Your basket is currently empty!
Category: Rally
-
Jason-Srinivasa Murthy, Chandan-Musa shine at RAAT Thailand Rally Championship Round 2
Lopburi (Thailand), 26 May 2025: Indian rally driver Jason Saldanha and co-driver PVS Murthy clinched the RC2.1 class victory while Chandan Manchegowda and experienced co-driver Musa Sherif took a podium in RC2.2 class, in the second round of the RAAT Thailand Rally Championship, held in the picturesque Khok Samrong district of Lopburi on Sunday.
This event marked Chandan’s international rally debut, a significant milestone in his burgeoning motorsport career.
Piloting a Suzuki Swift Sport for Team Insight & Ally, the duo showcased exceptional skill and coordination, clocking a total time of 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 58 seconds. Their performance not only secured them the top spot in their Super 2500/1500 Turbo RC2.1 class but also earned them an impressive second place overall, finishing only behind the RC1 class winners, Mana Pornsiricherd and Kittisak Klinchan of the Fast Forward Sport team, who drove a powerful factory-developed Toyota CHR.
In another notable performance, the Indian duo of Chandan Manchegowda of Bengaluru and veteran co-driver Musa Sherif from Kasargod, representing Gen-R Rally Sport, secured third place in the RC2.2 (Super 2000) class, completing the rally in 1 hour, 26 minutes, and 20 seconds, and finishing 14th overall.
This victory adds to Saldanha’s growing list of achievements in the international rally scene. Earlier this year, he, alongside co-driver Thimmu Uddapanda, won the first round of the RAAT Thailand Rally Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, marking their second consecutive victory in the series. The duo also made history in April 2023 by becoming the first Indians to win a title in their class in the Thailand Rally Nationals.
Back on home soil, Saldanha has demonstrated consistent performance in the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC). Notably, he secured a second-place overall finish and clinched first place in the INRC 2 class at the Blueband K1000 Rally in December 2024. His commendable performances at the Blueband Rally of Hyderabad and the Robusta Rally further underscore his prowess and dedication to the sport.
Musa Sherif, a stalwart in Indian rallying, boasts over three decades of experience, with more than 300 rallies under his belt, including 69 international events. A eight-time INRC champion, Sherif has been instrumental in mentoring emerging talents like Chandan, guiding them through the rigors of international competition.
With these commendable performances, Indian rally teams continue to make their mark on the international stage, showcasing skill, determination, and the spirit of competition. The next round of the RAAT Thailand Rally Championship is scheduled to take place in Sa Kaeo, Thesaban Mueang, from July 18 to 20.
Provisional Results (Round 2):
Overall 2WD winner: 1. Jason Deepak Saldanha – P.V. Srinivas Murthy;
RC2.1 (Super 2500/1500 Turbo): 1. Jason Deepak Saldanha – P.V. Srinivas Murthy (Team Insight & Ally – Suzuki Swift Sport) 1hr,07min, 58sec; 2. Natthapon Angrittanont – Ittipon Simaraks (Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand – Toyota Yaris Cross) 1:20.17;
RC2.2 (Super 2000): 1. Surarat Prapussorn – Thadakorn Prapussorn (Gen-R Rally Sport – Toyota Yaris) 1:13.34; 2. Visarut Lorkham – Yuttachai Poomploy (Suzuki Ciaz) 1:20.47; 3. Chandan Manchegowda – Musa Sherif (Gen-R Rally Sport – Toyota Yaris) 1:26.20; 14th place overall;
-
Taylor Gill tops Rally de Portugal; claims back-to-back FIA Junior WRC victories
Taylor Gill kept his cool on Sunday to claim back-to-back FIA Junior WRC victories and draw level with Mille Johansson in the championship standings, topping the leaderboard at Vodafone Rally de Portugal after a measured drive through the final leg.
Portugal, 18 May 2025: The Australian, co-driven by Daniel Brkíc, maintained a calm and consistent approach throughout Sunday’s six-stage final leg – showing the same composure that had defined his entire week. Starting the day with a 45.5sec advantage, Gill managed his lead perfectly to secure victory by 13.4sec over Johansson.
