorsports  in  memory  of  their  grandfather,  “Ford  John”  of  Thrissur  fame.  It  wasn't  just  a  team.  It  was  a  resurrection.

Back  in  the  Seat  —  Where  the  Soul  Belongs

Re‑entry  after  14  years  was  no  joyride.  The  reﬂexes  came  back,  sure—but  so  did  the  pressure,  the  fear,  and  the  cost.  Training  with  motorsport  pros  like  Chetan  Shivaram,  Snap

Racing,  Philippos  Matthai,  and  Karna  Kadur,  Sangeeth  rebuilt  a  car  from  scratch,  prepped  for  the  2025  Indian  National  Rally  Championship,  and  stared  down  the  start  line  once  again.

“When  that  5‑second  countdown  begins,  everything  you  are,  everything  you've  lived,  ﬂashes  by.  And  then  you  drive.”

Round  1꞉

T rial  by  F ire  (and  Gravel)

The  ﬁrst  round  at  Chennai  was  anything  but  smooth.  Day  1  was  bumpy.  New  car.  New  rhythm.  New  co‑driver.

Day  2  Total  chaos.  During  Stage  5,  the  duo  hit  a  corner  too  fast.  The  car  ﬂipped  twice.  They  landed  sideways.  Dazed.  Out  of  breath.  Out  of  the  race?  Well  Almost!

“We  were  ready  to  call  it,”  Sangeeth  recalls.  But  not  Sachin  Bopanna.  He  insisted  they  get  the  car  back  on  four  wheels.  And  they  did.

“ T h a t m o m e n t w a s n

, ”  Sangeeth  says.  “It  was  about  reclaiming  our  lives.”

Bopanna

H a i l i n g f r o m C o o r g , I n d i a ' s  m o t o r s p o r t h e a r t l a n d , S a c h i n  Bopanna  wears  many  hats;  event  m a n a g e r , c o f f e e p l a n t e r , e x hockey  player.  His  rally  journey  began  in  1996.  He  joined  the  Maruti  Motorsport  team  in  2001  and  even  co‑founded  the  Storm  Music  Festival.  He  has  managed  o v e r 7 , 0 0 0 e v e n t s a c r o s s t h e  country.

But  the  rally  bucket  list  never  faded.  In  2024,  he  stepped  into  the  co‑driver's  seat.  By  2025,  he  joined  forces  with  Sangeeth.  “It  was  now  or  never,”  he  laughs.  “We  may  be  48,  but  we  drive  like  we're  28.”  And  you  need  to  be  on  the  stages,  braving  the  dust,  to  watch  their  deeds  in  speed!

The Man Who Makes  T rophies—Now Chasing  One

Here's  the  twist꞉  Sangeeth  is  also  the  founder  of  Sangeeth  Samuel  Designs,  a  trophy  company  that  c r a f t s s t u n n i n g a w a r d s f o r  n a t i o n a l m o t o r s p o r t e v e n t s Walk  into  any  champion's  house,  a n d c h a n c e s a r e o n e o f h i s  creations  is  on  their  shelf.

“But  I'm  not  chasing  a  trophy,”  he  says  with  a  smile.  “I'm  chasing  the  journey.”

Built  by  Life,  Fueled  by  F aith

The  years  off  the  track  weren't  idle.  Sangeeth  built  businesses.  Raised  a  family.  Even  battled  and

r e c o v e r e d f r o m m u l t i p l e

s c l e r o s i s . “ I w a s h e a l e d ,  spiritually  and  physically.  That's  why  this  comeback  isn't  just  a

r e t u r n I t ' s a r e d e m p t i o n , ” h e

n o t e d H i s w i f e w a s

u n d e r s t a n d a b l y a n x i o u s . “ B u t  she  knew  I  needed  this.  It  was  unﬁnished  business  with  my  own  soul,”  he  added.

L essons from the T rack to  Life

“Motorsport  teaches  you  that  no

matter  how  prepared  you  are,  life  throws  surprises,”  Sangeeth  says.  “But  you  adapt.  You  hold  t h e w h e e l t i g h t e r Y o u k e e p  going.”

The  comeback  has  transformed  more  than  just  his  calendar.  He's  d r o p p e d w e i g h t , s h a r p e n e d  m e n t a l l y , r e c o n n e c t e d

s p i r i t u a l l y , a n d h e i n s p i r e s a  generation that's long forgotten  how  to  chase  joy.

“Too  many  people  over  40  let  their  passions  fade.  I  want  to  tell  them,  'wake  up!'.  Pick  that  dream  back  up.  Chase  it.”

The

attoo  That  Says  It  All

After  losing  his  mother  in  2024,  Sangeeth  That's  that  death  alive.”

It  on  d b

t h e y a c t u a l l y

feels.

The  Real  Race  to  W atch

gravity.  “Follow  the  rally  if  you  want,” Sangeeth says. “But more  importantly,  follow  us.  Two  old  guys  with  one  insane  dream.”

Follow  Their  Journey꞉  Instagram꞉  @ t h e s a n g e e t h s a m u e l |  @bops.sachin

Sponsorships,  partners,  and  dreamers  welcome.

This  isn't  the  end,  it's  just  Stage  One!  The  beginning  o f a n e w  story!

Meet  the  Co ‑ Driver ꞉  Sachin

ﬂawlessly.  We  could  have  gone  faster,  but  in  view  of  the  rising  temperature,  we  had  to  exercise  some  caution.  A  few  competitors  suffered  as  they  did  not  back  off  a n d h a v i

something  in  reserve  in  case  I  needed  to  push  hard.  Anyway,  it's  a  good  start  to  the  season.  Also,  my  co‑driver  Musa's  calls  w e r e s p o t o n , a n d i t g r e a t l y  helped,”  he  said.

G h o s h h a d t o o v e r c o m e a  misbehaving  VW  Polo  which  was  put  together  about  three  days

b e f o r e t h e e v e n t a f t e r h i s  Mahindra  XUV  300  packed  up  during  testing.  “We  had  issues  w i t h t h e c a r t h r o u g h o u t t h e  w e e k e n d T o d a y , w e l o s t t h e  clutch,  and  it  slowed  us  down.

B u t c o n s i d e r i n g e v e r y t h i n g ,  including  having  only  a  few  days  to  prepare  this  VW  Polo,  we  did  pretty  well.”

Wadia  could  hardly  believe  his  luck  in  ﬁnishing  third  in  APRC.  “ T h e t w o

Harkrishan W adia and Harish KN had the pace but ended up thir d

After  a  lapse  of  three  years,

B e n g a l u r u ' s r e i g n i n g  National  champion  Karna  Kadur  of  Arka  Motorsports  along  with  experienced  co‑driver  Musa  Sherif,  won  the  India  round  of  t h e F I A A s i a P a c i ﬁ c R a l l y  Championship  2025  which  was  h e l d c o n c u r r e n t l y w i t h t h e  Blueband  Fmsci  Indian  National

C h a m p i o n s h i p 2 0 2 5 a t t h e  Madras International Circuit and  nearby  stages  in  April.

It  was  a  near‑ﬂawless  drive  in  the  Volkswagen  Polo  by  the  36‑year‑ old  Kadur  who  was  greatly  aided  b y h i s e x p e r i e n c e d c o d r i v e r  Musa  Sherif  from  Kasargod  as  the  duo  combined  beautifully  to  also  clinch  the  crown  to  begin  the  season  on  a  positive  note.

T h e A r k a M o t o r s p o r t s d u o ,

K a d u r a n d S h e r i f , s t a r t e d  cautiously  in  the  ﬁrst  stage  of  the  day  which  was  won  by  Amittrajit

G h o s h a n d c o d r i v e r A s h w i n  Naik. However, despite enjoying

a  cushion  of  over  a  minute  lead,

K a d u r d i s p l a y e d c o n t r o l l e d  aggression  to  win  all  the  other  three  stages  on  the  ﬁnal  day  to  win  with  a  handsome  lead  of  1min,  50.8  seconds. Finishing  second  in  APRC  was

K a d u r ' s t e a m m a t e a n d  England‑based  former  National  champion  Amittrajit  Ghosh  (co‑ driver  Ashwin  Naik,  Mangaluru)  while  Delhi's  Harkrishan  Wadia  (co‑driver  Harish  KN,  Bengaluru)

c o m p l e t e d t h e A P R C p o d i u m  after  Philippos  Matthai  (Harish  K N ) , w h o w a s r u n n i n g t h i r d ,  r e t i r e d w i t h a m e c h a n i c a l  problem  about  ﬁve  Kms  from  the  ﬁnish  of  the  day's  last  Special  Stage.

W a d i a , w h o d r o v e b r i l l i a n t l y  today,  made  a  lot  of  ground  to  make  up  a  two‑minute  penalty  he  had  received  yesterday  for  an  early  check‑in  at  the  Start  Time  Control  to  win  the  Junior  APRC  ( 2 8 y e a r s a n d y o u n g e r ) c l a s s

ahead  of  overnight  leader  Arnav  Pratap  Singh  (Rohit  N)  and  Abhin  Rai  (MoideenJasheer  KM).

Kadur  attributed  his  success  to  a  j u d i c i a l b l e n d o f c a u t i o n a n d  aggression.  “After  a  long  time,  we  had  a  trouble‑free  run.  The

n u t e p e n a l t y I  c o p p e d y e s t e r d a y f o r e a r l y  check‑in  at  the  start,  hurt  me  a  l o t T h o u g h I w a s o n p a c e  t h r o u g h t h e t w o d a y s , t w o  minutes  kept  getting  added  to  my  time.  However,  I  guess,  I  got  lucky  in  the  end  with  Philippos  r e t i r i n g w h i l e I m a d e 5 0 p l u s  seconds  on  my  rivals  today.”

A breeding gr ound for brillance

I n  late  2015,  all  Rohaan  wanted  was  to  race.  What  he  got  instead  was  a  team,  a  family,  and  a  movement.

