At the end of Day 3 of The Rainforest Challenge (RFC) India 2025, Chow Ujjal Namshum from Arunachal Pradesh, and his co-driver Chethan Chengappa from Karnataka, continued to lead the ‘4×4 Extreme’ category with 1284 points out of 1400.
Of the five Special Stages (SS) held during the day, the duo achieved a perfect score of 100 in two. Goan driver Cedrick Jordan Da Silva, alongside co-driver Mackwin Dias, climbed the rankings to claim the second place with 1092 points, while fellow Goan Viddesh Madgaonkar and co-driver Sahil Sadekar secured the third one with 1022 points.
In the ‘4×4 Modified’ category, Sarjerao Kawade and co-driver Rushikesh Patil from Maharashtra rose to first place with 703 points out of 800. Cyril Dmello and Ameer Sadiq, also from Maharashtra, dropped one position to second with 697 points, followed closely by Goan duo Steven Fernandes and Balwant Jagram in third with 696 points.
Day 3 also marked the start of the competition in the ‘4×4 Stock’ category, newly introduced in the 11th edition of India’s biggest and toughest off-road motorsport event. Mihir Dharkar, along with co-driver Shantanu Grover from Maharashtra, topped the scoreboard with 395 out of 400 points, clocking the fastest time in three out of four Special Stages. Tejas Patil and Karan Patil secured second place with 333 points, while Karnataka’s Bopaiah Kongettira and co-driver Bopanna Maleyanda followed in third with 304 points.
Sharing his excitement about competing in the newly launched category, Mihir Dharkar said, ‘This is my first time at RFC India and I am grateful to the organisers for introducing the 4×4 Stock and 4×4 Modified categories as it is a great entry point for newcomers like me. Day 1 of the 4×4 Stock competition was amazing and I was fortunate to clock the fastest times in three out of the four stages. The event is extremely well-organised and the stages are perfectly suited to this category.’
Reflecting on his position at the top of the leaderboard, he added, ‘Leading the leaderboard brings pressure, especially with the changing weather and terrain. But my focus is on staying calm, preserving the car and taking each day as it comes. RFC India is about endurance and I am here to enjoy every bit of it.’
While teams from Arunachal Pradesh have been participating in RFC India for several years, 2025 marks the debut of a team from Meghalaya, competing in the ‘4×4 Modified’ category. Speaking on the growing representation from the Northeast, Chow Aditya Mein from Arunachal Pradesh remarked, ‘With the team from Meghalaya competing for the first time, it is exciting to see more participants from the Northeast, where the off-road culture runs deep. The introduction of categories like 4×4 Modified and 4×4 Stock has opened the door for many of us.’
He further said, ‘Not everyone is ready for the 4×4 Extreme category right away. These stepping stones give people the confidence to start and build up from there. I remember when we began, we didn’t even know how to wear seatbelts properly! We started in the amateur category and that’s what gave us our break. If those entry points didn’t exist, many of us wouldn’t be here today. Seeing new teams take that leap now feels incredibly rewarding. I truly hope more people join, that we come together to grow the sport and maybe even see an RFC India edition in the Northeast someday.’
He added, ‘RFC India is unlike anything else—it is pure adrenaline. For those two minutes on the SS, your mind is blank except for the drive, it’s just you and the terrain. That’s what keeps us coming back. We have always loved motorsport, but RFC India takes it to another level. No other off-road motorsport event in the country matches its intensity or level of organisation. Every stage is meticulously planned, and that’s what pushes us to compete harder and aim higher.’
