After an extended delay, the Indian Automotive Racing Club hosted the ultimate spherical of the 2023 Indian National Autocross Championship (INAC) on the Nanoli Stud Farm close to Pune. Delhi’s Philippos Matthai set the tempo and clinched titles in each, the INAC 1 Open and INAC 1 (1,651cc to 2,400cc) courses.

1. Nikhil J quickest in INAC 1 (800cc to 1,650cc) class
2. Chandrashekar, Pasha make a number of podium appearances

Rather than an outright race to the chequered flag, the autocross format requires members to navigate their approach by way of a predetermined impediment course and full it within the quickest attainable time.

Matthai was quickest within the INAC 1 Open class, with a time of 1min 26secs in his Volkswagen Polo. Uday Pilani completed second, adopted by Naveen Puligilla in third place. As the one competitor to complete within the INAC 1 (1,651cc to 2,400cc) class, Matthai additionally took high honours there.

Nikhil J defeated the competitors within the INAC 1 (800cc to 1,650cc) class to take victory with a time of 1min 25.094secs – which was additionally the quickest time of the day. Dhruva Chandrashekar and Ashad Pasha accomplished the rostrum in second and third locations, respectively.

But Pasha made it to the highest step of the rostrum in two different courses, setting the quickest occasions in INAC 2 (800cc to 1,400cc) and INAC 2 (1,651cc to 2,400cc). Chandrashekar, in the meantime, beat out the likes of Matthai and Nikeeta Takkale to win within the INAC 2 Open class.

Mazdayar Vatcha was quickest within the INAC 3 Open class, whereas Daksh Gill took high honours within the 4WD Open class. Nikeeta Takkale was the quickest feminine driver within the Time Attack occasion, with a time of 1min 31.380secs.