I t b e g a n s i m p l y . M a d e s h L a k s h m a n , a  p a p e r m a n u f a c t u r e r b y t r a d e , w i t h n o  motorsport  background,  besides  being  a  Formula  1  fan  for  over  25  years,  found  himself  watching  his  sons,  Rohaan  and

I s h a a n , f a l l i n l o v e w i t h t h e t h r i l l o f  karting.  They  joined  a  team,  but  within  a  month,  the  team  shut  down.  The  boys  had  their  karts,  the  mechanics  had  no  work,  and  something  had  to  be  done.

So  they  did  it,  and  it  was  called  Peregrine  Racing.

What  started  as  a  personal  effort  to  keep  two  kids  racing  grew  into  a  full‑ﬂedged  team.  For  the  ﬁrst  two  years,  it  was  just  Rohaan  and  Ishaan,  including  a  couple  of  others.  But  the  front  two  drivers  had  one  goal.  Slowly,  as  friends  on  the  track  noticed  the  set‑up,  more  children  came.  More  parents  followed.  And  something  rare  began  to  take  shape꞉  a  racing  team  built  not  for  business,  but  for  belief.This

w a s n ' t a b o u t t a l e n t s c o u t i n g o r c h a s i n g  podiums.  “Every  child  who  walks  in  deserves  a  chance,”  says  Madesh.  “It's  not  about  who's  the  fastest  today.  It's  about  who  wants  it  enough  to  stay  tomorrow.”And  many  did  stay.  From  budget‑conscious  parents  who  never  imagined  their  child  could  race,  to  international  talents  like  Gabriel  Baur  from  Brazil,  each  found  a  place,  not  just  on  the  track,  but  in  a  community.  A  space  where  parents  had  a  say,  where  training  wasn't  manipulated  to  impress,  and  where  kids  were  t a u g h t t h a t t h e r a c e i s j u s t o n e p a r t o f  growing  up.

The  team's  technical  backbone  came  from  sheer  resourcefulness.  With  support  from  seasoned  tuners  in  Malaysia  and  the  UK,  and  access  to  gently‑used  factory  equipment  at  a  fraction  of  the  cost,  the  team  managed  to  o f f e r w o r l d c l a s s s t a n d a r d s w i t h o u t t h e  inﬂated  price  tag.

They  trained  hard,  raced  fair,  and  let  the  results  speak.  And  they  did.

M u l t i p l e n a t i o n a l t i t l e s M u l t i p l e  r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s a t i n t e r n a t i o n a l c i r c u i t s Back‑to‑back  championship  wins.  Ishaan,  a

seven‑time  champ.  Rohaan,  four  titles  and  multiple  podiums  in  the  MRF  2000  series.  From  micro‑class  to  MRF  2000,  the  team  proved  that  India  could  not  just  keep  up,  but  lead.The  pandemic  tested  them,  but  didn't  break  them.  Training  continued  wherever  possible. The Dubai base opened soon after,  al l owi ng  I ndi an dri v ers to  t rai n  an d  rac e  affordably  on  international  circuits.  Europe  is  next.What  makes  this  story  special  isn't  just  t h e m e d a l s , i t ' s t h e m o m e n t s L i k e t h e  decision  to  move  Rohaan  a  year  early  to  avoid  sibling  rivalry.  Or  the  founder's  refusal  to  change  tyres  just  to  impress  a  parent.  Or  the  quiet  pride  when  a  child,  once  written  off,  out‑qualiﬁes  seasoned  European  racers  with  n o t h i n g b u t I n d i a n t r a i n i n g T h i s i s n ' t a  business.  It's  a  commitment.  A  team  that  s h a p e s y o u n g r a c e r s i n t o g r o u n d e d  individuals.  Where  every  decision,  from  race  s t r a t e g y t o s c h o o l i n g , i s d i s c u s s e d w i t h  parents.  Where  every  child  matters.Today,  there  are  16  championships  to  their  name.  But  what  they've  really  built  is  a  legacy  of  p u r p o s e . O f g r i t . O f d o i n g i t t h e r i g h t  way.Because  sometimes,  when  you're  just  trying  to  help  your  kids  chase  a  dream,  you  end  up  creating  something  much  bigger.

SUPPORT  STAFF

PONRAJ  THANGARAJ

Ponraj  Thangaraj  didn't  come  from  a  racing  pedigree.  He  started  as  a  car  mechanic  in  Delhi,  working  quietly  in  workshops,  until  m o t o r s p o r t f o u n d h i m S i n c e 2 0 0 6 , h e ' s  j o u r n e y e d t h r o u g h I n d i a ' s t o p t e a m s ,  learning  not  from  textbooks,  but  by  tearing  down  engines,  listening  to  their  pulse,  and  tuning  for  perfection.  He  joined  Peregrine  with  just  three  young  drivers,  Rohan  and  Ishaan  among  them.  No  one  taught  him  set‑ ups.  He  learned  by  observation,  trial,  and  relentless  patience.  He  tuned  by  ear,  adapted  t o e a c h c h i l d ' s s t y l e , a n d q u i e t l y b u i l t a  system  where  even  the  smallest  feedback  mattered.  Today,  he's  not  just  a  mechanic,  he's  the  technical  backbone  and  emotional  anchor  of  the  team.  Ponraj's  engines  have  p o w e r e d c h a m p i o n s i n I n d i a , D u b a i ,  Malaysia,  and  even  to  second  place  at  the  World  Finals.  But  he  still  believes  his  best  is  yet  to  come.

“The  Indian  ﬂag  has  to  be  ﬁrst,”  he  says.  “Not  second.”

He's  ﬁercely  loyal,  humble  to  a  fault,  and  deeply  grateful  to  those  who  believed  in  him.  Especially  Madesh  'sir',  the  team's  founder,  who  he  credits  with  his  journey  from  'zero'  to  where  he  is  now.  For  Ponraj,  this  isn't  a  job.  It's  family.  It's  heart.  And  every  kart  he  touches  carries  a  piece  of  that  spirit  across  the  ﬁnish  line.

AMEYA  WALAVALKAR

Ameya  Walavalkar's  journey  in  motorsport  spans  over  two  decades—first  as  a  fierce  competitor, now as a coach who brings both  grit  and  grace  to  the  track.  A  seven‑time  national  champion  and  the  first  (and  only)  Indian  team  captain  to  win  the  prestigious  24‑ hour  endurance  karting  race,  Ameya  knows  exactly  what  it  takes  to  succeed  at  the  highest  l e v e l A f

h e  stepped away from racing, until a call from a  close  friend  brought  him  back.  This  time,  not  to  compete,  but  to  mentor.  Joining  Peregrine  in  late  2023,  Ameya  found  a  shared  vision꞉  a

What  truly  sets  him  apart  is  his  instinctive,

session is tailored, every insight built around  how  each  driver  learns,  not  just  how  they  drive.  For  Ameya,  talent  is  only  the  beginning.  Beyond  that,  it's  determination,  mindset,  and  discipline  that  separate  good  drivers  from  great  racers.  He  doesn't  sell  Formula  1  pipe  d r e a m s i n

discover  the  broader  world  of  motorsport,  w

l y b e c o m e a  profession.  Having  lived  on  both  sides  of  the  grid,  as  a  champion  and  a  mentor,  Ameya  isn't  j u s t b u i l d i n

n g  racers  built  to  last.

PRARTHANA  MURUGAVEL

Prarthana  is  the  silent  strategist  of  the  team,  blending  sharp  data  analysis  with  an  intuitive  coaching  style  that  speaks  to  every  driver,  from  ﬁrst‑timers  to  future  champions.  Armed  with  the  Micron,  she  decodes  telemetry  like  a  second language, RPM, speed, g‑forces, GPS  lines,  transforming  raw  numbers  into  razor‑ sharp  feedback.  But  what  sets  her  apart  isn't  just  the  data,  it's  how  she  translates  it  for  a  7‑ year‑old  to  understand,  adapt,  and  thrive.  She  picked  up  data  analysis  while  she  was  racing  herself,  learnt  how  to  read  the  charts  and  a p p l i e d i t i n h e r o w n d r i v i n g P r a r t h a n a  represented  India  at  the  APMC  and  won  gold  for  the  country  in  karting  slalom  (2023),  and  has  been  awarded  for  accomplishments  in  the  JK  Tyre  and  MRF  Championships.

She  doesn't  just  coach.  She  teaches  drivers  to  think,  to  feel,  and  to  know  the  kart.  From  smoothing  out  steering  to  chasing  those  elusive  tenths,  she  ﬁnds  speed  not  just  in  the  machine,  but  in  the  mindset.  Ask  anyone  on  the  team,  Prarthana  isn't  just  a  data  analyst.  She's  the  difference  between  good  and  great.

SENIOR ISHAN  MADESH

Ishaan  Madesh  didn't  care  much  for  karting  when  he  began.  Show  jumping  horses  had  his  heart,  until  a  coach  nudged  his  father  to  try  putting  seven‑year‑old  Ishaan  on  track.  “I  really didn't want to race,” he admits. “In my  ﬁrst  year,  I  ﬁnished  last  in  every  single  race.”

But  losing  didn't  sit  well  with  him.  That  off‑ season  changed  everything.  Ishaan  returned  the  next  year,  won  his  ﬁrst  national  karting  c h a m p i o n s h i p , a n d m a d e h i s t o r y a s t h e  youngest  winner  in  his  category,  driving  a  car  no  one  expected  to  be  competitive. Now  16,  the  seven‑time  national  champion  and  two‑time  Meritus  champ  is  not  coasting  on  talent  alone.  “Unlike  my  brother  Rohaan,  who  relies  heavily  on  intuition  and  still  wins,  I  rely  on  strategy,”  he  says.  “Every  race,  I  plan  down  to  the  smallest  detail.”

He's  now  moving  into  single‑seaters,  with  his  eyes  on  F3  and  beyond.  “We're  now  focussed  on the MRF 2000 this season,” he adds, “but  the  goal  is  to  build  up  the  right  way.”

Between  downforce,  tyre  grip,  and  talk  of  rear‑wing  settings,  Ishaan's  ambitions  are  clear.  If  the  Maini  brothers  once  lit  up  Indian  motorsport,  the  Madesh  brothers  could  well  be  next  in  line.

