RFC Day 3: Namshum and Chengappa Maintain Lead in 4×4 Extreme Category

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 dominate the ‘4×4 Extreme’ category. They scored 1,284 points out of 1,400, achieving perfect scores in two of the five Special Stages held during the day. Goan driver Cedrick Jordan Da Silva and co-driver Mackwin Dias climbed to second place with 1,092 points, while fellow Goan Viddesh Madgaonkar and Sahil Sadekar secured third with 1,022 points.

In the ‘4×4 Modified’ category, Sarjerao Kawade and Rushikesh Patil from Maharashtra took the lead with 703 points out of 800. Cyril Dmello and Ameer Sadiq, also from Maharashtra, dropped to second with 697 points, closely followed by Goan duo Steven Fernandes and Balwant Jagram in third with 696 points.

Day 3 also saw the start of the ‘4×4 Stock’ category, a new addition to this year’s event. Mihir Dharkar and 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 took second place with 333 points, while Karnataka’s Bopaiah Kongettira and Bopanna Maleyanda finished third with 304 points.

Mihir Dharkar, excited about his debut in the new category, 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. It’s 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 four stages. The event is extremely well-organised and the stages are perfectly suited to this category.” 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.”

This year also marks the debut of a team from Meghalaya in the ‘4×4 Modified’ category. Chow Aditya Mein from Arunachal Pradesh commented on the growing participation from the Northeast, saying, “With the team from Meghalaya competing for the first time, it’s exciting to see more participants from the Northeast, where 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. 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’s 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.”

With new categories and growing participation from across India, RFC India 2025 continues to set new benchmarks in off-road motorsport.