Taylor Gill: “What a tough weekend. So long and so demanding — physically and mentally. But yeah, I’m really proud of the job we did. We really came out of the box firing on Friday morning and controlled the rally from there. Big thanks to everyone who gave me this opportunity. Dan did a mega job this weekend, and there are so many people behind the scenes who contributed to this result. I’m just so happy right now.”
Gill took control of the rally from SS2 onwards, capitalising on an early error from Johansson, who rolled on Friday morning. That incident left the Swede on the back foot for the remainder of the event.
Despite the setback, Johansson mounted a ferocious comeback – clocking 13 fastest times across the rally. While it wasn’t enough to overhaul Gill, those stage wins proved vital. With bonus points awarded for each stage victory, the pair now sit level on 59 points apiece after round two of five.
Türkiye’s Kerem Kazaz delivered a breakthrough performance to claim third overall. Contesting just his second Junior WRC round, the 19-year-old impressed in his M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3, finishing almost half a minute clear of Thomas Martens.Martens, also in his rookie season, gained a position on the Wolf Power Stage by overtaking South African driver Max Smart. Just 4.3sec separated the duo at the finish.
Estonian driver Joosep Nõgene completed the rally in sixth, while Eamonn Kelly bounced back from a puncture on Friday to win a stage on Sunday and finish seventh. Diego Domínguez damaged his suspension on Friday but battled through to the end in eighth.
Despite early troubles, Ali Türkkan, Tristan Charpentier and Claire Schönborn all made it to the finish – locking out positions ninth to 11th.
The FIA Junior WRC season continues next at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece, which takes place from 26 – 29 June.
Provisional Rally Classification:
1. Taylor Gill (AUS) – 4:15:07.3;
2. Mille Johansson (SWE) – +45.5;
3. Kerem Kazaz (TUR) – +4:11.7;
4. Thomas Martens (BEL) – +4:40.9;
5. Max Smart (ZAF) – +4:45.2;
6. Joosep Nõgene (EST) – +5:53.6;
7. Eamonn Kelly (IRL) – +10:46.3;
8. Diego Domínguez (PRY) – +20:10.3;
9. Ali Türkkan (TUR) – +34:12.5;
10. Tristan Charpentier (FRA) – +1:24:15.3;
11. Claire Schönborn (DEU) – +1:50:15.5.
Stage Winners:SS1 SSS Figueira da Foz – Mille Johansson
SS2 Mortágua 1 – Taylor Gill
SS3 Lousã 1 – Mille Johansson
SS4 Góis 1 – Taylor Gill
SS5 Arganil 1 – Taylor Gill
SS6 Lousã 2 – Diego Dominguez
SS7 Góis 2 – Mille Johansson
SS8 Arganil 2 – Taylor Gill
SS9 Mortágua 2 – Interrupted
SS10 Águeda / Sever – Mille Johansson
SS11 Sever / Albergaria – Mille Johansson
SS12 Vieira do Minho 1 – Taylor Gill
SS13 Cabeceiras de Basto 1 – Taylor Gill
SS14 Amarante 1 – Mille Johansson
SS15 Vieira do Minho 2 – Mille Johansson
SS16 Cabeceiras de Basto 2 – Mille Johansson
SS17 Amarante 2 – Mille Johansson
SS18 SSS Lousada – Mille Johansson
SS19 Paredes 1 – Mille Johansson
SS20 Felgueiras 1 – Eamonn Kelly
SS21 Fafe 1 – Mille Johansson
SS22 Paredes 2 – Taylor Gill
SS23 Felgueiras 2 – Tristan Charpentier
SS24 Fafe 2 – Mille Johansson -
Karna-Musa finish 2nd in Thailand Rally Championship; Anushriya wins Ladies title
Bangkok, 9 February 2025: Reigning Indian National Rally champions, Karna Kadur and Musa Sherif added one more feather in their decorated cap, finished second in the Thailand Rally Championship which concluded its final round here on Sunday.
The top Indian duo was invited to drive for the Toyota TCD Asia team formerly known as TRD in their second car – as Driver / Co-driver pair in a Toyota CHR 4WD.
