INDIA in F1

Tag: Dakar 2025

  • Sanjay Takale dishes out another stellar show with three days remaining: Dakar Classic

    Sanjay Takale dishes out another stellar show with three days remaining: Dakar Classic

    From Rajan Syal at Dakar

    Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), 14 January 2025: Indian rally driver Sanjay Takale, alongside his French co-driver Maxime Raud from the Compagnie Saharienne team, celebrated the festival of Sankranti with a stellar performance at the Dakar 2025. Competing in the Classic Cars section—a regularity event held alongside the main Dakar races—Takale delivered consistent results with a strong display of his skill and commitment.

    On Monday, the seasoned rally driver secured 11th place in the stage rankings. Earlier, in Stage 3’s after the gruelling 48-hour Chrono segment, Takale impressed with a remarkable 7th-place finish. On Tuesday, he finished 12th but was later ranked 17th following a penalty of 40 points, in the stage and currently sits 21st overall in the general classification.

    Haradh is located in the middle of the eastern province, the largest in Saudi Arabia, through which the vehicles of the Dakar caravan sped today, their riders and drivers intently focused to avoid being caught out by the tangle of tracks. Over a distance against the clock of 357 kilometres and at a high pace requiring speedy roadbook reading, the main pitfalls to be avoided for the pretenders to the rally’s various crowns concerned navigation. However, with the need to maintain a steady speed unlike in the other categories, Sanjay Takale, completed one more day successfully.

    A Trailblazer for India in Motorsports

    Takale, a 56-year-old veteran from Manguri near Pune, Maharashtra, is a pioneer in Indian motorsports. Starting his career in motocross during the 1980s, he transitioned to rallying in cars and became an Asia-Pacific Production Cup champion. Takale has also represented India in World Rally Championship (WRC) events.

    His participation in Dakar marks a significant milestone as he becomes the first Indian to compete in the event’s car category. Paired with navigator and coach Maxime Raud, Takale entered the Dakar Classic with the primary goal of gaining valuable experience in the world’s most challenging rally.

    Tuesday’s Challenges and Highlights

    Tuesday’s stage featured four Regularity Tests (RT) and a concluding Dune Test. Takale initially finished 12th in class and was running 15th overall in the Classic Cars category. However, a late penalty of 40 points pushed him to 21st in the overall rankings and 17th in the stage standings.

    Despite the setback, Takale’s experience and precise driving have kept his car unscathed. His ability to navigate sandy terrain, rocky paths, and dunes with consistent speed and regularity helped him handle Dakar’s demanding conditions with focus and dedication.

    The Road Ahead

    This is Takale’s 75th international rally, and he chose to do the ‘Mother of all rallies’ to celebrate the milestone. The next stages will test his mettle further. The remaining three specials—spanning 123 km, 284 km, and 63 km—include the formidable dunes of the Empty Quarter, a highlight of the rally. With reduced distances on the final day, January 17, Takale is poised to tackle the challenges ahead and look confident and his main target is to finish the daunting Dakar.

    The “Mother of All Rallies” has witnessed a historic debut, and with three days remaining, all eyes are on Takale as he continues his journey through the world’s toughest motorsport event even as the three Bikers from India made their exit by now.

    Harith Noah, last year’s Rally2 winner suffered a wrist fracture in the prologue and had to unfortunately withdraw early on medical advice. The other two bikers, privateers, Ashish Raorane, in his third Dakar, suffered a setback once again and was forced to withdraw after Stage 6 while debutant Jatin Jain from Nagpur too withdraw after Stage 5 on January 9.

  • The Good Samaritan in Sanjay Takale pops out; the Pune stalwart dishes out another top-10 show

    The Good Samaritan in Sanjay Takale pops out; the Pune stalwart dishes out another top-10 show

    By Rajan Syal

    Al Duwadimi (Saudi Arabia), 12 January 2025: The legendary Dakar Spirit, celebrated since the rally’s inception in 1979, continues to define the essence of endurance racing. This spirit of camaraderie was on full display during Stage 7 at Dakar 2025, when Pune’s Sanjay Takale, the first Indian in cars at the iconic Dakar, exemplified true sportsmanship, spending over 10 minutes helping his teammate’s car #768, out of a tricky situation, in the dunes. Dakar’s Race Control acknowledged his selfless act by waiving any penalties for the delayed arrival at the Dune Test finish time control (TC), to the tune of time he lost helping the other driver.

    The challenging 14-km Dune Test saw many competitors struggle, with several missing key waypoints and incurring penalties. Remarkably, Sanjay and his co-driver Maxime navigated flawlessly, hitting every waypoint while demonstrating exceptional consistency. Their results in the Regularity Tests were impressive, securing 5th, 13th, and 15th positions in the respective sections.

    The final Regularity Test of the stage was a grueling 146km stretch, featuring over 175 speed changes and 36 secret time controls. Despite the mammoth task, the duo managed to finish with only 48 penalties, a feat that underscores their precision and endurance.

    As the day’s results and overall standings are awaited, hopes are high for another top-10 overall finish in Stage 07. Fingers crossed as Sanjay and Maxime continue to prove that perseverance, teamwork, and the true Dakar Spirit are the keys to success.

    Editor’s note: Sanjay did get a top-10 finish, with a 10th in his class. This copy is written, before the final results of the day arrived.