ROHAAN  MADESH

Rohaan's  karting  journey  began  at  just  seven,  watching  F1  with  his  dad  and  tagging  along  to  the  racetrack.  What  started  as  a  weekend  hobby soon became serious when his family  started  a  professional  team,  and  pushed  him  to  pursue  racing  with  intent.  “I  used  to  put  in  a  lot  of  effort,”  he  says.  “Now  I  just  show  up  a  day  before  the  race,  and  usually  win.”  That  conﬁdence  isn't  misplaced.

Rohaan has clinched three junior titles and a  senior  championship,  crediting  his  instinctive  racecraft.  “Karting  comes  naturally  to  me,”  he  adds. “It irritates the others, but I don't need  as  much  prep  anymore.”

Despite  his  karting  success,  Rohaan  chose  not  to  chase  Formula  racing  too  seriously.  “F1's  a  long  shot.  You  need  sponsors,  luck,  and  relentless  work.  Moreover,  I  enjoy  karting  more  because  it's  closer  to  the  ground  and  there's  more  bumper‑to‑bumper  action.”

After  dabbling  in  Formula  4,  he  chose  to  focus  o n s c h o o l a t C a n a d i a n I n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d  plans  to  study  in  the  US,  while  still  karting  for  fun.

He  cites  Lewis  Hamilton  as  his  inspiration.  “His  older  racing  days  were  brilliant,”  Rohaan  says.  As  for  sibling  rivalry,  he  admits  there's  always  been  friendly  competition  with  his  y o u n g e r b r o t h e r , I s h a a n “ T h e u s u a l ' I ' m  better'  stuff,”  he  grins.

This  season,  unlike  the  last,  where  he  only  participated in a few rounds, he's all in. Now  to  see  what  he's  made  of.

often  t S e C F p s

in  the  background,  Vettel  sweeping  through

o r  movement,  for  timing,  for  the  craft  behind  the  blur.

He  began  homeschooling  with  the  idea  of  karting  in  mind,  but  the  pandemic  delayed  e v e r y t h i n g T h e s t a r t c a m e l a t e r t h a n  planned,  but  not  too  late.  At  14,  he  ﬁnally  arrived  at  the  track  with  Peregrine  Racing.  A  test  session  turned  into  a  habit.  A  habit  into  hunger. And soon, he was racing, part of the  paddock,  chasing  tenths,  chasing  something  larger.

His  first  full  season  in  juniors  ended  with  a  fourth‑place  finish  and  a  Best  Newcomer  award  —  a  promising  beginning.  But  it  was  2023  that  taught  him  most.  A  regimented  approach  to  fitness  after  a  debilitating  injury.  There  were  days  when  the  kart  didn't  feel  right,  or  the  timing  was  off,  or  the  result  didn't  reflect  the  effort.  But  each  misstep  gave  him  something꞉  awareness,  restraint,  perspective.  Growth  often  hides  inside  the  races  you  don't  win.

By  2024,  he  was  different,  more  measured,  more  complete,  more  podiums.  He  ﬁnished  second  in  the  senior  category  and  earned  the  chance  to  represent  India  at  the  Rotax  Grand  Finals.

Now  17,  he  doesn't  speak  of  Formula  1  as  the  end  goal.  What  drives  him  is  something  more  immediate,  more  grounded꞉  the  purity  of  k a r t i n g T h e w h e e l t o w h e e l g r i t T h e  mechanics,  the  telemetry,  the  quiet  pursuit  of  perfection.  “I  love  working  with  my  team,”  he  says.  “They're  all  fast,  they're  generous  with  their  feedback.  Peregrine's  where  I  started,  and  it  still  feels  like  home.”

Because  in  the  end,  speed  alone  isn't  enough.

R a c i n g i s a b o u t r h y t h m a n d f e e l , a b o u t  knowing  your  limits  and  learning  how  to  stretch  them.  It's  about  trust…  in  the  kart,  the  team,  and  yourself.

VIANNA  SHAH

For most teens, a birthday party means cake  and  games.  For  Vianna,  it  sparked  a  dream.  One  karting  party  lit  the  ﬁre,  and  she  took  it  from  there.  She  researched  tracks,  discovered

A j m e r a i n M u m b a i , a n d c o n v i n c e d h e r  parents  to  let  her  try.  Soon,  she  was  training,  racing,  and  chasing  lap  times.

Now  16,  she  lives  in  Mumbai  but  trains  in  Bengaluru  with  Peregrine.  Last  year,  in  her  debut  junior  season,  she  ﬁnished  12th  out  of  24꞉  the  only  girl  on  the  grid.  She  balances  school,  diet,  training,  and  racing  with  a  smile,  determined  to  become  a  Formula  racer.

She  credits  her  school,  St  Gregorios  High  School  (Chembur),  for  being  supportive  with  ﬂexible  test  schedules  and  leave  for  races.  At  home,  her  dad  is  part  strategist,  part  coach,  they  study  races  together  a n d l e a r n f r o m t h e  g r e a t s . “ L e w i s  ( H a m i l t o n ) i s m y  idol,”  she  says.  “And  ( M a x )

V e r s t a p p e n crazy  skills!”

T h i s y e a r ' s

g o a l ? B e g i n

t e s t i n g

F o r m u l a  c a r s ,  b u i l d

strength  ‑  especially  neck  strength  ‑  and  reﬁne  her  skills  further.  Vianna  thrives  in  a  team  environment,  learning  from  seniors,  coaches,  and  especially  mechanics.  “They're  the  backbone,”  says,  the  driver  who  is  now  testing  Formula  1600  cars.

N o o n e i n h e r f a m i l y r a c e d B u t s h e ' s  changing  that.  Lap  by  lap,  she's  writing  her  o w n s t o r y o n t h e t r a c k , w i t h p a s s i o n ,  precision,  and  purpose.

ROHIT  SRIRAM

Seventeen‑year‑old  Rohit  Sriram  is  proving  that  it's  never  too  late  to  chase  a  dream.  A

VARUN PRAVEEN

ROHAAN MADESH

VARUN PRAVEEN

VIANNA SHAH

newcomer to the world of motorsport, Rohit  began  karting  earlier  this  year  in  Coimbatore  after  a  casual  rental  session  with  friends  sparked  a  newfound  passion.  Within  months,  he  joined  Peregrine  Racing's  senior  category  and  is  now  just  two  seconds  off  the  pace  of  the  top  drivers.

O r i g i n a l l y i n t o b o d y b u i l d i n g a n d v i d e o  games,  Rohit  admits  the  late  start  was  tough.  “Eight‑year‑olds  were  faster  than  I.  They  were  teaching  me,”  he  says.  But  instead  of  backing  down,  Rohit  doubled  ,  ,  d  closer

A  graduate  of  KSIRS  International  School,  he  now  juggles  racing  with  college  and  weekly  travel  between  Coimbatore  and  Bengaluru.  Motorsport  runs  in  his  family  ‑  his  father  runs  a  chain  of  tuning  workshops  ‑  but  Rohit  wasn't  interested  in  cars  until  F1  and  Lewis  Hamilton  caught  his  eye  in  2018.  “I  don't  have  a  ﬁxed  plan.  Right  now,  I  just  want  to  get  good  at  karting.  Win  something.  Then  move  into  cars,”  he  shares.

Rohit  knows  it'll  take  time,  but  with  maturity,  commitment,  and  raw  drive,  he's  more  than  ready  to  close  the  gap.

GABRIEL  IRIGARAY  BAUR

At  just  15,  Gabriel  is  already  making  waves  in  the  world  of  motorsport.  Born  in  Brazil  and  r a i s e d i n J a i p u r s i n c e t h e a g e o f t h r e e ,  G a b r i e l ' s j o u r n e y w i t h P e r e g r i n e R a c i n g  began  only  ﬁve  months  ago,  but  his  real  journey  began  a  bit  earlier  after  a  talent  scouting  event  in  his  city  opened  the  door  to  a  world  he  instantly  connected  with.

“I  love  the  adrenaline,”  he  says.  “When  I'm  karting,  I  feel  in  control.  It's  something  I  can  push  myself  in  and  see  the  results.”

F t a Gabriel  M he  kart  and  he  o r e comp

eted  an  e r a c “ﬁrst  and  a  moment  w h e r e  everything  started  to  click.  With  no  racing  background  in  the  family,  Gabriel  is  blazing  his  own  trail.  His  father,  a  CEO  in  the  ATM  manufacturing  industry,  moved  the  family  to  Jaipur  in  2012  when  the  company  opened  its

o n l y o v e r s e a s f a c t o r y G a b r i e l d r e a m s o f  racing  Formula  or  road  cars  and  idolises  Ayrton  Senna  and  Lewis  Hamilton.  “Lewis  never  gives  up,”  he  says,  echoing  a  spirit  he  lives  by꞉  stay  calm,  stay  positive,  give  it  your  all.

ADHITHIYA  ARVIND

S e v e n t e e n y e a r o l d A d h i t h i y a ' s r a c i n g  journey  began  in  the  middle  of  a  global  lockdown.  Introduced  to  motorsport  through  h i s f a t h e r , a n a u t o m o b i l e e n t h u s i a s t ,  A d h i t h

academy  during  the  pandemic  and  never  looked  back.  After  a  year  of  training,  he  m d t P R q his  A circuit. I i r A secured

pole  position꞉  an  early  sign  of  his  potential.  He  followed  it  up  with  another  pole  in  his  second  season  and  ﬁnished  third  overall  in  the  prestigious  IMA  Asia  Cup.  “It  was  special,”  he  says.  “But  I  should've  started  earlier,  I  didn't  even  know  karting  existed  until  I  was  14.”

With  a  calm,  tactical  driving  style  and  deep  respect  for  his  team's  support,  especially  coach  Ponraj,  Adhithiya  believes  in  playing  the  long  game.  Smart,  steady,  and  driven,  h e ' s c h a r t i n g h i s o w n p a t h t h r o u g h  motorsport.

NIGEL ABRAHAM THOMAS

Originally  from  Chennai,  Adhithiya  moved  to  Bengaluru  to  pursue  racing  full‑time  during  lockdown.  He  now  splits  his  time  between  both  cities.  While  many  young  drivers  dream  of  Formula  1,  Adhithiya  has  his  eyes  set  on  GT  racing.  “F1  is  incredibly  competitive.  GT  is  a  great  championship,  and  I  feel  there's  more  room  for  growth,”  he  says.  and  e  the  this  d  journey  n

Dubai  Autodrome  with  a  one‑day  test  in  a  micro  kart.  From  the  moment  he  hit  the  t h r o t t l e ,

straight  into  racing.