Thailand Rally championship attracts a little over 58 entries and is a 4-round championship bringing drivers from neighbouring countries like Indonesia , Malaysia , Singapore, Vietnam, China , Japan , India and Thai drivers.
Competing against fellow teammate in a Toyota CHR there were other teams and privateers alike running 4wd cars like the Mitsubishi EVO 9 , EVO 7, Subaru Impressa among other custom Honda Civic and Suzuki Swift Sport built from Europe vying for top honours.
Karna and Musa had consistent podium finishes and won the runners up title despite missing a round of the Thai Championship as it coincided with their Indian Rally Championship Round 3. In their first international outing together as a pair, they have managed to win the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC 2024) as well as finish a second in the Thailand Rally Championship.
Anushriya Gulati wins Ladies title at Thiland
Anushriya Gulati, along with co-driver Karan Aukta won the Ladies class and was presented the title by the King of Thailand. She won all the four rounds of the RAAT Rally of Thailand to bag the Ladies title comfortably.
-
MRF Tyres secures fourth consecutive Italian Gravel Championship
Cingoli, 19 November 2024: MRF Tyres team of Alberto Battistolli and Simone Scattolin clinched their first Italian crown capping off the weekend in style coming out triumphant in the Marche-based rally, 17th Rally delle Marche, the final event of the 2024 season.
The Italian crew of Alberto Battistolli and Simone Scattolin won the 17th Rally delle Marche, claiming their first Italian Gravel Rally Championship of their career.
A fantastic season also saw Marchioro-Marchetti secure the 2WD title and Grossi-Cardinali triumph in the Pucci Grossi Trophy – ACI Sport Under 25 Cup.
The Indian team celebrated its fourth Italian Gravel Championship title in a row. Following three consecutive wins with Paolo Andreucci in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
An exceptional driving display, well supported by the team and the performance of MRF Tyres helped Battistolli and Scattolin lead from the opening stage to the finish, achieving their second victory of the season. This triumph sealed the championship with a final score of 71.5 points.
Driving the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, the crew showcased determination, performance, and resilience. Their late-season surge, including victories at Rally Vermentino and Rally delle Marche, overturned the standings and delivered their first national title. Despite intense competition, Battistolli managed to maintain focus during the final stages, balancing the need to push hard while avoiding mistakes.
MRF Tyres’s other official crew, Emanuele Dati and Daiana Darderi, also delivered a strong performance. Competing in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 for the first time, Dati adapted quickly and secured an impressive seventh place in the overall standings.
MRF Tyres’s season-long dominance extended beyond the top class. At Rally Vermentino, Nicolò Marchioro and Marco Marchetti, driving a Peugeot 208 Rally4, secured the Italian 2WD Championship with a round to spare as part of the MRF Rally Trophy Italia program. The success continued at the 17th Rally delle Marche, where Angelo Pucci Grossi and Francesco Cardinali claimed a remarkable victory in the Pucci Grossi Trophy – ACI Sport Under 25 Cup. Grossi, competing in his debut season with MRF Tyres, achieved this milestone in honour of his father, culminating an emotional season with a win in the Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo.
Alberto Battistolli:
“This season has been a rollercoaster, but ending it like this is incredible. I want to share this success with Simone, the team, MRF Tyres, and everyone who supported us. Here at Rally delle Marche we gave everything, stayed focused, and pushed hard. The final stages were the toughest of my career, knowing we had to keep the pace and avoid mistakes to secure the title. It’s an amazing feeling and a fantastic way to close the year.”
Classification Campionato Italiano Rally Terra 2024 – Final Standings
1. Alberto Battistolli pt. 71.5,
2. Tommaso Ciuffi pt. 51;
3. Umberto Scandola pt. 50;
4. Enrico Oldrati pt. 46;
5. Jaakko Lavio pt. 38
-
Sidvin-supported Pragathi Gowda takes stunning victory in Rally4 class: French Rally Nationals
Sancey (France), 7 October 2024: Indian rallyist Pragathi Gowda continued her meteoric rise in the international rallying scene with a first-place finish in her class at the Rallye Montbéliard on Sunday. She progressed to a Rally 4 car in this rally after the team witnessed strong performances from her in the lesser-powered Rally 5 car. Pragathi clocked 24:36.5 to claim the top spot in Rally 4 class and finished 21st amongst 115 participants.