    About author: Rajan Syal is a motorsports fanatic, who saw the game from all sides being a competitor, rallyist and finally, directing the Indian motorsports as the CEO of fmsci, now he is a freelancer enjoying the dunes of Dakar 2025 and entertaining with his timely Dakar updates.

  • Dakar stars Sanz and Noah talk about grit ahead of gruelling 12-stage race

    Dakar stars Sanz and Noah talk about grit ahead of gruelling 12-stage race

    As the 2025 Dakar Rally draws near, the world’s top off-road racers are gearing up for the ultimate test on wheels. This legendary event, known for its grueling stages and unpredictable terrain, challenges competitors across cars, motorcycles, trucks, and quads to push their limits. Taking place from January 3–17 in Saudi Arabia, the 47th edition will see racers tackle 7,759 kilometers, including 12 timed special stages, from Bisha to Shubaytah.

    Among the standout competitors preparing for the rally are Spanish motorsport legend Laia Sanz and Indian breakout star Harith Noah, who are sharing their 10-step strategy to conquer the dunes. Their insights, grounded in years of experience and respect for the Dakar’s challenges, offer a roadmap to success in one of the toughest motorsport events in the world.

    Laia Sanz: A Legacy of Endurance and Excellence
    Laia Sanz boasts an unmatched record of completing all 14 Dakar editions she has entered, with a career-best ninth-place finish in 2015. A 14-time FIM Women’s Trial World Champion, Sanz has successfully transitioned from motorcycles to cars, bringing her depth of experience and strategic approach to new heights.

    Laia Sanz poses for a portrait during the Spanish Red Bull Athlete Summit in Andorra, on January 31 2024. Photo by Gianfranco Tripodo for Red Bull Content Pool -For editorial use only

    Harith Noah: India’s Rising Star
    Harith Noah made history in 2024 as the fastest Indian in Dakar history, clinching the Rally2 title. His performance, which follows the trailblazing legacy of Indian motorsport icon CS Santosh, highlights Noah’s growing prominence on the global stage.

    The 2025 route in Saudi Arabia covers 7,759 kilometres spread over 12 timed special stages with the 47th edition beginning in Bisha on January 3 and finishing in Shubaytah on January 17.

    Here are Sanz and Noah’s 10 key steps to success at the Dakar Rally

    1. Preparation is Key
    Noah revealed his fitness a crucial component: “Last year, I worked on gaining a little extra weight to better adapt to the suspension on the bike, but after we figured out the suspension during Rallye du Maroc I’m not as concerned about gaining weight anymore. I’ve been to the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center several times this year, which has really helped me out.”

    2. Endurance Over Speed
    Twelve stages, which can last up to six hours at a time, mean you need to keep a positive mindset that focuses on endurance. Sanz explained: “The Dakar is a race, so it’s a bit strange that the winner can sometimes not win a stage. You need to be fast, but you also need to be smart. It’s such a complicated race, but I think that’s what makes it so special.”

    3. Rhythm is Everything
    With so many other vehicles racing around you over the ever present tricky terrain, focus and finding your own rhythm is key. Noah said: “I’m a really slow starter. It takes me about three days to start feeling comfortable on the bike and to perform properly. For example, at Rallye du Maroc this year I was completely exhausted after the first day. But by the second day I felt better and by the third day I felt like I could keep going for as many days as needed without getting tired.”

    4. Respect the Desert
    Never underestimate the desert – especially rookies – something that has been the backbone of Sanz’s success. She admitted: “My advice is never go over your limit. Rookies arrive super motivated, but they must remember to respect the desert. Be careful and, if one day you feel quite slow, then just relax and know that tomorrow will be a better day.”

    5. Minimize Distractions
    For many racers, creating a bubble around them is important to get as much out of the race as possible. Noah declared: “I don’t check the race results during the event. This was a decision I made with my psychologist and we agreed it’s the best approach for me. I also don’t use any social media during the race. Someone else manages it for me.”

    6. Use Experience Across Categories
    Switching up categories can often take you to the next Dakar level. Sanz added: “I did 11 on a bike, so I got so much experience in the dunes and you get to really understand the race. In my experience you can bring a lot of the strategies that work on bikes to racing cars at the Dakar.”

    7. Stay Present
    With each stage full of punishing kilometres, it is easy to let the mind drift. Noah recommended: “My focus is simple: ride one kilometre at a time. Just ride as well as I can. Whether I finish 30th, 10th, or anywhere else, I need to accept it. That’s my mantra: ride in the now. Don’t let what’s going to happen or what has already happened affect you.”

    8) Positivity is also key.
    Sanz said: “Even if you have a tough start and find yourself at the back you must stay positive. Wait for your moment. This is a race where so many things happen and you need to make sure you avoid any big mistakes. You will have bad stages, but you must keep going.”

    9. Age is Just a Number
    Age is not a barrier either as Dakar history is packed with older winners, even into their sixties. Sanz said: “Experience is important. It makes me happy to see Carlos Sainz still winning because it means that I still have time! I know Carlos and how much he trains to stay in shape to race. There’s so much hard work that goes on behind the scenes.”

    10. Savor Every Moment
    Above all, relish each and every day however gruelling. Noah said: “First place in Rally2 was never part of the plan. Winning is obviously a huge achievement, but the most amazing part was standing on the Dakar podium and receiving that trophy. That was an unbelievable feeling.”