Fueled  by  a  passion  for  competition  and  a  belief  that  “if  you're  competing,  compete  with  the  best,”  he  returned  to  India  to  race  in  the  National  Karting  Championship.  There,  he  grew  through  the  ranks  with  Peregrine  Racing,  starting  off  as  a  junior  and  later  graduating  as  a  senior  driver.  While  he  no  longer  races  with  the  team,  he  credits  them  with  shaping  his  journey.

ROHIT SRIRAM

GABRIEL IRIGARAY BAUR

ADHITHIYA ARVIND

NIGEL ABRAHAM THOMAS

Currently  competing  in  the  MRF  1600  single‑ seater  series,  he  lives  in  India  but  still  shuttles  between  countries.  “The  difﬁculty  is  not  in  my  mind,”  he  says.  “I'm  having  a  lot  of  fun.”

Balancing  college  life  with  the  track,  he's  p u r s u i n g m e c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g w h i l e  chasing  a  professional  career  in  motorsport.

I n s p i r e d b y V e r s t a p p e n ' s s p e e d a n d  evolution,  he  hopes  to  continue  progressing  in  single‑seaters,  and  if  all  goes  well  this  season,  earn  a  professional  seat.

TARUN  MUTHAIAH

At 13, a spark was lit. One glance at a shifter  kart  at  the  track,  part  of  the  Peregrine  Racing  setup,  and  there  was  no  turning  back.  From  that  ﬁrst  thrill,  racing  became  more  than  a  hobby;  it  became  life.  A  podium  in  his  early  p  d  and  ,  a  f  ,

strategic  style  and  Verstappen's  technical  brilliance  and  mental  resilience,  he's  carving  his  own  path,  driven  by  a  deep  love  for  the  sport.  “I  try  to  learn  from  the  best,”  he  says,  “and  I  never  get  tired  of  driving.”

KRISHNAV  MITTAL

For  as  long  as  Krishnav  can  remember,  cars  have  been  more  than  machines,  they've  been  an  obsession.  At  just  3  or  4,  he  could  identify  c a r s o n t h e r o a d w i t h e a s e T h a t e a r l y  curiosity  soon  evolved  into  a  passion  for  racing.

His  ﬁrst  big  step  came  with  Red  Rabbit  Racers,  where  he  ﬁnished  as  second  runner‑up  in  a

With  talent,  grit,  and  a  ﬁre  for  speed,  his  journey  is  only  just  beginning.

SHIVALI  SINHA

At  just  7  and  a  half,  Shivali  discovered  her  gift  for  racing  on  a  kart  track  in  Oman.  What  began  as  a  quiet  hobby  soon  became  a  calling.  Her  coach  noticed  it  instantly,  'she  has

potential'.  Fearless,  focused,  and  unshaken  by  pressure,  Shivali  quickly  grew  into  the  kind  of  driver who didn't back off, even when things  got  tough.

Her  father  quietly  supported  her  early  days,  k a r t i n g s u i t h i d d e n i n t h e c a r , s i l e n t  encouragement  until  it  was  clear꞉  this  wasn't  just  play.  It  was  passion.  Since  then,  Shivali  has  raced  across  Oman,  UAE,  and  Bahrain,  earning  praise  for  her  consistency  and  grit.  She  raced  through  the  pandemic,  taking  part  in  grand  ﬁnals  and  keeping  her  momentum  alive.

Now  19  and  based  in  Bengaluru,  this  young  racer  balances  the  demands  of  competitive  motorsport  with  online  schooling,  juggling  t r a v e l , t r a i n i n g , a n d t r a c k s w i t h o u t a  traditional  racing  pedigree  to  fall  back  on.  With  a  father  in  crypto  and  aviation  and  a  brother  who  DJs,  his  world  has  always  been  fast‑moving,  just  not  in  this  way.

His  transition  to  F2000,  bypassing  F1600,  was  bold,  but  the  results  have  justiﬁed  it,  with  a

s t r o n g ﬁ r s t p o d i u m a n d p a c e t o m a t c h Peregrine  Racing  has  been  a  critical  inﬂuence,  especially  teammates  like  Ishaan,  who  helped  shape  his  racecraft  and  mindset.

I n s p i r e d b y L e w i s H a m i l t o n ' s s m o o t h ,  speed,  and  relentless  passion.

t a l e n t s c o u t i n g e v e n t . T h a t p e r f o r m a n c e  didn't  go  unnoticed;  talent  scouts  invited  him  to test in Malaysia, and from the moment he  hit  the  track,  he  was  hooked.  “I  fell  in  love  with  the  sport,”  he  recalls.

T o d a y , a t 1 6 , h e ' s r a c i n g w i t h P e r e g r i n e  Racing,  a  team  he  calls  family.  “Ameya  and

P r a r t h a n a h a v e t a u g h t m e s o m u c h T h e  equipment,  the  support,  it's  next  level.”

S i n c e F e b r u a r y , h e ' s b e e n a l l i n , t r a i n i n g  harder  and  chasing  a  dream  that's  bigger  than  ever꞉  Formula  racing,  F2000,  maybe  even  beyond.

H i s i n s p i r a t i o n s ? A y r t o n S e n n a f o r h i s  relentless  pursuit  of  perfection,  and  Formula

O n e l e g e n d s w h o s h o w e d w h a t

d e t e r m i n a t i o n c a n d o “ S e n n a d i d n ' t j u s t  drive,  he  ruled  every  lap.  That  mindset  is  what  I  want.”

Now  15  and  part  of  Peregrine  Racing  in  India,  she  thrives  in  a  team  that  feels  like  family.  Backed  by  her  mother's  dedication  and  her

o w n u n r e l e n t i n g d r i v e , S h i v a l i i

n g  material  science  engineering,  proof  that  her  ambition  is  as  sharp  off  the  track  as  it  is  on  it. There's  no  “girl  racer”  tag  here꞉  just  a  racer.  One  who's  proven  time  and  again  that  talent  knows  no  gender.  The  goal  now꞉  ﬁnd  support,  keep  pushing,  and  take  the  next  leap.

ETHAN  JOY

Ethan's  story  began  long  before  he  ever  sat  in  a  kart.  As  a  child,  he  was  an  athlete,  always  the  quickest  on  the  ﬁeld,  and  obsessed  with

TARUN MUTHAIAH

KRISHNAV MITTAL

SHIVALI SINHA

anything  that  moved  fast.  Cars  weren't  just  a  hobby꞉  they  were  a  passion.  He  could  rattle  off  specs,  models,  and  makes  like  a  walking  automotive  encyclopedia.

H i s ﬁ r s t t a s t e o f k a r t i n g c a m e a s a  recreational  outing,  but  it  quickly  turned  serious.  After  a  brief  stint  as  a  Micro  driver,  life  took  him  away  from  the  track  until  three  y e a r s a g o , w h e n h e m a d e a d e t e r m i n e d  return.

Since  then,  he's  clocked  over  20  national  races,  with  consistent  top‑10  ﬁnishes  and  a  strong  reputation  for  adaptability  and  team

s p i r i t I n h i s s e c o n d y e a r , h e c l i n c h e d a  p o d i u m ﬁ n i s h i n t h e R o t a x I n d i a  Championship  and  was  vice‑champion  in  the  Meritus  Cup.

He  idolises  Fernando  Alonso,  not  just  for  his  racing  style,  but  for  the  grit  in  his  backstory.  “He  had  nothing  and  came  up,”  Yohaan  says.  “That  inspires  me.”

S u r e e n o u g h , a n  n  o  in  Round 1 of the

PEREGRINE RACING

Since  then,  Yug  has  been  training  and  racing  with  Peregrine  Racing,  a  team  his  mother  says  has  offered  not  just  technical  expertise,  but  also  the  motivation  and  structure  needed  to  grow.  “The  team  spirit,  you  can't  learn  that  riding  alone,”  she  says.  “It's  essential.”

Off  the  track,  Yug  is  a  live  wire.  Whether  it's  badminton,  athletics,  or  school  life  at  Cygnus  World  School,  he's  always  on  the  move,  joyful,  witty,  and  driven.  His  mother  manages  his  training,  travel,  and  trackside  support,  w h i l e

Together,  they've  built  a  foundation  of  belief.

Backed by a

N o w 1 9 a n d r a c i n g  with  Peregrine,  Ethan

h a s s h o w n s e r i o u s  promise  in  both  sprint

a n d e n d u r a n c e  f o r m a t s ,  p a r t i c u l a r l y i n  the  Dubai  24

H o u r s ,  w h e r e h i s  n i g h t s t i n t  turned  the  race  around  for  his  team.  With  a  natural  feel  for  racecraft  and  an  eye  on  GT  a n d L e M a n s , E t h a n ' s f u t u r e l i e s o n t h e  endurance  track.

H e ' s b a s e d i n B a n g a l o r e a n d c u r r e n t l y  exploring  sponsorships  to  fuel  the  next  stage  of  his  journey.

JUNIOR

THIMMAIAH  YOHAAN  MAPANGADA

Yohaan's  story  isn't  just  about  racing,  it's

a b o u t l e g a c y H i s f a t h e r , o n c e a s t a t e  champion  in  Formula  V  in  Australia,  raced  for  just  two  years.  But  a  spark  was  lit.  Years  later,  during  the  Covid‑19  lockdowns,  Johan,  then  just  10,  held  his  father  to  a  promise꞉  “You  said  you'd  make  me  a  race  driver.”

That  moment  set  everything  in  motion. Starting  at  Meco  Kartopia,  Yohaan  instantly  took  to  speed.  “He  just  wanted  to  drive  fast,”  his  father  recalls.  Since  then,  with  Peregrine  Racing,  Yohaan  has  completed  three  seasons,  tested  Formula  1300  and  1600  cars,  and  held  his  own  among  older,  seasoned  competitors.  Now  13,  he's  learning  that  speed  alone  isn't

e n o u g h , r a c e c r a f t , o v e r t a k i n g , a n d s m a r t  aggression  matter  just  as  much.

