Overall winner Rally of Arunachal Aroor Arjun Rao and Satish K … l of Mandovi Racing Maruti Suzuki Baleno (Left to Right)
Itanagar : The Rally of Arunachal 2023, organized by the Motorsports Club of Arunachal in association with the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), concluded with great success. Held from June 13th to June 16th, this prestigious event showcased the remarkable skills of India’s top rally drivers and celebrated the breathtaking landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh. The event was organized by the Directorate of Youth Affairs Govt. of Arunachal, headed by Lhakpa Tsering, President of the Motorsports Club of Arunachal.
The Rally of Arunachal 2023 was the second round of the highly anticipated Blueband FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship. It attracted a massive field of 51 entries, making it the largest rally event in the North-East region. Rally enthusiasts from all over the country gathered in Itanagar to witness the impressive display of driving skills and experience the adrenaline-fueled atmosphere.
Mr. Tsering expressed his pride in holding the event in Arunachal Pradesh, stating, “The rally was likely the most demanding for both organizers and competitors, and it marked the first time in India that the event took place at night. With a remarkable turnout of 8 to 10k spectators, motorsports were brought right to the youth of the state.”
Premnath K. of Blueband Sports shared his satisfaction with the event, highlighting the unprecedented number of entries from top rallying talent across the country. He expressed the commitment to continuously elevate the stature and allure of the Indian National Rally Championship, making it more captivating for both competitors and the audience.
The Rally of Arunachal 2023 featured various categories, including Overall Winner, INRC, INRC 2, INRC 3, INRC 4, Gypsy Class, JINRC (Junior INRC), and Women’s Class. Champions were crowned in each category, showcasing their exceptional performances and remarkable achievements. The winners of the various categories are as follow:
Overall winners (Final ROA):
1st Place: Aroor Arjun Rao and Satish Kumar Rajagopal of Mandovi Racing / Maruti Suzuki Baleno
2nd Place: Sheshank Jamwal and Aseem Sharma of Arka Motorsports / VW Polo
3rd Place: Dr. Bikku Babu and Milen George of Chettinad Sporting / VW Polo
INRC 2:
1st Place: Dr. Bikku Babu and Milen George of Chettinad Sporting / VW Polo 22
2nd Place: Philippos Matthai and Murthy P.V.S of Arka Motorsports / VW Polo
3rd Place: Chetan Shivram and Shiv Prakash of Snap Racing / VW Polo
INRC 3:
1st Place: Sheshank Jamwal and Aseem Sharma of Motorsports / VW Polo
2nd Place: Arnav Pratap Singh and Arjun SSB 2 of Ammyfied Rallying / VW Polo
3rd Place: Jahaan Gill and Suraj Keshava Prasad of Snap Racing / VW Polo
INRC 4:
1st Place: Abhin Rai and D Uday Kumar of Ammyfied Rallying / Honda City VTEC
2nd Place: Ruthuparna Vivek and Sanjay Agarwal of Snap Racing / Honda City VTEC
3rd Place: Phoebe Nongrum and Dr. Dinesh S of Ammyfied Rallying / Maruti Suzuki Baleno
Gypsy Class:
1st Place: Samrat Yadav and Arvind Dheerendra of Ammyfied Rallying / Maruti Suzuki Gypsy
2nd Place: Aman Preet Ahluwalia and Amber Udasi piloted Maruti Suzuki Gypsy
3rd Place: Baljindar Singh Dhillon and Goutham CP piloted Maruti Suzuki Gypsy
JINRC (Junior INRC):
1st Place: Arnav Pratap Singh and Arjun SSB of Ammyfied Rallying / VW Polo
2nd Place: Jahaan Gill and Suraj Keshava Prasad of Snap Racing / VW Polo
3rd Place: Mohommed Sahil and Eldo Chacko of Ammyfied Rallying / VW Polo
Women’s Class:
1st Place: Anushriya Gulati and Arjun Dheerendra of Dark Don Rallying / VW Polo
2nd Place: Shivani Parmar and Dr. Vani Parmar of Chettinad Sporting / Honda City
3rd Place: Nikeetaa Takkale and Venu Rameshkumar of Ammyfied Rallying / VW Polo
The event concluded with a grand podium ceremony held at Itanagar, where the overall winners of the Final ROA were honored. Apart from the thrilling competition, the Rally of Arunachal 2023 contributed to the promotion of adventure tourism in Arunachal Pradesh. The event showcased the state as a driving destination in the Northeast and left a lasting impression on both participants and spectators.
With the event’s resounding success and the increasing popularity of motorsports in India, the Motorsports Club of Arunachal and FMSCI are already looking forward to future editions of the Indian National Rally Championship. Their aim is to make the championship even more captivating and enthralling for motorsport enthusiasts, continuing to elevate its stature and allure in the years to come.