Dean Mascarenhas and Gagan Karumbaiah Dominate Robusta Rally to Take INRC 2025 Championship Lead

Team TSI Racing’s Dean Mascarenhas and Gagan Karumbaiah delivered a flawless performance to clinch a commanding victory at the Robusta Rally 2025, the third round of the Blueband Sports FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), held in Ammathi, Kodagu. The duo’s dominant win not only sealed maximum stage points across both days but also propelled them to the top of the overall INRC standings.

After missing the season-opening South Indian Rally due to a delayed arrival of their Peugeot 208 Rally4, Mascarenhas and Karumbaiah bounced back strongly with a win in Coimbatore. Their continued momentum in Kodagu now puts them on 69 points, seven clear of defending champions Karna Kadur and Musa Sherif.

Mascarenhas was in unbeatable form throughout the event, extracting the best from his PH Sport-prepared Peugeot 208 Rally4. The Mangalore driver set the fastest times on all 12 Special Stages, showcasing exceptional pace and consistency on Kodagu’s rugged gravel terrain.

TSI Racing teammates Aditya Thakur and Virender Kashyap also delivered a resilient performance. After retiring on Saturday due to driveshaft damage from hitting a tree stump, the duo returned on Sunday to finish second in INRC1, sealing a 1–2 finish for TSI Racing in the class. Mascarenhas took victory in both the Overall and INRC1 categories.

The Mattaparambu and Yemmegundi stages on Saturday saw Mascarenhas become the only driver to break the eight-minute and twelve-minute barriers respectively. On Sunday, he continued his supremacy by dipping under five minutes on the Margolly stage and extending his lead by over 30 seconds per run on the Woshully loops.

Mascarenhas said: “This rally demanded respect and every stage had surprises. The Peugeot felt stronger with each loop, and Gagan and I focused on a steady rhythm. The package, along with MRF tyres, allowed us to push when needed and manage the rough sections smartly.”

Karumbaiah, from Kodagu, added that the duo is “really enjoying the sport now,” despite the challenges.

In other category results, Sheshank Jamwal won INRC3, Philippos Matthai clinched INRC2, Naveen Puligilla topped INRC 3T, Abhin Rai secured the Junior INRC title, and Athira Murali emerged victorious in the Ladies class.

The 2025 INRC season now heads to Tumkur for the K1000 Rally, Round 4 of the six-event championship.