' ,  Yohaan's  growth

has  been  steady,  and  he  is  surrounded  by  c a m a r a d e r i e a n d m e n t o r s h i p . H e ' s s t i l l  chasing  his  ﬁrst  win,  but  he's  already  earned

s o m e t h i n g f a r r a r e r ꞉ c l a r i t y o f p u r p o s e ,  relentless  drive,  and  a  father  who  believes  in  dreams  just  as  much  as  data.

F1  may  be  a  long  shot.  But  Yohaan's  foot  is  already  on  the  gas.

YUG  JAIN

At  just  11,  Yug  is  already  carving  a  name  for  himself  on  India's  karting  grid  with  no  family  history  in  racing  to  lean  on.  What  began  as  a  fun  day  at  a  local  track  in  B d d i o a  a r l y  i r a  saw  i n  e  t i c  n g  y .  t h  r  o u r e n t ,  ' s  made  into  i v e

W i t h s i g h t s

F o r m

giving  him  an  edge.  He's  not  just  fast,  he's  focused.  And  behind  every  lap,  there's  a  family  cheering,  learning,  and  racing  right  alongside  him.

ZEPHAAN  ARDESHIR

Some  kids  play  with  toys.  Zephaan  only  ever  played  with  cars.  His  racing  journey  began  at  just  ﬁve,  when  his  father,  Cyrus,  took  him  to  Smash  Arena  for  a  casual  drive.  Too  young  and  too  short  by  regulations,  he  still  got  a  chance  and  made  it  count.  It  was  clear꞉  this  wasn't  just  a  game.  Zephaan  was  hooked.

After  a  pause  during  COVID,  he  resumed  at  Indy  Karting,  where  he  was  fast‑tracked  past  beginners  into  the  intermediate  course.  At  j u s t s e v e n , h e w a s b e a t i

,  j

r o k e  engines  within  months.

T h e n c a m e P e r e g r i n e R a c i n g , “ t h e b e s t  decision  we  ever  made,”  says  Cyrus.  Zephaan  thrived,  ﬁnishing  3rd  in  his  second  year  at  the  national  level.

Now  13,  he's  taking  a  brief  break  to  focus  on  studies  but  remains  fully  committed.  “I  want  a  month  to  get  ﬁt,  then  start  testing  again,”  he  says.  His  eyes  are  set  on  karting  returns  and  eventually  single‑seaters.

H i s p a s s i o phase.  It's  h i m F r o m

t o y s t o l i v i world  of  cars,  in  his  blood.

t e s t i n g o n h o r i z o n a n

t h e ﬁ r e s t i

s t r o n g

Z e p h a a n ' s  next  chapter  i s j u s beginning.

ETHAN JOY

THIMMAIAH YOHAAN MAPANGADA

MICAH  HAYDEN  ANDREWS

At  just  10‑years‑old,  Micah  Hayden  from  Ti runel vel i i s al ready  carvi ng  a  nam e  for  himself  in  the  world  of  motorsport.  Coming  from  a  family  of  doctors,  racing  might  seem  l i k e a n u n u s u a l p a t h , b u t i n M i c a h ' s  h o u s e h o l d , F o r m u l a 1 i s m o r e t h a n j u s t  weekend  viewing.

His  father  and  aunt  are  lifelong  F1  fans,  and  it  didn't  take  long  for  both  Micah  and  his  older  brother  to  catch  the  bug.  Eventually,  it  would  be  Liron,  his  elder  brother  (the  2024  Novice  cup  champion),  who  would  become  Micah's  real  motivation.

Micah's  journey  began  with  quiet  curiosity.  A  little  shy  at  ﬁrst,  he  was  always  fascinated  by  racing,  but  more  than  winning,  his  family  emphasised  learning,  humility,  and  character.

“It's  not  just  about  standing  on  the  podium,”  says  his  father.  “It's  about  how  you  bounce  back  and  grow  stronger.”

The  family  takes  a  gradual  approach  to  the  ﬁnancial  investment  that  racing  demands.  “It's  heavy  on  our  pockets,”  his  father  admits,  “ b u t t h e t e a m h a s b e e n i n c r e d i b l y  u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d s u p p o r t i v e , t h e y ' r e  parents  too.”  That  empathy,  coupled  with  a  nurturing  team  environment,  has  played  a  key role in keeping Micah motivated and on  track.

As  for  the  future?  “Single‑seaters,  for  now,”  says  his  father.  And  with  his  talent,  grounded  mindset,  and  strong  support  system,  Micah  is  already  racing  in  the  right  direction.

ZIDAAN  ARSHAAN

ANEES

At  just  8‑years‑old,  Zidaan  Arshaan  Anees  is  already  making  waves  in  Indian  karting.  He  ﬁrst  stepped  into  a  kart  at  age  four,  and  by  seven,  was  the  youngest  racer  on  the  national  g r i d R a c i n g r u n s d e e p i n h i s b l o o d , h i s  grandmother,  Noor  Jahan,  was  India's  ﬁrst  female  karting  winner.

H i s f a t h e r , A r s h a a n A n e e s , a l s o r a c e d  competitively,  and  his  uncles  Mezaan  Anees  and Ashad Pasha (a 9‑time Indian Autocross  Champion)  are  established  racers.  Zidaan  was  born  into  a  legacy  of  speed. What  began  as  casual  track  visits  soon  turned  serious  as  Zidaan  began  outperforming  older  c o m p e t i t o r s , s h o w i n g n a t u r a l t a l e n t a n d  fearless  racecraft.

Off  the  track,  Zidaan  is  just  as  dynamic,  a  s c h o o l a t h l e t

enthusiast,  swimmer,  and  budding  guitarist  as well. Training under Peregrine Racing has  given  him  vital  structure  and  mentorship.  He  also  credits  Mallya  Aditi  International  School  f o r s u p p o r t

e  keeping  him  on  track  academically. Zidaan  made  his  mark  in  the  2025  Meritus  Cup  with  a  podium  ﬁnish  in  Round  1  and  a  4th  place  overall  in  the  championship.  He  then  stormed  to  a  stunning  P2  ﬁnish  in  Round  1  of  the  2025  Rotax  Max  Challenge  India.  The  months  ahead  look  promising  for  this  young  one.

SHIV  TUMMALA

Despite  breaking  his  hand  in  his  ﬁrst  month  of  competitive  racing,  Zidaan  returned  within  weeks,  more  focused  and  determined.  His  fearless  comeback  made  it  clear꞉  he  was  built  to  compete.

W h a t s t a r t e d a s a l o c k d o w n d i s t r a c t i o n  quickly  turned  into  a  life‑changing  passion  for  a  young  boy  from  Hyderabad.  “We  got  him  a  PS5  and  a  racing  simulator  just  to  keep  him  busy,”  says  his  mother,  Srujana.  “He  started  moving  up  the  ranks  online,  and  fast.” Curious  to  see  how  he'd  fare  on  a  real  track,  his  parents  took  him  to  a  local  karting  circuit.  Despite  being  sensitive  to  loud  sounds  as  a  child,  he  took  to  the  kart  without  hesitation

MICRO

MICAH HAYDEN ANDREWS

ZIDAAN ARSHAAN ANEES

SHIV TUMMALA

and  loved  it.  Soon  after,  the  family  found  Peregrine  Racing,  a  Bengaluru‑based  team  founded  by  parents  for  their  own  kids. Within  three  months  of  joining,  he  became  the  top  rookie  in  his  category.  Now  nine,  he's  a l r e a d y a M e r i t u s C u p C h a m p i o n a n d a  national‑level  contender.

T h e f a m i l y t r a v e l s t o B e n g a l u r u e v e r y  alternate  weekend.  “He's  back  in  school  by  Monday  and  never  complains,”  says  Srujana.  “He  truly  enjoys  it.”

His  father  adds,  “Motorsport  is  a  team  sport.  Peregrine  gave  him  not  just  great  coaching,  but  mentorship  from  older  drivers  who've  walked  the  same  path.”

W h a t m a k e s t h e d i f f e r e n c e ? “ W e ' r e n o t  ﬁguring  it  out  alone,”  Srujana  says.  “We've  found a community that's helped shape him  as  both  a  racer  and  a  person.”

YESHWIN  KISHORE

Yeshwin's  racing  journey  didn't  begin  on  a  track,  it  began  on  a  bicycle.  At  just  two,  his  parents  noticed  his  uncanny  control  through  tight  corners  in  a  parking  lot.  That  spark  led  to  a  trial  at  age  ﬁve‑and‑three‑quarters  with  Peregrine  Racing  in  Bangalore,  and  the  rest  followed  quickly.  Within  months,  he  moved  f r o m f u n l a p s i n a f o u r s t r o k e k a r t t o  competing  internationally.

Now,  seven,  Yeshwin  has  already  claimed  p o d i u m ﬁ n i s h e s i n D u b a i a n d w o n t h e  championship  a  season  ago.  His  team,  made

u p o f l e g e n d s l i k e s e v e n t i m e n a t i o n a l

c h a m p i o n A m e y a W a l a w a l k a r a n d c h i e f  mechanic  Ponraj  Thangaraj,  guides  him  every  step  of  the  way,  even  in  Tamil,  ensuring  he  understands  every  brake  point  and  apex.

His father admits there's no racing history in  the  family.  “We're  learning  with  him,”  he  says.  The  costs  are  real,  but  so  is  the  resolve.  A  ﬁve‑

year  plan  is  in  place꞉  a  shot  at  the  World  Karting  Championship  and  beyond.

Off  the  track,  Yeshwin  is  playful,  curious,  and  constantly  absorbing.  On  it,  he's  focused,  fearless,  and  improving  every  lap.

With  a  strong  team,  a  supportive  family,  and  a  dream  ﬁrmly  in  sight,  Yeshwin's  story  is  just  beginning,  and  the  road  ahead  looks  fast.

