Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), 30 November 2025: Indian motorsport celebrated a landmark achievement as Hyderabad’s Naveen Puligilla and veteran co-driver Musa Sherif became the first all-Indian pair to secure a podium finish in a World Rally Championship (WRC) event. Competing in the WRC3 category at the Saudi Arabia Rally 2025, the duo claimed a sensational second place, marking a historic breakthrough for India on the global rallying stage.

According to provisional timings, Puligilla and Sherif completed the challenging rally in 4 hours, 28 minutes, 58.7 seconds, finishing 26th overall out of 41 competitors. Their Ford Fiesta Rally3, run by Nairobi-based Africa Eco Sports, finished just 1 minute 14.2 seconds behind the class leader, securing a clear advantage over the rest of the WRC3 field.

The result is even more impressive given the high-powered competition from factory-backed Rally1 and Rally2 teamsrepresenting motorsport giants such as Hyundai, Toyota, and M-Sport Ford. This podium marks the first time in WRC history that an Indian driver and co-driver have stood together on the podium in any category.

A New Benchmark for Indian Rallying

Unlike earlier Indian appearances in WRC—where drivers like Gaurav Gill competed with international co-drivers—Puligilla and Sherif’s achievement highlights the strength of an all-Indian crew performing in perfect sync. Their success came on some of the toughest rally terrains, featuring fast gravel stretches, unpredictable sand dunes, and broken desert trails across 17 demanding special stages.

Puligilla’s podium also crowns an outstanding season. The Hyderabad racer earlier secured a podium at the Tanzania Rally and clinched a class win at the Robusta Rally in Kodagu as part of India’s National Rally Championship. His composed yet aggressive driving through the harsh Saudi desert showcased maturity, strategic thinking, and world-class pace.

For co-driver Sherif—one of India’s most experienced navigators with over 33 years in rallying—this result adds another milestone to a decorated career. His precise navigation and faultless pace-note calls helped the duo maintain rhythm and confidence across constantly shifting desert conditions.

Reactions From the Historic Podium

“This podium means far more than just a trophy,” said Puligilla. “It proves that Indian crews can compete at the highest level on the world stage. The Saudi rally was tough, but our focus on consistency and clean driving paid off. Standing on a WRC podium with the Indian flag is a huge motivation to push harder.”

Echoing the sentiment, Sherif added, “The variety in terrain—from hard gravel to loose sand—tested us like never before. Naveen’s composure behind the wheel and our synced pace notes made the difference. Bringing home a WRC podium for India is incredibly rewarding.”