Surprise Winner Emerges at Dramatic South India Rally!

The 2024 South India Rally in Chennai delivered some surprising twists this weekend, as a new champion emerged triumphantly! Harkrishan Wadia and his co-driver Kunal Kashyap, representing Arka Motorsports, defied all expectations to clinch the overall victory. 

Despite the presence of renowned names like defending champion Aroor Arjun Rao, former winners Karna Kadur and Dean Mascarenhas, the challenging 446 km course posed significant challenges for all participants. Even Gaurav Gill, a seven-time INRC champion, had to withdraw at the last minute due to unforeseen delays in car shipping. 

The rally witnessed several frontrunners encountering setbacks. Kadur faced gearbox issues, while Rao grappled with power steering problems on the final day. Mascarenhas had to retire due to fuel pump complications, and Pragathi Gowda, poised for a strong finish in the APRC Asia Cup, ran out of fuel just 2km shy of the finish line! These developments paved the way for Wadia, whose consistent performance throughout the race propelled him to victory. 

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He not only dominated the overall standings but also secured wins in both the INRC 2 class and the APRC Asia Cup, achieving a remarkable triple victory. "I really pushed myself today to make up for some time," Wadia remarked after his spectacular win. "The car performed impeccably, and I'm grateful for the unwavering support from MRF Tyres. Despite a minor error, I managed to maintain my position. Overall, it's an incredible start to the season!" Aditya Thakur, who led the race after Day 2, settled for second place following a 30-second penalty for a late check-in, resulting from a pit stop to repair a damaged exhaust. "It's disappointing, but we'll take this as a learning experience and return stronger in the next round," Thakur expressed. In addition to Wadia's outstanding victory, the South India Rally witnessed triumphs in other categories. Vishak Balachandran clinched victory in the INRC 3 class, Phoebe Nongrum dominated the women's class, Arjun Rajiv emerged as the winner in the Junior INRC class, and Baljinder Singh Dhillon secured the top spot in the non-championship FMSCI Gypsy Challenge.

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