JISHNU  SERALATHAN

J i s h n u ' s r a c i n g s t o r y b e g a n w h e r e m o s t  childhood  obsessions  start,  a  fascination  with  wheels.  By  age  seven,  he  was  not  only  playing  with  cars  but  diving  into  their  engineering,  curious  about  how  machines  moved.  His  father,  unfamiliar  with  motorsports  but  eager  to  nurture  his  son's  passion,  took  him  to  a  small  track  on  Mysore  Road.

Wi thi n  m onths ,  Ji s hnu  had  outpaced  the  limits  of  that  recreational  circuit.  A  mechanic  suggested  they  explore  professional  karting,

and  that's  how  they  found  Peregrine  Racing.

From  being  the  slowest  on  the  grid  in  his  d e b u t s e a s o n t o b e c o m i n g a m i d p a c k  contender  the  next  year,  Jishnu  now  enters  2025  as  one  of  the  micro  category  favourites.  His  greatest  strength?  A  natural  feel  for  new  tracks  and  racing  lines,  coupled  with  a  hunger  to  improve.  He's  emotional  by  nature,  quick  to  tears,  deeply  driven,  but  racing  is  teaching  him  resilience,  focus,  and  balance.

With  dreams  of  not  just  driving  Formula  cars  b u t o n e d a y b u i l d i n g t h e m , J i s h n u s e e s  motorsport  as  both  art  and  science.  Backed  by  a  supportive  team,  dedicated  coaches,  and  u n w a v e r i n g p a r e n t s , h i s j o u r n e y i s j u s t  getting  started.  The  road  ahead  may  be  long,  but  his  engine  (both  literal  and  metaphorical)  is  already  roaring.

YESHWIN KISHORE

JISHNU SERALATHAN

R ohaan, Eshanth, Riv aan De v Pr eetham e x cel

Be n g a l u r u ' s R o h a a n

M a d e s h ( P e r e g r i n e  Racing)  came  up  with  a  brilliant  drive  to  top  the  Senior  Max  category  in  the  ﬁrst  round  of

t h e M E C O F M S C I N a t i o n a l

K a r t i n g C h a m p i o n s h i p R o t a x  Max  Classes  with  SIDVIN  Energy  Engineering  as  the  Presenting  Sponsor  and  MRF  Tyres  as  the  partner  sponsor,  at  the  CoASTT  circuit at Coimbatore on July 14.  Shiv  Neel,  the  son  of  India's  ﬁrst

F o r m u l a 1 d r i v e r , N a r a i n

K a r t h i k e y a n n o t c h e d u p h i s  m a i d e n w i n i n t h e N a t i o n a l  championship  and  then  makes  it  a  double.

A l s o t o p p i n g t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e  classes  were  a  trio  of  MSPORT  team  drivers,  Chennai's  Eshanth  Vengatesan  in  the  Junior  Max,  Rivaan  Dev  Preetam,  also  from  Chennai,  in  the  Mini  Max  and

Shiv  Neel  from  Coimbatore  who  notched  a  double  by  winning  the  Pre‑Finals  and  Finals  races  in  the  Micro  Max.

Rohaan  Madesh's  skills  were  put  to  acid  test  in  the  Finals  as  he

s t o u t l y d e f e n d e d h i s P 1 s p o t  d e s p i t e c l o s e a t t e n t i o n f r o m  Mumbai's  Aahil  Mecklai  (Rayo  Racing)  who  had  to  settle  for

s e c o n d p l a c e a h e a d o f  Bengalurean  Rishon  Rajeev  (Birel  Art  India).  Having  also  won  the  Pre‑Finals  earlier,  Rohaan,  thus,

c o m p l e t e d a ﬁ n e d o u b l e I n c i d e n t a l l y , t h e S e n i o r M a x  attracted  Asia's  biggest  grid  of  34  drivers.

Meanwhile,  Eshanth  Vengatesan

b e n e ﬁ t t e d a f t e r f r o n t r u n n e r s

P u n e ' s A r a f a t h S h e i k h ( C r e s t  Motorsports)  and  Rayo  Racing's

Kiaan  Shah  from  Mumbai,  who  had  earlier  won  the  Pre‑Finals,

collided  midway  through  the  14‑ l a p J u n i o r M a x F i n a l s Vengatesan  capitalised  on  the  incident  to  move  from  P3  to  P1  and  went  on  to  clinch  victory  a h e a d o f S h e i k h w h i l e  Bengaluru's  Rishik  Rohit  Reddy  (MSPORT)  delivered  a  stunning  third  place  after  starting  the  race  t h f r o m 1 6

s u b s e q u e n t l y r e c e i v e d a ﬁ v e second  “bumper”  penalty  which  p u s h e d h i m t o f o u r t h w h i l e  e l e v a

PHOTO BY꞉ SHAHJAHAN

T h i m m a i a h Y o h a n ( P e r e g r i n e  Racing)  to  third.

R i v a a n D e v P r e e t a m m a d e

a m e n d s f o r h i s d i s a p p o i n t i n g

Pre‑Final  performance  to  snatch

a  ﬁne  win  in  the  Mini  Max  Finals  after  jumping  into  the  lead  in  the  very  ﬁrst  lap.  Rivaan,  who  had

ﬁ n i s h e d t h i r d i n t h e P r e F i n a l  race  earlier  today,  never  looked  back  for  a  comfortable  victory

w h i l e b e h i n d h i m F a r i d a b a d ' s  Yatharth  Gaur  (Leapfrog  Racing),

w i n n e r o f t h e P r e F i n a l s r a c e ,  ﬁ n i s h e d s e c o n d , a h e a d o f  Mumbai's  Hamza  Balasinorwala  (Crest  Motorsports).

Earlier,  in  the  Pre‑Finals,  Yatharth  Gaur  pulled  off  a  ﬁne  win  over  favourite  Rivaan  Dev  Preetham

who  coul dn't  defend  hi s pol e  position and yielded to pressure  after  leading  till  the  11th  lap,  to

e v e n t u a l l y ﬁ n i s h t h i r d . H a m z a  Balasinorwala  also  moved  past  Rivaan  to  ﬁnish  second.

Karthikeyan's  son  Shiv  Neel,  off  to  a  cracker  of  a  start,  comfort‑ ably  won  the  Micro  Max  Finals

f r o m t h e B e n g a l u r u d u o a n d

P e r e g r i n e R a c i n g t e a m m a t e s ,  Zidaan  Arshaan  Anees  and  Shiv  Thummala  who  survived  a  close

m i d g r i d b a t t l e S h i v N e e l  completed  a  double,  having  won  the  incident‑ﬁlled  Pre‑Finals  that  was  reduced  to  nine  laps  with  the  r a c e w i n n e r , S h i v T h u m m a l a  copping  a  12‑second  penalty  for  exceeding  track  limits.

18 y ear s of grit and glor y ꞉ The P alar Challenge pushes the limits standout  performance.

Dr  Mohammed  Fahed  and  Ashish  from  Jeepers  of

B a n g a l o r e d o m i n a t e d

t h e ﬁ e l d w i t h r a z o r s h a r p  technique  and  command  over  the  terrain  to  emerge  as  the  o v e r a l l w i n n e r s i n t h e 1 9 t h  edition  of  the  Palar  Challenge  at  Chennai  on  June  6.

In  a  celebration  of  two  decades

o f o f f r o a d e x c e l l e n c e , T e r r a  Tigers,  India's  pioneering  off‑ road  motorsports  club,  roared  into  its  20th  anniversary  with  the  19th  edition,  a  signature  event  that  continues  to  deﬁne  the  spirit  of  adventure  in  Indian  motorsport.

After  a  demanding  multi‑day  event  that  tested  machine  and  man  alike,  the  Most  Performing  4WD  award  went  to  Pradeep

K u m a r M a n d S i d d h a r t h a  Chennagiri  Santosh  of  Team  BODA,  Bangalore  who  earned  accolades  for  their  machine's

The  Individual  Category  prize  was  won  by  Chetan  Chengappa  and  Sabu  Xavier  from  V5  Off‑ R o a d e r s , C o o r g a s t h e y  demonstrated  their  ﬁnesse  and  w e r e d a r i n g i n s o l o d r i v i n g  conditions.  The  Thar  Category  Winners are the trio of Naveen  Bollineni,  Sarfaraz  Bhasha,  and  Sunil  Kumar,  who  conquered  the  custom‑built  Thar  course  with  authority  and  teamwork.

H e l d a m i d s t t h e u n f o r g i v i n g  terrain  of  the  Palar  riverbed,  the  event  brought  together  some  of  the  most  skilled  off‑roaders  from  across  the  country,  each  e a g e r t o c o n q u e r w h a t ' s  become  one  of  India's  most  revered  4x4  endurance  events.

The  ﬂag‑off  was  led  by  Vinod  Gandhi,  Managing  Director  of  Geekay World School and Vice  President  of  the  Tamil  Nadu  Cycling  Club.

wer deﬁne

VM team sho w in 2w R ally Nationals 2025

Mysuru's Nataraj

Wi t h f o u r o f t h e s i x r o u n d s  completed  in  the  2025  MRF  Mogrip  Indian  National

R a l l y C h a m p i o n s h i p f o r t w o

w h e e l e r s , V M M o t o r s p o r t s ,  also  known  as  VM  Sports  Foundation,  has  emerged

a s o n e o f t h e m o s t  impactful  and  consistent

t e a m s a c r o s s m u l t i p l e  categories.  Founded  with  a  mission  to  support  ﬁnancially  struggling  yet  talented  riders,

t h e t e a m t h a t i s b a c k e d b y

m o t o r s p o r t p a t r o n V a m c y

Merla  is  delivering  strong  performances  against  l o n g e s t a b l i s h e d

f a c t o r y t e a m s l i k e  TVS  Racing.

The  team  has  ﬁelded  13  riders,  including  Coimbatore's  Lakiya  Lee  in  the  Women's  Class,  and  has  paid  the  extra  team  entrant  fees to the FMSCI, enabling all results to  contribute to the Team Championship

t a l l y T h i s a l l o u t c o m m i t m e n t i s

c l e a r l y p a y i n g d i v i d e n d s , a s V M

r i d e r s d o m i n a t e b o t h c l a s s  r a n k i n g s a n d p o d i u m  appearances.

