Dean Mascarenhas, Gagan Karumbaiah Finish 7th in WRC3 on Debut at Rally Islas Canarias 2026

Las Palmas, Spain, April 27, 2026: Indian rally champions Dean Mascarenhas and co-driver Gagan Karumbaiah marked a strong international debut by finishing 7th in the WRC3 class at the iconic Rally Islas Canarias, part of the FIA World Rally Championship calendar.

Competing in the 50th edition of the all-asphalt rally in Gran Canaria, the Indian duo also secured 48th overall, completing one of the most technically demanding events of the season. Driving a Ford Fiesta Rally3 prepared by PH Sport, the pair used the rally as a crucial learning experience on fast and unfamiliar European tarmac stages.

Solid Debut Despite Early Challenges

The rally featured 18 special stages covering over 301.3 competitive kilometres, testing endurance and precision. Mascarenhas and Karumbaiah faced early setbacks, including brake issues on the opening day, but adapted quickly to changing grip levels and tricky weather conditions.

The duo completed the rally in a total time of 3h 41m 50.6s, including a 10-minute penalty, demonstrating resilience and steady improvement across stages. Their performance highlighted consistency and composure, particularly for a crew competing at this level for the first time.

Learning Curve on the Global Stage

For Mascarenhas, the result went beyond finishing position, offering valuable insights into car setup, tyre management, pace-note execution, and stage strategy. Karumbaiah, relatively new to this level, played a key role with precise pace notes and calm navigation throughout the rally.

The event marked the team’s first international outing with TSI Racing, following their Indian National Rally Championship 2025 title-winning campaign. Support from PH Sport proved instrumental in helping the team adapt to Rally3 machinery and the demands of sealed-surface rallies.

Key Step for Indian Rallying Ambitions

Speaking after the rally, Mascarenhas described the experience as “challenging but immensely rewarding,” citing changing conditions and technical stages as key learning factors. Team stakeholders also emphasized the long-term vision of developing Indian talent on the global rally stage.

This outing also marks the return of TSI Racing to the WRC after 18 years, signaling renewed efforts to establish a sustained Indian presence in international rallying.