Vaibhav Marathe wins Indian nat'l autocross rally in Chikkamagaluru

Chikkamagaluru: Vaibhav Marathe from Goa emerged as the fastest driver at the Gravel Fest Indian National Autocross four-wheeler rally championship, organised by the Motor Sports Club of Chikkamagaluru. The rally was held near Saganipura on the outskirts of the city.

Marathe, displaying his driving skill, completed all laps in 2.57 minutes to secure the top position, according to a release. Syed Salman from Mysuru bagged second place by completing the laps in 2.59 minutes. Viman from Chikkamagaluru secured third place. In the INAC-2 category, Salman from Mysuru took the lead, followed by Arshad Pasha from Chikkamagaluru, and Chetan Shivaram from Bengaluru in third.

Two cars participated simultaneously on a dual track, crossed a bridge, and covered 2.3 km. The rally prioritised skill over speed, with participants showcasing their talents and keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Around 50 renowned drivers from various parts of the country participated in 16 different categories, including the women's division.

Veterans like Rakshit Iyer and Syed Salman from Mysuru, Pallavi Yadav from Chandigarh, and Shameem from Kerala participated in the competition. Winners were awarded cash prizes totalling around Rs 7 lakh and attractive trophies. The rally was overseen by Chikkamagaluru Motor Sports Club president Jayant Pai, along with Samrudh Pai, Abhijit Pai, Farooq Ahmed, Dilip Kumar Jain, and Divin Jain.