L e a d i n g t h e t e a m ' s

c h a m p i o n s h i p

a m bitions  is  veteran  R.  Nataraj,  a  multiple‑time  national  champion  from  Mysuru,  who  continues  to  l e a d f r o m t h e f r o n t i n t h e  premier  SuperBike  Expert  Class  ( G r o u p A ) W i t h t o p ﬁ n i s h e s ,  including  class  wins  and  consistent  p o d i u m s i n a l l f o u r r o u n d s ,

N a t a r a j r e m a i n s a s t r o n g  favourite  for  the  national  crown.  C l o s e o n h

S o m a s h

u ,  who  has  also  delivered  reliable  performances  in  the  same  class,  including  multiple  second‑place  ﬁnishes.  Their  one‑two  ﬁnishes  in  multiple  rallies  have  underlined  VM's  grip  on  the  top  category.

The  team's  dominance  extends  i n t o t h e h o t l y c o n t e s t e d  SuperSport  Upto  165cc  (Group  B)  class,  where  Nithyan  L  from  C o i m b a t o r e , B h a r a t h B f r o m  Bengaluru,  Abdul  Rehman  from  Shivamogga,  and  Varun  Kumar  from  Bengaluru  occupy  the  top  f o u r p o s i t i o n s

BHARATH L FROM BENGALURU

Round  4.  This  clean  sweep  of  the  t o p s p o t s h i g h l i g h t s V M ' s  strategic  rider  selection  and  race  preparation.

In  the  SuperSport  260  to  460cc  class  (Group  B),  Rajesh  Swamy  has  been  in  exceptional  form,  l e a d i n g t h e c l a s s a f t e r f o u r  rounds  with  teammate  Hemanth

M i n s e c o n d p l a c e T o g e t h e r ,  they've  ensured  VM's  consistent  double  podium  presence.

H e m a n t h h a s b e e n a r e l i a b l e  wingman,  maintaining  pressure

o n r i v a l s a n d s u p p o r t i n g t h e  team's  title  ﬁght.

Another  key  performer  is  Devaraj  Venkatesh,  who  leads  the  Super  Stock  260  to  460cc  (Group  D)

c a t e g o r y a f t e r f o u r r o u n d s .  Devaraj  has  shown  consistency  and  nerves  of  steel,  including  a  one‑second  win  that  exempliﬁes

t h e ﬁ n e m a r g i n s o f r a l l y i n g

N a v n e e t K , m e a n w h i l e , i s i n  second  place  in  the  Super  Stock  165‑260cc  (Group  D)  category,  further  boosting  VM's  presence  across  the  board.

The  team  has  also  made  strides  i n p r o m o t i n g i n c l u s i v i t y , w i t h

Lakiya  Lee  representing  VM  in

t h e W o m e n ' s C l a s s H e r  determination  and  participation  have  helped  VM  set  an  example  of  how  private  teams  can  also  shape  the  future  of  motorsport  beyond  just  results.

SATISH RIDER MANAGER

PINKESH THAKKAR

VM  Motorsports  is  not  just  about

w i n n i n g i t ' s a b o u t g i v i n g a  platform to those who often get

f a c t o r y b a c k e d o p e r a t i o n s

B a c k e d b y V a m c y M e r l a ,

P r o m o t e r , A s i a P a c i ﬁ c R a l l y

C h a m p i o n s h i p 2 0 2 5 , t h e

f o u n d a t i o n h a s c r e a t e d  opportunities  for  riders  whose

constraints.

scheduled  in  Coimbatore  and  a

right  support  system  can  take  privateer  teams  to  the  very  top  of  national  rallying. c

With  former  rider  Abijith  Shetty

n o w m a n a g i n g t h e t e a m , h i s  deep  understanding  of  the  sport  and compassionate approach to  mentoring  have  brought  a  new  level  of  cohesion  and  conﬁdence  to  the  riders.  If  their  current  form  h o l d s , 2 0 2 5 c o u l d v e r y w e l l  become  a  landmark  season  for  VM  Motorsports.

ABIJITH SHETTY TEAM MANAGER

NAVNEETH KUMAR FROM PONDICHERRY

GOUTHAM N FROM BENGALURU

ABDUL RAHEMAN FROM SHIVAMOGGA

Building on the success of the Windsor, India's  best‑selling EV since its launch, JSW MG Motor  India has introduced its upgraded version, the  Windsor EV PRO, loaded with additional  features.  Auto Track recently had the  opportunity to drive this new car at Gurgaon's  Tiger Trail location and was pleasantly surprised  by its performance in all areas.

TEXT꞉ S M BOOTHEM with inputs from ASHOK TIWARI

PICTURES꞉ MANJUNATH

WINNER WINDS OR

EV  TRENDS  IN  INDIA

Th e I n d i a n e l e c t r i c v e h i c l e ( E V )  m a r k e t i s g r a d u a l l y g a t h e r i n g  momentum,  driven  by  government  i n c e n t i v e s , h e i g h t e n e d e n v i r o n m e n t a l  consciousness,  and  rapid  advancements  in  technology.  According  to  CareEdge  A d v i s o r y , t h e e l e c t r i c c a r s a l e s  penetration  is  expected  to  rise  rapidly  and  cross  7%  by  FY28,  backed  by  new  model  launches  and  the  government's  p u s h f o r i m p r o v i n g t h e c h a r g i n g  infrastructure  in  the  country.  The  Indian  government  has  committed  to  achieving  30%  EV  penetration  by  FY30  and  is  taking  an  active  role  in  enabling  this  transition.  CareEdge  Advisory  report  notes  that  over  the  past  three  years,  the  number  of  Public  EV  Charging  Stations  (EVPCS)  in  India  has  grown  nearly  5x,  from  5,151  in  CY22  to  over  26,000  by  early  FY25,  translating  into  a  robust  CAGR  of  more  than  72%.

T h i s e x p a n s i o n i s t h e r e s u l t o f a

c o o r d i n a t e d p u s h b y t h e c e n t r a l

g o v e r n m e n t , p r o a c t i v e s t a t e l e v e l E V  policies,  and  a  rising  wave  of  private

s e c t o r p a r t i c i p a t i o n . F u r t h e r m o r e ,

O r i g i n a l E q u i p m e n t M a n u f a c t u r e r s

( O E M s ) a r e t a k i n g a c t i v e s t e p s t o  complement  public  infrastructure  with  p r i v a t e c h a r g i n g n e t w o r k s L e a d i n g  automakers  have  begun  offering  smart  home charger installations bundled with  EV  purchases,  in  addition  to  setting  up  f a s t c h a r g i n g c o r r i d o r s a c r o s s k e y  metropolitan  cities  and  highways.

LONG  DRIVE

JSW MG Motor India's new MG Windsor  EV  PRO  is  equipped  with  a  new  battery  pack,  offering  an  extended  range  of  449  km  for  those  who  want  to  go  for  a  longer  drive.  Built  on  MG's  Global  Smart  Electric  Platform,  renowned  for  its  reliability,  the  MG  Windsor  EV  PRO  gets  the  powerful  PMS  Motor,  which  is  IP67  certiﬁed.  The  Windsor  EV  PRO  comes  with  a  new  52.9  k W h b a t t e r y p a c k t h a t p r o m i s e s  impressive  performance  and  range,  while  delivering  136  PS  of  power  and  200  Nm  torque.

The  MG  Windsor  combines  the  expanse  of a sedan with the versatility of an SUV,  m a k i n g i t a p r e m i u m o f f e r i n g f o r  d i s c e rn i n g c o n s u m e rs wh o s e e k b o t h  value  and  class.  The  MG  Windsor  EV  PRO's  new  safety  features,  like  L2  ADAS

and  more  tech  features  like  Vehicle‑to‑ Load  and  Vehicle‑to‑Vehicle,  enabling  customers  to  utilise  the  vehicle  beyond  mobility  usage.

The  MG  Windsor  has  already  carved  a  name  for  itself  as  a  game‑changer  in  India's  four‑wheeler  EV  space.  With  a  c o m p e l l i n g m i x o

acceptance  in  Tier  II  and  Tier  III  cities,  effectively  democratizing  EV  ownership  in  India.  Now,  JSW  MG  Motor  India  is  doubling  down  on  this  momentum  with  the  launch  of  the  Windsor  EV  PRO,  a  m

designed  to  attract  both  early  adopters  and  mainstream  buyers.

The  MG  Windsor  EV  PRO  is  packed  with

(ESP),  Hill  Start  &  Descent  Assist,  All‑ w h e e l d i s c b r a k e s , T y r e P r e s s u r e  Monitoring  System,  Electronic  Parking  Brake with Auto Hold, and a 360‑degree  camera.

T h e W i n d s o r E V P R O a l s o b r o k e a l l  records  in  terms  of  bookings,  showing  t h e p o t e n t i a l o f t h e n e w E V a n d i t s  performance.

Like  its  predecessor,  the  Windsor  EV  PRO  will  continue  its  winning  streak.

Hy d e r a b a d a c e R a h i l

P i l l a r i s e t t y o f R A C R  Castrol  Power1  pulled  off  his  ﬁrst  win  in  four  years  as  he  p i p p e d f a v o u r i t e S a r t h a k  Chavan,  the  Pune  star,  to  claim  the  honours  in  the  premier  Pro‑ Stock  301‑400cc  Open  race  even  as  the  ﬁrst  round  of  the  MRF

M M S C f m s c i I n d i a n N a t i o n a l

M o t o r c y c l e R a c i n g  C h a m p i o n s h i p c a m e t o a n  abrupt  end  due  to  a  massive

t h u n d e r s t o r m a t t h e M a d r a s  I n t e r n a t i o n a l C i r c u i t , n e a r  Chennai

The  heavy  rains  accompanied  by  s t r o n g w i n d s e a r l y a f t e r n o o n  caused  considerable  damage  to  the  facility  while  it  also  forced  cancellation  of  day's  remaining  two  races  which  will  be  run  in  the  second  round  in  August.

T w o t e e n a g e s e n s a t i o n s ,

Sarthak  Chavan  from  Pune  and  Bengaluru's  Savion  Sabu  lit  up  t h e ﬁ r s

M M S C f m s c i I n d i a n N a t i o n a l

M o t o r c y

brilliant  wins  in  the  two  premier  Pro‑Stock  categories,  the  301‑ 4

a s I n t e

a t i o n a l C i r c u i t  here  on  Saturday.