The Rallye Montbéliard comprised two stages – Stage 1 being 10 km long, Stage 2 being 3.3km long and Pragtahi had to navigate both stages three times each. The 26-year-old opened the first stage with a stunning time of 6 min 5 seconds and an average speed of 99.17 Kmph; surprising everyone on the grid.
“To prepare for the rally we worked extensively on the pace notes and referred to the onboard videos to make corrections and make sure the notes were bulletproof to ensure a good finish. I was confident after the first day of testing with my coach Alexandre Bengue, a former WRC driver with loads of experience,” Pragathi shed light on her preparations.
The Rallye Montbéliard, a chilly asphalt rally with temperatures ranging between 7-14 degrees, had technical stages in the mountain roads, something Pragathi had to face for the first time in her first tarmac rally, on the new Peugeot 208 – Rally 4 car.
“It was my first time driving a full-blown Rally 4 Peugeot factory-prepared car. The terrain was challenging for me as it was a bit damp. We welcomed the day with the sun but it got very cloudy later on, making the track in the mountains a bit moist. The grip kept changing as the cars passed by, creating black rubber residue on the heavy breaking sections, but the pace notes came in handy,” she shared.
This rally was part of the practice rallies for Pragathi to prepare for the World Motorsport Games to be held between the 23rd and 28th of October where she will be representing India in the Rally Category. Pragathi will participate in two more long rallies before the games; one more in France and the second would be a round of the Spanish gravel championship.
“The Rallye Montbéliard turned out to be an exceptional experience but the World Motorsport Games are almost upon us. I will aim to do even better in the remaining two rallies and get as many miles in as possible to be fully prepared for the World Motorsport Games,” she added.
Team Principal and MD of Sidvin, Mohan Nagarajan also weighed in saying, “Pragathi has been progressing well in her last few rallies. Her superb adaptability is one of the biggest factors that allows her to take on new challenges and still perform to her best. Hence, we thought the Rallye Montbéliard would be the perfect juncture to promote her to the Rally 4 class and she proved that it was the right decision. We now expect her to progress even further ahead of the World Motorsport Games.”
-
Stunning stage win for Harith Noah at TransAnatolia Rally
Mersin (Turkey), 3 Sept. 2024: Ace Dakar rider, Harith Noah of Sherco TVS Factory Team, dished out high-class performance to become the first rider representing India to win a stage overall on Monday in the gruelling 2500-km TransAnatolia Rally that is being run across Turkey from Mersin to Van.
The Kerala rider, who won the B1 Class at the TransAnatolia Rally last September, before going on to win the Dakar 2024 in Rally 2, began the 2024 edition of this rally on a sombre note, but bounced back to win Stage 2 after a challenging 177.36 km on Monday. He topped the field of 65 riders taking part in the 14th edition being held from August 31 to September 7.
“The bike is perfect as we have done a lot of improvements and we also have a new suspension. It is really good and I am starting to feel better every day,” Harith Noah told INDIAinF1 from Turkey.
Noah, started well in Stage 1 and was running second overall before he crashed and the bike went off a cliff and he lost three precious hours as his bike could not be retrieved. He managed to finish the stage. However, his resilience stood out as he navigated the tricky terrain with aplomb, astride his Sherco 450 RTR, showcasing his high driving skills and led a star field to come out triumphant on Stage 2 ahead of his teammate Lorenzo Santolino. He clocked 3 hours, 02minutes and 19 seconds to complete the tough 177.36-km stage.
TransAnatolia has become one of the leading rally raid events and the Stages here offer high standards that help riders get into the rhythm for bigger events like Dakar as a preparation. A satellite tracking system is in service, for monitoring the racing process and for safety.
-
Pragathi excels in Rally5 class at French Nationals
France, 2nd September 2024: Pragathi Gowda continued her hot form in her maiden international gravel rally experience on Sunday. The Rallye Terre de Lozere, a round of the French national championship, which hosted 126 participants from across the world saw Pragathi finish 15th in Rally 5 class and 53rd overall with a timing of 1:42:03.7.
