7 Indians qualify for Stage 2 of the FIA Rally Star Asia-Pacific Final

Following preliminary runs at the Madras International Circuit here on Monday, as many as seven Indian drivers qualified for Stage 2 of the FIA Rally Star Asia-Pacific Finals. A total of 25 athletes made it through to the next round.

Out of 16 home hopefuls, seven Indians - Harkrishan Wadia of Delhi, Jasmehar Jubbal of Faridabad, Jeremy Miller of Bengaluru, Arnav Pratap Singh of Delhi, Tarushi Vikram of Chikkamagaluru, Pragati Gowda of Bengaluru, and Vedant Jouhari of Bengaluru - have progressed to Stage 2. (Bengaluru).

Harkrishan Wadia, 24, of Delhi, was the fastest Indian qualifier, with a top lap time of 49.40 seconds over a 900-meter tarmac circuit in his second run, which was a decrease from the 49.90 seconds he recorded in his first timed excursion.

The 40 qualifiers from the Asia-Pacific region's nine countries were separated into seven groups and each received one reconnaissance run, two timed excursions, and the best-timed lap was used to classify them. The best three drivers from each group, together with the four quickest drivers from all groups, advanced to Stage 2, which will be held at the same location on Tuesday and determine which 12 drivers will compete in the final round on Wednesday.

The course was changed from dirt to a tarmac format due to overnight flooding. Subject to the weather, the route will be expanded to 1800 meters on Tuesday and 3 km on Wednesday.

After the four-member Jury has spoken with every driver, on Wednesday, October 12, the winners for the Asia-Pacific area will be revealed. The jury is made up of Guy Botterill, Pernilla Solberg, Maciej Woda, and FIA Rally Director Andrew Wheatley (Chairman).

The victor of the FIA Rally Star Asia-Pacific Final will compete in the 2023 FIA Rally Star Training Season as a representative of the area. The Training Season package includes physical and mental testing, driving tutoring, and six rallies in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally3. The objective is to provide the top competitors the skills they'll need to compete in the FIA World Rally Championship in the future.

The top four FIA Rally Star Team competitors will receive a season in the FIA Junior WRC Championship in 2024 at the conclusion of 2023. Three drivers advance to the second Junior WRC season in 2025. A WRC2 campaign in a Rally2 vehicle for 2026 is guaranteed for a member of the FIA Rally Star Team who wins the championship, with a Rally1 drive as their next goal.