Philippos Matthai wins 2023 Indian National Autocross Championship

After a long delay, the Indian Automotive Racing Club hosted the final round of the 2023 Indian National Autocross Championship (INAC) at the Nanoli Stud Farm near Pune. Delhi’s Philippos Matthai set the pace and clinched titles in both, the INAC 1 Open and INAC 1 (1,651cc to 2,400cc) classes.

1. Nikhil J fastest in INAC 1 (800cc to 1,650cc) class
2. Chandrashekar, Pasha make multiple podium appearances

Rather than an outright race to the chequered flag, the autocross format requires participants to navigate their way through a predetermined obstacle course and complete it in the fastest possible time.

Matthai was fastest in the INAC 1 Open class, with a time of 1min 26secs in his Volkswagen Polo. Uday Pilani finished second, followed by Naveen Puligilla in third place. As the only competitor to finish in the INAC 1 (1,651cc to 2,400cc) class, Matthai also took top honours there.

Nikhil J defeated the competition in the INAC 1 (800cc to 1,650cc) class to take victory with a time of 1min 25.094secs – which was also the fastest time of the day. Dhruva Chandrashekar and Ashad Pasha completed the podium in second and third places, respectively.

But Pasha made it to the top step of the podium in two other classes, setting the fastest times in INAC 2 (800cc to 1,400cc) and INAC 2 (1,651cc to 2,400cc). Chandrashekar, meanwhile, beat out the likes of Matthai and Nikeeta Takkale to win in the INAC 2 Open class.

Mazdayar Vatcha was fastest in the INAC 3 Open class, while Daksh Gill took top honours in the 4WD Open class. Nikeeta Takkale was the fastest female driver in the Time Attack event, with a time of 1min 31.380secs.