Pragathi reflected on the fantastic drive saying, “This is a rally where the world champions like Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier have learnt and come up in. To make my gravel rally debut here is a special feeling on its own but to be the only Indian to have achieved this feat in a European/ French national championship round is the icing on the cake. I cannot thank Sidvin Engineering enough for this tremendous opportunity.”In a rally with challenging terrain in the volcanic mountains, which was a first for Pragathi, with ruts as deep as 3-4 feet dug up by the 4 wheel drive cars and all top French drivers participating in cars including the WRC -1, 2 and 3 spec and Rally -4 cars, Rally-5 cars and historic cars, Pragathi faced a steep learning curve ahead of her.
She was slower off the blocks, coming in 31st in her class in the first special stage. But she wasted no time in adapting to this unique rally which features a reconnaissance in the rally car in the morning, followed by the rally stage after 1 hour, instead of the regular reconnaissance which is done the previous day, in a normal car and has 2 passes on the road; a tight program the French drivers have been used to for the past 10-15 years.
Pragathi was helped by Arnaud Dunand, a championship winning WRC co-driver in improving her pace notes and her trainer, Alex Bengue who is a former French National champion and has driven alongside the likes of Sebastien Loeb. With a total of 6 stages on Saturday and 4 stages on Sunday, she took huge steps after the first special stage, improving her pace by almost 2.5 seconds per KM during the 2 days, a fact highlighted by all top drivers.
“The stages were very rough and I haven’t ever seen such rough stages in my career. The ruts created due to the very powerful WRC and WRC2 cars , was something I had never seen . I made a goal yo kept it clean and had only one puncture in stage 2 of the rally. After crossing that hurdle, I knew how to drive clean and not damage the car, a top 15 finish was very satisfying and kudos to PH sport that gave me a very reliable car ” Pragathi explained the challenges she braved.
She registered the 13th fastest time in the last stage and finished 15th in class with 27 cars following her past the finish line. Pragathi also achieved average speeds of 82 km per hour – a very high figure for a gravel rally.Pragathi is supported by Sidvin Engineering, who were the first to take an Indian to the WRC in the year 2009.
-
Sachin double at MMSC Sprint rally; Rehana bags Ladies class
Chennai, June 25, 2023: Bengaluru’s Sachin D capped himself with glory by winning titles in two categories as riders from Karnataka dominated with a haul of six in the MMSC Two-Wheeler Sprint Rally Series 2003 Powered by Vamcy Merla which concluded at the Madras International Circuit here today.
Sachin took the honours in Group B (Up to 260cc) winning all four rounds that were held over two consecutive weekends and the Open (Up to 750cc) with two wins and as many podiums.
The organisers, Madras Motor Sports Club, ran the event on a dirt track specially prepared for the event and measuring about six Kms. While Round 1 was held on June 17, the remaining three rounds were run on June 24-25.
Former National racing champion Rehana Reya from Chennai, astride an Xpulse for the first time, remained unbeaten over four rounds to claim the title in the Women’s class.
“The terrain was fast in the last round after a slushy third round and I enjoyed the dry run. It was fun to race on such a speedy terrain. MMRT looked very different for me this time as I am riding for the first time on the unique rally track and not on the Tarmac. The organisers never disappoint the riders as they provided a challenging terrain with a portion of Tarmac where I was able to gain much traction. The experience helped me to clock a better timing of 4min 57sec. I am also happy to be in the top-10 with the boys in the Overall classification,” said Rehana Reya. She also thanked Vamcy Merla and MMSC for providing a good platform for the riders to experience more seat time in the Sprint rally format.
I put my hands on newly set up machine for this race, I never rode a Xpulse before this was a good opportunity to give it a try riding my race spec bike on this track , I felt I’m learning to improve and getting better on the bike , all thanks to my tuner VINODH and team 56 racing for good work ..
mostly I want to thank vamcy Merla sir for giving us such a great platform for all the good riders in our motorsport community with all the trust and confidence .Iam very happy I’m able to represent VM foundation.
