Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 14: Dalton D’Souza and Vernon D’Souza from Team KA 19.20 United Offroaders Mangalore took on one of the 5 toughest off-road competitions in the world — and conquered all 20 stages over 5 days with grit, determination, and pride. The Rainforest Challenge (RFC) of Malaysia has been organized in India since 2014 by Cougar Motorsport India.
“This wasn’t just my race,” Dalton says with a smile. “It was our dream — Vernon’s, my entire team’s. It was about making history for Mangaluru and proving that with passion, teamwork, and determination, nothing is impossible.”
For Dalton, RFC had always been the ultimate challenge — a stage where man and machine are tested beyond limits. This year, the opportunity finally arrived, but not without its hurdles. His Jeep, Taurus, the beast built for battle, faced a near show-stopping setback just four days before the competition.
Originally, Dalton’s Jeep was sent out of state for an RFC-specification build, but unfortunately, Taurus came back incomplete, with the engine timing blocked and other issues. Many suggested postponing participation to the next year. But this is where the story took a turn, thanks to Ashwin Das, the ‘Doctor of Mechanics’, and his incredible team at The Mod Garage, Pumpwell. In an extraordinary 72-hour marathon build, Ashwin and his crew — Manish, Dinesh, Sheethal, and Shashi — worked day and night to bring Taurus back to life.
On July 29, Taurus was fully prepped, roaring, and ready to take on Goa’s treacherous RFC tracks.
Dalton credits much of his success to co-driver Vernon D’Souza. “Vernon wasn’t just navigating — he was keeping me focused, making split-second calls, and staying composed even when things went wrong,” Dalton said. “In a race like this, your navigator isn’t just a teammate — he’s your lifeline.”
The Stages – 20 Challenges, One Goal
RFC India 2025 comprised 20 Special Stages (SS), each designed to push competitors to the edge. Dalton and Vernon took them on with grit:
• SS1–SS4 – Strong start with controlled runs through mud pits, rocky inclines, and narrow gates.
• SS2 – Featured steep rock drops, a small water stream crossing, and a rock climb to the finish — Taurus handled it flawlessly.
• SS3 – A tough blow: hitting the first peg, then crossing over it again on the return, causing a 20-point penalty. Still, an extreme water crossing on the far right side was a highlight moment.
• Mid Stages (SS5–SS12) – Smooth runs, but a few penalties kept the team from climbing higher on the leaderboard.
• SS13 Breakdown – Mid-stage, a steering rod snapped. Refusing to give up, Dalton and Vernon pushed on to complete the stage. The service team fixed the damage in minutes, allowing them to hit the next stage without delay.
• SS14–SS20 – With the finish line in sight, the duo powered through slippery mud climbs, log crossings, deep water wades, and technical rope sections. One DNF and minor mechanical issues cost valuable points, but the team still completed all stages.
By the end of the week, Dalton and Vernon had secured 6th place in the Modified Diesel Category — an impressive debut considering the mechanical setbacks.
Dalton credits his success to the people who made it possible:
Family and friends
• Sponsors – Dishith Shetty (Vrakska Doors & More), Shashank (Concept House), Aaron D’Souza (Karavali Travels), Sri Ganesh (Ganesh Shipping), Arafath — for believing in the dream.
• Service Vehicle Support – Sri Ganesh for lending his Thar.
• Mechanic Team – Ashwin Das and The Mod Garage crew for resurrecting Taurus in record time.
• KA 19.20 United Offroaders – “Brothers in arms, always backing up.”
Dalton & Vernon’s historic RFC debut has ignited a fire for future challenges. “This year was about making history,” he says. “Next year, it’s about aiming for the podium.”
For Mangaluru’s motorsport community, Dalton and Vernon’s journey is more than just a personal victory — it’s proof that dreams backed by relentless effort can turn into history-making milestones.