Hyderabad-based racing driver Jeet Jhabakh scripted history on 3 November 2026 by clinching the 2026 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) title — becoming the first driver in the competition's 38-year history to win the overall championship in a two-wheel-drive (2WD) car. Partnering with co-driver Musa Sherif, Jhabakh also formed the first all-Indian driver and co-driver combination to lift the prestigious continental crown.

A Dominant, Retirement-Free Campaign

Jhabakh closed the season with 73 championship points, a commanding 35 points clear of his nearest rival. Crucially, he scored points in every single round without a retirement — a level of consistency that ultimately proved decisive across the gruelling multi-country campaign. Musa Sherif capped his own outstanding season by simultaneously securing the 2026 APRC Co-drivers' Championship.

Standout Results Across the Season

Among the highlights of Jhabakh's debut international campaign was a second-place finish in his category at the Otago Rally in New Zealand and a second-place overall at the South India Rally in Chennai. His most emphatic performance came at the Rally of Indonesia (Danau Toba), where he secured the overall victory. He also added the 2026 FIA APRC4 Championship to his collection, further cementing his dominance in the two-wheel-drive category.

What Jhabakh Said

Speaking after the title-winning campaign, Jhabakh attributed the success to collective effort and relentless consistency. 'We were quick at every rally and never threw one away, and that's what wins a championship. We had our share of problems across the season, but my co-driver Musa Sherif called every corner right, and the engineers kept the car going. I'm proud of what we have achieved. This championship is a start, not a finish,' he said.

The Road to APRC Glory

Jhabakh's motorsport career stretches back over a decade in circuit racing. A two-time Indian national racing champion, he won the Vento Cup in 2016 and the Ameo Cup in 2019, and also secured three consecutive Indian Touring Cars team championships, accumulating more than 50 career podium finishes. He transitioned to rallying in 2024, finishing runner-up in the INRC3 Championship in his debut rally season before a second-place finish in the INRC3T Championship in 2025. The 2026 APRC title, won in his first international rally season, represents a strikingly rapid ascent.

Why This Matters for Indian Motorsport

The achievement is notable beyond Jhabakh personally. No driver had previously won the APRC overall title in a 2WD car across nearly four decades of the championship — underscoring the technical and competitive gap that Jhabakh and Sherif bridged. This is also the first time an all-Indian crew has stood atop the continental rally rankings, adding a national dimension to what was already a record-breaking performance. The result is likely to raise the profile of Indian rally drivers on the global circuit and could open pathways for greater investment in Indian motorsport talent.