Looking forward for my next race to perform better ..The competition in the Teenagers Class produced a nail-biting finish with Chennai’s Rakshit S Dave topping the category despite finishing fourth in the final round which his closest rival, Shreyas Hareesh (Bengaluru) won. Rakshit finished with 70 points to Shreyas’ 68.
Chikmagaluru’s Asad Khan (Group D, up to 260cc) and Abrar Pasha from Shivamogga (Group B, up to 165cc) also won all four rounds in their respective categories to emerge champions.
Suhail Ahmed from Bengaluru topped the Group A (up to 750cc) category winning two rounds over the weekend while Uttarkhand’s Akhand Pratap Singh pouched the title in the Group B up to 400cc class with an all-win record.
Notching three wins in four rounds, Bengaluru’s Naresh VS bagged the series title in the Royal Enfield category.
MMSC Vice-President Vicky Chandhok said: “MMSC is grateful to Vamcy Marla for sponsoring the event that was held over two weekends. We also thank all the competitors for their involvement.”
The Series champions:
Open (Up to 750cc): Sachin D (Bengaluru)
Group A (up to 500cc): Suhail Ahmed (Bengaluru, Alisha Racing).
Group B (up to 165cc): Abrar Pasha (Shivamogga).
Group B (260cc):D Sachin (Bengaluru).
Group B (400cc): Akhand Pratap Singh (Uttarkhand).
Group D (260cc): Asad Khan (Chikmgaluru).
Royal Enfield: Naresh VS (Bengaluru).
Teenagers: Rakshit S Dave (Chennai).
Women: Rehana Reya (Chennai).
-
Pragathi Gowda returns from World finals stronger: FIA Rally Star Cup
Pragiarolo (Italy), 5 May 2023: Pragathi Gowda, the Indian rally talent, achieved amazing results in a new vehicle, the Rally Cross Car, which is not available for practice in India. Nevertheless, the Bengaluru lass surprised the motorsports aficionados in India last year by winning the Continental competition for women and booked a seat in the World Finals.
Pragathi Gowda went down fighting on a TN5 Cross Car, after giving a tough fight to the other three woman finalists, at the finals at the Maggiora Offroad Arena here on Thursday (May 4). Pragathi was not used to these cars and entered one for the first time in the trials at Chennai. However, she went early to Italy to train and acclimatise for few days. The finals which were supposed to be held in Peru were postponed twice.
The Rally Star Cup (RSC), (not to be confused with the Rally Star Cup, a class which used to be held in the Indian National Rally Championship) is new initiative launched by FIA, the Federation that governs Motorsports around the globe, for rally drivers aged between 17 and 26 years to provide them a road to World Rally Championship. Aspiring talented drivers for different continents come through a ladder and are given a chance to fast-track their entry into the Junior WRC as FIA provides free training before selecting the final winners.
India’s Pragathi Gowda who was took a stunning victory in the Asia Pacific continental selection trials at Chennai’s Madras International Circuit defeating Australian driver, played her heart out and displayed a strong run to reach the finals. After giving a tough fight to the three other finalists Gowda bowed out with dignity and came back stronger. “It was a great learning experience. Winning or losing is secondary. The Rally Star Cup provided me a chance to give my best. The best thing is coming up with such a great programme and to build young talent. That’s something good for the future. And I really enjoyed it.”
It was Peruvian driver Annia Cilloniz, 24, who finally won a place for the training. The other finalists along with Paragathi Gowda are Maja Hallén Fellenius (Sweden) and, Kristie Ellis (South Africa)., to compete for the inagural title and a place in the FIA Rally Star Training Season starting later this month.
On a TN5 Cross Car, built and prepared by Hyundai WRC driver Thierry Neuville’s LifeLive organisation, the drivers took on a 4.7-kilometre mixed-surface stage, which consisted of five laps and run three times.
The stage performances, along with the results of physical and reflex tests, were carefully evaluated by the Jury, led by FIA Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid. Following a Jury interview, Annia Cilloniz, 24, was announced as the winner of the FIA Rally Star Women’s Final. Pragathi Gowda, is said to be the reserve driver, in case the Peruvian is unable to attend.
