Daijiworld Media Network- Bangkok
Bangkok, Mar 30: In a spectacular start to the season, Mangaluru’s Jason Saldanha and Kodagu’s Thimmu Uddapanda emerged victorious in the first round of the Thailand National Rally Championship (RAAT) in the RC 2.1 class held at Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday.
Driving a Suzuki Swift 1.4L turbo for ‘Team Insight & Ally,’ the dynamic duo celebrated their second consecutive win at the RAAT, also securing a commendable second place in the Overall category despite facing setbacks during Special Stage 4 (SS4).
Their progress was hindered when they were forced to halt behind a stationary car in SS4, losing crucial time. Commenting on the incident, Saldanha and Thimmu expressed mixed emotions: “We are thrilled to have won our class and raising the Indian flag high is a moment of immense pride. However, losing time behind a stationary car cost us the Overall title.”
The rally organizers are yet to finalize the scratch time, as provisional results were announced. Demonstrating exceptional skill and consistency, the pair registered the fastest times in three Special Stages (SS), covering a total distance of 81.50 km, including 38.63 km of competitive stages across eight SS. Their overall time stood at 1 hour, 32.20 seconds.
The Thailand Rally featured three physical stages—Sanamachai Forest Park, the longest at 17.5 km; Rubber Research at 13.4 km; and Wang Nam Sai, the shortest at 7.73 km.
Jason Saldanha, born on March 24, 1987, hails from Mangaluru but currently resides in Belur, Karnataka. A rising star in Indian motorsports, Saldanha has been making waves in both the RAAT and the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC). His co-driver, Thimmanna Uddapanda, fondly known as Thimmu, was born on December 24, 1989, in Ammathi. Bringing vast experience and steady navigation skills, Thimmu made his debut at Coimbatore in 2018.
Their breakthrough moment came in April 2023 when they became the first Indians to clinch a title in their class at the Thailand Rally Nationals. Representing ‘Team Insight & Ally,’ their historic achievement earned them widespread recognition.
Continuing their impressive form, the duo delivered another stellar performance at the INRC Blueband K1000 Rally in December 2024. Competing for Arka Motorsports in a Maruti Baleno RS 1.0, they secured first place in the INRC 2 category and finished second overall in their home rally.
Earlier in the season, Saldanha and Thimmu earned a fifth-place overall finish and third in their category at the INRC Blueband Rally of Hyderabad. At the 2024 Robusta Rally, despite a fiercely competitive race, they narrowly missed a podium finish, placing fourth overall and just a second behind Aditya Thakur in the INRC 2 category.
With consistent progress and determination, Saldanha and Thimmu have proven to be a formidable force in the national and international rally circuits. Their next challenge will be the South India Rally in Chennai, scheduled from April 24 to 27.