E a r l i e r , A n n J e n n i f e r ( R A C R  Castrol  Power1)  from  Chennai  completed  a  double  in  the  Girls  ( S t o c k 1 6 5 c c ) c a t e g o r y w h i l e  young  Kedarnadh  (Motul  KTM  Gusto  Racing)  from  Tirupati  and  Chennai's  Kamal  Navas  (Rockers  Racing)  topped  the  two  Novice  r a c e s , S t o c k 1 6 5 c c a n d S t o c k  301‑400cc,  respectively.

Pro‑Stock  301‑400cc  Open꞉ S a r t h a k C h a v a n , t h e

T V S R

,  kept  his  nerve  to  win  a  close  Race  1 in a near‑photo ﬁnish. The 18‑

year‑old  Sarthak,  the  defending  champion,  got  past  pole‑sitter  from  Hyderabad  Rahil  Pillarisetty  with  a  brilliant  pass  at  Turn  11  on  t h e l a s t l a p a f t e r t r a i l i n g h i m

throughout  the  six‑lap  race,  the

m a r g i n o f v i c t o r y b e i n g t w o

h u n d r e d t h o f a s e c o n d A  creditable  third  was  Chennai's  Alwin  Sundar  who  thus  marked  his  debut  race  for  Petronas  TVS

R a c i n g t e a m w i t h a p o d i u m  ﬁnish.

T h e d a y ' s h i g h l i g h t w a s  Hyderabad's  Rahil's  brilliant  win  in  the  Race  2  as  he  overcame

a s t r o n g c h a l l e n g e f r o m  y e s t e r d a y ' s R a c e 1 w i n n e r  Sarthak  Chavan  (Petronas  TVS  Racing)  with  a  late  burst.  The  pair  was  trailing  Bengaluru  teenager  Chiranth  Vishwanath  (Petronas  TVS  Racing)  who  had  taken  the  lead  after  a  great  start  from  P4.  Also  in  the  mix  was  veteran  Rajini  Krishnan  (RACR  Castrol  Power1),  a  multiple  National  champion,  who  was  running  P2  most  of  the  r a c e u n t i l y i e l d i n g g r o u n d t o  Sarthak and Rahil. The duo then  moved  past  Chiranth  with  Rahil  s u c c e s s f u l l y d e f e n d i n g h i s P 1  spot.  Sarthak  ﬁnished  second,  ahead  of  his  teammate  Chiranth.

Stock  301‑400cc  (Novice)

V a r u n P a t i l f r o m M a d R a b b i t  Racing  converted  a  P3  start  into  a v i c t o r y i n t h e R a c e 1 t h a t  boasted  of  a  32‑rider  grid  after  some  of  the  front‑runners

V i s a k h a

Racing.  Starting  from  P2  on  the

s ,  biding  his  time.  Pole‑sitter  Lal  Nansunga,  who  led  initially,  lost  t

e  switched  off  and  by  the  time  he  could  restart,  he  dropped  down  the  grid  and  ﬁnished  in  P10.  Up  ahead,  Beedani  made  his  move  o

In  Race  2  Kedarnath  managed  to  climb  one  position  up  from  his  previous  race  and  top  the  class,  Beedani slipped down the order  to  ﬁnish  second  with  over  6sec  difference,  with  further  over  9sec  difference  Yashwant  completed  the  podium.

Sarthak Chavan (75) edging out Rahil Pillarisetty (88) to win the Pro‑Stock 301‑400cc race Rajender Beedani (No.6), winner of Stock 165cc (Novice) race

d r o p p e d o u t o f c o n t e n t i o n

A n o t h e r B e n g a l u r e a n ,

Jagadeesh  Nagaraj  from  Motul  Sparks  Racing  came  in  second,  ahead  of  Chennai's  Kamal  Nivas  from  Rockers  Racing  which  was  almost  a  photo  ﬁnish.

In  Race  2  Kamal  Navas  was  the  winner  with  less  than  a  second  margin  over  the  second  ﬁnisher

J a g a s e e s h N a g a r a j , w h i l e

K a n c h i p u r a m ' s R o m a r i o J o h n

f r o m R o c k e r s R a c i n g ﬁ n i s h e d  t h t h i r d w i t h 2 0 0 o f a s e c o n d  difference.

P r o S t o c k 1 6 5 2 0 0 c c O p e n ꞉

S a b u , t h e 1 7 y e a r o l d  Bengalurean  having  started  from  pole  position,  made  it  a  lights‑ to‑ﬂag  win  in  the  Race  1  which  underlined  his  maturity  and  a  rare  ability  to  absorb  pressure  as  he  held  off  experienced  Chennai  rivals,  Soorya  PM  from  Chandra

L G E R a c i n g a n d M o h a n B a b u

f r o m R o c k e r s R a c i n g c a m e i n  third.

Stock  165cc  (Novice)꞉  21‑year‑

o l d R a j e n d e r B e e d a n i f r o m

H y d e r a b a d r e p r e s e n t

Racing  played  a  waiting  game

t o w i n t h e R a c e 1 i n a c l o s e

ﬁ n i s h , a h e a d o f T i r

Racing  and  the  third  ﬁnisher

Ann Jennifer, winner of the Girls (Stock 165cc) race

four  seconds  difference  ﬁnished  in  third. H o n d a C B 3 0

with  a  total  time  of  12  minutes  50.322  seconds.  Chennai's  Ann  Jennifer,  impressed  by  holding  her  own  against  the  men  and  ﬁnishing  second  with  a  time  of  13

Lal Nunsanga en route to pole position in the Novice (Stock 165cc) class

P2  and  teenager  Rakshitha  Dave  from  RACR  Castrol  Power1  in  P3.

, a  strong  statement  of  her  skill  and  d e t e r m i n a t i o n B e n g a l u r u ' s  Alshin  Thomas  rounded  off  the  p o d i u m i n t h i r d , c l o c k i n g 1 3  minutes  10.090  seconds. R  Solomon  completed  a  double  by  winning  the  second  race.  He  was  in  a  league  of  his  own  as  he  ﬁnished  over  10  seconds  ahead  of  Chennai  riders,  Deepak  Kumar  a n d S w a r o o p K r i s h n a , i n t h e  eight‑lap  race.

P e t r o n a s T V S R a c i n g O n e ‑ Make  Championship꞉

Savion Sabu, action in the Pro‑Stock 165‑200cc class

Ann  Jennifer  said꞉  “I  have  made  a  g o o d s t a r t t o t h e s e a s o n b y  winning  both  races.  However,  I  feel  the  others  might  catch  up  as  the  season  progresses,  and  so,  I  must  continue  working  hard  like  I  did  during  the  off‑season  when  I  practiced  with  the  Pro‑Stock  boys  and  learnt  a  lot  from  them.  I  feel  good  considering  where  I  was  last  year  when  I  suffered  a  h e a d i n j u r y f r o m a c r a s h i n  Round‑3.  The  doctors  advised  me  to  quit  racing,  but  the  sport  is  in  my  blood,  and  I  just  couldn't  stop  myself  from  getting  on  a  race  bike.  Despite  the  two  wins  this  weekend,  I  feel  there  is  scope  for  improvement,  and  I  hope  I  can  be  a  bit  quicker  in  the  next  round.”

Idemitsu  Honda  India  Talent  Cup꞉

C h e n n a i r i d e r s d o m i n a t e d t h e

Expert  Apache  RR310  category  race  with  G  Balaji  winning  from  M o h a n B a b u a n d K a u s h i k  Subbiah  Ganesan  in  a  tight  ﬁnish.

L a t e r , A k a r s h J a n g a m f r o m  Vijayawada  held  off  Bengaluru's

P o o j i t a A n i l K u m a r , w h o

r e c o v e r e d s w i

d u r i n g p r a c t i c e , t o w i n t h e

Rookie  Apache  RTR  200  race  with  Hari  Haran  R  from  Coimbatore  ﬁnishing  third.

Later,  in  the  truncated  Race  2,  C o i m b a t o r e ' s H a r i H a r a n t o o k  the  honours  ahead  of  Poojitha  Anil Kumar from Bengaluru) and  Sri  Lankan  Hesali  Nehansa  Peiris  ﬁnished  third.

Rahil Pillarisetty action in the Pro‑Stock 301‑400cc class

Girls  (Stock  165cc)  Race  2  (5  laps)꞉

Ann  Jennifer,  seeking  her  third  National  title  after  last  winning  it  in  2020,  won  untroubled  in  Race

C h e n n a i r i d e r s c o m p l e t e d t h e  podium  with  reigning  National

c h a m p i o n J a g a t h i s h r e e

Kumaresan  from  One  Racing  in

1 a f t e r s t a r t i n g f r o m p o l e  position  which  she  had  secured  earlier  this  morning.  Two  other

Bengaluru's  Solomon  R  blitzed  the  Honda  CB  300F  ﬁeld  for  a  c o m m a n d i n g w i n a s h e  dominated  the  six‑lap  race  from  pole  position.  His  victory  margin  of  15.9  seconds  was  a  testament  to  his  superior  pace.  Following  him  across  the  ﬁnish  line  were  C h e n n a i ' s A n n J e n n i f e r , t h e  f o r m e r m u l t i p l e G i r l s N a t i o n a l  champion,  and  Alshin  Thomas  from  Bengaluru  with  less  than

L o c a l c h a l l e n g e r s w e r e a g a i n  to  the  fore  in  the  Girls  Apache  RTR  200  race  with  Elakiya  Ravi  s c o r i n g a n o t a b l e w i n o v e r  National  champion  Jagathishree  K u m a r e s a n w h i l e M u m b a i ' s  Sarah  Khan  ﬁnished  third. Pune's  Sarthak  Chavan  emerged  a c o n v i n c i n g w i n n e r i n t h e  Electric  RTE  race  while  Chiranth  V i s h w a n a t h f r o m B e n g a l u r u  ﬁnished  second  and  C  Senthil  K u m a r f r o m C o i m b a t o r e w a s  third.