Mohammed Fahed VP and co-driver Rajeev Lal emerged as the winners of the10th edition of Rainforest Challenge (RFC) India after a week of intense competition. This is the first time a team from Kerala has won the off-roading event.
Ujjal Namshum (co-driver Chethan Chengappa) finished second and Anand V Manjooran (co-driver Vishnu Raj) completed the podium. The top three drivers have earned the chance to compete in the 2024 RFC Global Series finale, which will be held in Malaysia later this year.
- Cedrick Jordan Da Silva wins lifetime achievement award
- Top three drivers to compete in RFC Global finale
Organised by Cougar Motorsport, the Rainforest Challenge is widely regarded as one of the most demanding off-road competitions in India. The event isn’t simply about completing the stages with the quickest times, it tests competitors on several parameters like their driving and vehicle recovery skills, team co-ordination, as well as physical and mental resilience in extreme conditions. A total of 26 teams competed in Goa this year.
Mohammed Fahed VP took the lead on Day 3 and went on take victory with a total of 2,165 out of 2,600 points. “It’s a dream come true for me. RFC India is the toughest off-roading event in the country and in order to perform well, you need to be consistent throughout the competition as well as keep your brain engaged to come up with ideas on how to tackle each challenge,” said Fahed, who takes home the top prize in his fourth attempt.
“Unlike previous years when we played safe and tried to preserve the vehicle till the end, this year my co-driver Rajeev and I decided to go all out. Moreover, I had my family and my crew’s full support and they motivated me throughout to perform to the best of my ability.”
Ujjal Namshum returned to compete in RFC India after a five-year break. After leading in the initial few stages, he had to settle for second place with 2,039 points. Anand V Manjooran bagged third place with a total of 1,874 points.
2023 RFC India winner Cedrick Jordan Da Silva is the only driver to have competed in all 10 editions of RFC India. To commemorate this, he was given a special lifetime achievement award.
2024 RFC India winners
| 2024 RFC India winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Driver | Co-driver |
| Overall | Mohammed Fahed VP | Rajeev Lal |
| Up tp 1610cc | Anand V Manjooran | Vishnu Raj |
| 1611 to 3010cc - Petrol | Ujjal Namshum | Chethan Chengappa |
| 1611 to 3010cc - Diesel | Mohammed Fahed VP | Rajeev Lal |
2024 RFC India special awards
| 2024 RFC India special awards | |
|---|---|
| Award | Winner |
| Lifetime achievement | Cedrick Jordan Da Silva |
| Rookie of the event - Driver | Digvijay Sinh Parmar |
| Rookie of the event - Co-driver | Subhash Utekar |
| David Metcalfe Jungleman Award | Rajeev Lal |
| Most Unique 4x4 | Daulat Deepram Choudhary, Gaurav D Choudhary |
| Environment award | Team Mars |
| Best service team | NC Garage, Kerala |
| Team award | Team Steel Heads |
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Autocar India SUV off road day 2023