Ujjal Namshum, co-driver Chethan Chengappa climb to top

 Ujjal’s week has been a story of resilience, from second on Day 1, to a tough third on Day 2 and Day 3, before climbing his way up on Day 4. He said, “RFC India is our Mecca; we prepare for it all year and we are grateful just to make it here. Day 2 was brutal: we broke an axle, and my co-driver Chethan is also not well, but we somehow managed to finish. We also made mistakes along the way. But we decided to forget what happened on the previous days; each day is a new day, a new challenge. We just focus on covering ground and getting into the position we want.”

In the ‘4x4 Modified’ category, Sarjerao Kawade (Rushikesh Patil) built a healthy lead after the completion of SS 1 to 13, leading with 1137 points out of a possible 1300. Gagan Karumbaiah (Bopanna Maleyanda) moved up to second position with 1067 points, while Suraksha BS (Sanoj S) rounded off the top three with 1065 points.

Sarjerao Kawade, who currently leads the scoreboard in the ‘4x4 Modified’ category, said, “This year the tracks are more technically sound, and the stages are tougher than last year, so we are enjoying the challenge. It has also been quite nerve-wracking; I took a 30-point penalty yesterday, but I had no option because my vehicle is bigger and heavier than the other modified cars, and without that penalty it would’ve toppled. Today I put in my best because I have no option but to play hard and technical. I have some engine issues, but I’ll keep playing to my strengths and trust my luck to carry us through.”

The ‘4x4 Stock’ category saw a change at the top, with Naku Hage Chada (Loda Punyo) taking over the lead after the completion of SS 1 to 8, with 704 points out of a possible 800. Athul Thomas (Binil Babu) held on to second position with 689 points, while Sabu Xavier (Halvin Appanna) slipped to third with 677 points.

Sabu Xavier, who slipped from first position on Day 1 to third in the ‘4x4 Stock’ category on Day 2, spoke about the technical challenges of the day and his approach to the remaining stages. He said, “Yesterday was easy for us, but today was tough. The track was very technical, especially the rock climbing, which made it hard to score well. The vehicle has no damage though, and we are hoping to improve tomorrow. There are still six stages to go, and every stage here is a surprise; you can never predict what’s coming. I am just keeping my fingers crossed, keeping the vehicle safe and giving my best on the remaining stages.”