Media Release
Chandigarh, Mar 3: Suresh Rana and Ashwin Naik emerged as the overall winners in the 4WD category, while Arun T secured the top spot in the 2WD category at the 38th edition of the SJOBA Rally 2025. The motorsport event was organized by the St. John’s Old Boys Association (SJOBA), the alumni network of St John’s High School, Chandigarh. Notably, this marks Suresh and Ashwin's eighth title in the history of the SJOBA Rally.
A total of 30 four-wheelers and 60 two-wheelers participated in the thrilling three-day motorsports event, held from February 27 to March 2.
Jai Krishan Singh Rouri, deputy speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, flagged off the final day of the SJOBA Extreme Car Rally from the Gaj Retreat in Garhshankar, Punjab.
In the adrenaline-charged 4WD category, Harpreet Singh Bawa and Vikram Thakur secured second place, while Khushwant Randhawa and V Sekar finished third.
In the 2WD Extreme category, Prathish displayed exceptional speed and skill to claim the first runner-up position, while Karan Kumar M secured third place.
A prize distribution ceremony was held at the CGA Golf Range, where participants were honored for their achievements. The total prize pool amounted to approximately Rs 6 lakh, along with trophies and additional awards.
Harpal S Malvai, president of SJOBA, expressed his excitement over the event's success, stating, "We are delighted to witness overwhelming participation from rally enthusiasts across India. Our efforts to promote motorsports are gaining momentum, and we aim to establish Chandigarh as a motorsports hub."
Malvai further added, "To enhance the thrill of the rally, we introduced a Super Special Stage at the flag-off point this year. This featured specially designed short tracks, allowing the public to witness the power and agility of the participating vehicles up close."
The prize distribution ceremony was conducted by the SJOBA president, clerk of the course SPS Ghai, Danish Singh Mangat (secretary, SJOBA & competitor relationship officer of the rally), and Dr Anubhav Naresh (vice president, SJOBA), with the active support of other SJOBA members.
The rally route covered Punjab's Ropar, Garhshankar, Mansowal, and Hoshiarpur districts, as well as parts of Himachal Pradesh. Participants navigated challenging terrains, including unmetalled surfaces, axle-breaking riverbeds, fast tarmacs with winding hairpin bends, and hilly stretches.
The SJOBA Rally 2025 was supported by Hero MotoCorp, Servo Indian Oil, Punjab Tourism, Vamcy Merla, Fortis, Coca-Cola, Kandhari Beverages, Surbhi Packers, Isuzu, Paul Merchants, and the Doaba Group of Colleges.