As well as winning the coveted accolade, Cilloniz secures a place in the FIA Rally Star Training Season, which consists of an intensive Training Camp in Sardinia from May 21 to June 1, followed by six rallies in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 run by M-Sport Poland on Pirelli tyres.
The competition schedule begins with the gravel-based Rally San Marino from June 16 to 17 and if Cilloniz completes the FIA Rally Star Training Season as one of the four best performing drivers, then she will win a dream drive in the 2024 FIA Junior WRC Championship, a further life-changing opportunity.
Other male continental winners Jose “Abito” Caparo (Peru), Max Smart (South Africa), Taylor Gill (Australia), Romet Jurgenson (Estonia) and Abdullah Al Tawqi (Oman) already made it to the FIA Rally Star Training. The first training session begins in Sardinia from May 24.
All the six finalists will then each contest six rallies in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 run by M-Sport Poland with the best four performers earning a fully-funded drive in the 2024 FIA Junior WRC. The competition schedule begins with the gravel-based Rally San Marino on June 16 and 17. Later in 2025, the top three then will get a chance for a second Junior WRC season and if one of the FIA Rally Star Team members wins the title, they will secure a WRC2 campaign for 2026.
RevvHard are dynamic youngsters who are trying to accelerate the growth of Indian Motorsports using social media as a weapon to come up to speed. Here’s what they said on Instagram about Pragathi Gowda.
“Pragathi Gowda’s impressive 2nd place finish in the FIA Rally Star competition is a truly inspiring achievement, especially considering the fact that she is a woman in a male-dominated sport. Her success serves as a powerful message of empowerment and motivation for other women who are interested in pursuing careers in motorsports.
Pragathi’s accomplishment is a huge boost for the promotion of motorsports in India, as it helps to break down barriers and promote diversity in the sport. It showcases that with hard work, dedication, and passion, anyone can achieve their goals, regardless of their gender.
Overall, Pragathi Gowda’s achievement in the FIA Rally Star competition is a great source of inspiration and encouragement for all women who aspire to make their mark in the world of motorsports.” RevvHard on Insta!
-
Tidemand back with MRF Tyres in a bid to defend ERC title
Pontus Tidemand will return to the red and white colours of MRF Tyres as he embarks upon an FIA European Rally Championship assault in 2023.
Bengaluru, 24 Feb 2023: Tidemand’s collaboration with the Indian brand, MRF Tyres, has a successful history, dating back to 2015 when the Swede campaigned a Škoda Fabia S2000 in the Asia Pacific Rally Cup. He dominated the championship, winning five of the six rounds to claim the title.
Since then, Tidemand has continued to make a name for himself, claiming the 2017 WRC2 crown before going on to steer a Fiesta World Rally Car for M-Sport Ford on several WRC events in 2019. He has been less active during recent seasons, with his efforts focused on national rallies in his home country, reported FIAERC on Thursday in its news bulletin.
But now, the 32-year-old is hoping to recapture that success as he prepares for his first assault on the ERC with the MRF Dealer Team, piloting a GN Motorsport prepared Ford Fiesta Rally2. In the co-driver’s seat will be Julia Thulin, who guided Robert Virves to last year’s FIA Junior WRC title.
“It’s exciting to be back with MRF Tyres,” Tidemand told FIAERC.com. “We have some really great memories together from 2015 and I can’t wait to get going.
“The dream is still there. When you have been out [from this level of competition] for a little bit, it gives you a chance to re-evaluate everything you’ve been doing and look at what is right and what is not right. I’m really looking forward to coming back to the bigger events again.”
Fierce competition is expected at the season-opening Rally Serras de Fafe next month (10 – 12 March), with the likes of Erik Cais, Craig Breen and Georg Linnamäe all confirmed – plus Tidemand’s rally-winning colleagues Efrén Llarena and Mārtiņš Sesks.
“I’ve been reading all about it,” Tidemand laughed, referencing the ultra-competitive field he’s about to face. “We are going straight into the heat! I mean, the competition is going to be as good as WRC2, or maybe even better than WRC2.
“For Fafe, we will go there and try to do a good result. It’s the first rally of the season, so I think it’s important that we have a nice clean rally and secure some good points. That’s the main target, I think.”
