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Key Points

Goa's Vaibhav Marathe clinched victory in the INAC 1 Unrestricted Class at the Chikmagalur Gravel Fest, beating teammate Syed Salman. Salman, however, dominated other categories, including INAC 1 2000 CC and INAC 2 1100 CC. The event, part of the JK Tyre FMSCI Indian National Autocross Championship, saw intense competition across multiple classes. Only the top five in each category will advance to the Grand Finals later this year.

Key Points: Goa's Vaibhav Marathe Wins JK Tyre INAC Round 1 in Chikmagalur

  • Vaibhav Marathe tops INAC 1 Unrestricted Class
  • Syed Salman wins multiple categories
  • Chikmagalur Gravel Fest serves as INAC qualifier
  • Top five finishers advance to Grand Finals
2 min read

Indian National Autocross Championship Round-1: Goa's Vaibhav Marathe emerges fastest

Vaibhav Marathe dominates INAC 1 Unrestricted Class at Chikmagalur Gravel Fest 2025, edging out teammate Syed Salman in a thrilling race.

"Marathe fended off a tough fight from his teammate Syed Salman to finish with a timing of 02:57.876 s. – FMSCI Report"

Chikmagalur, May 4

Goa's Vaibhav Marathe finished on top of the Chikmagalur Gravel Fest 2025, Round 1 of the JK Tyres FMSCI Indian National Autocross Championship (INAC) 2025, which was held here at Survey 85 on Sangnipura Road in Kurvangi Grama. Marathe, representing JK Tyres, fended off a tough fight from his teammate Syed Salman to finish with a timing of 02:57.876 s in the INAC 1 Unrestricted Class.

Aeman finished third with a timing of 03:01.786 s while Salman finished in 02:59.687 s. The Chikmagalur Gravel Fest 2025 served as the qualifying round of the FMSCI Indian National Autocross Championship 2025.

Syed Salman later won the INAC 1 2000 CC class, finishing with a timing of 02:59.169 s, while Chetan Shivram and Aeman finished second and third, respectively. Vaibhav Marathe could only manage a fourth-place finish in this class. Ashad Pasha finished on top of the INAC 2 1650 CC class while Aeman and Syed Salman finished second and third. Syed Salman then went on to win the INAC 2 1450 CC class and followed it up with another victory in the INAC 2 1100 CC. The INAC 2 800 CC class was won by Azveer. Zeeshan Mohammed won the INAC 3 category while Shameena CP finished on top in the Women's category with a timing of 03.41.004.

Sanctioned by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) and conducted under the 2025 FIA International Sporting Code and relevant FMSCI regulations, the Gravel Fest in Chikmagalur is one of seven qualifying rounds that form the INAC Cup circuit. To qualify for the Grand Finals, each driver must participate in at least two rounds. Only the top five finishers in each class will secure a berth in the final championship face-off, where the best of Indian autocross will be crowned. The event was promoted by Octane Pits by Lokesh Gowda and organised by the Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur (MSCC) in association with JK Tyre Motorsport.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
What an exciting event! Vaibhav Marathe's performance was 🔥. Goa representing strong in motorsports! Hope to see more regional talent shine in upcoming rounds. The gravel track must have been challenging - respect to all drivers!
P
Priya M.
Syed Salman seems to be the most consistent performer across multiple categories. His versatility is impressive! Though I wish there was more coverage of Shameena CP's win in Women's category - we need to highlight female racers more.
A
Arjun S.
Chikmagalur's terrain makes for perfect autocross conditions. Been there last year - the elevation changes and loose gravel demand serious skill. Kudos to organizers for picking this location. When will the next round be held?
S
Sneha R.
Interesting to see JK Tyres dominating the podium. Are other teams getting enough support? Indian motorsports needs more sponsors beyond just one or two big names to grow properly. Still, great to see our autocross scene developing!
V
Vikram J.
The timing differences are so close! Just 2-3 seconds separating top competitors. Shows how competitive Indian autocross has become. Would love to see live streaming of these events - FMSCI should consider this for future rounds.
N
Neha P.
As someone from Chikmagalur, proud to see our town hosting such events! The local economy gets good boost during these races. Hope MSCC organizes more motorsport events here. The coffee estate backdrop must have been amazing for spectators!

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