Jason Saldanha and Thimmu Uddapanda Claim Thailand Rally Championship Title
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Synopsis
Jason Saldanha and Thimmu Uddapanda have made headlines by winning the Thailand National Rally Championship (RAAT) in the RC 2.1 class. Despite facing challenges, they secured a second overall position. This victory marks their second consecutive triumph, highlighting their exceptional skills in motorsport.
Key Takeaways
- Jason Saldanha and Thimmu Uddapanda won the RAAT in RC 2.1 class.
- They finished second overall despite time lost in SS4.
- They drove a Suzuki Swift 1.4L turbo for 'Team Insight & Ally'.
- This is their second consecutive win in the RAAT.
- Next up is the South India Rally from April 24 to 27.
Bangkok, March 30 (NationPress) Mangalore’s Jason Saldanha and Thimmu Uddapanda from Kodagu kicked off their season with a spectacular victory, clinching the first round of the Thailand National Rally Championship (RAAT) in the RC 2.1 class, held in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday.
In addition to their class victory, they secured a commendable second place in the Overall category despite encountering delays due to a car blocking the route in Special Stage 4. With their Suzuki Swift 1.4L turbo for 'Team Insight & Ally', this marked their second consecutive triumph at the RAAT, earning them the prestigious title.
“It’s a mixed bag. We are very pleased to have won our class, and lifting the Indian flag high is a proud achievement. However, had it not been for the time lost behind a stationary vehicle, we would have claimed the Overall honors too,” remarked Saldanha and Thimmu regarding the SS4 situation where they were unable to proceed due to a car obstructing their path.
The organizers are yet to finalize the scratch time upon announcing the provisional results. The pair excelled in three Special Stages (SS) and recorded a total time of one hour, 32.20 seconds over a distance of 81.50km, which included a competitive stage distance of 38.63km across eight SS.
There were three physical stages: the Sanamachai Forest Park stage, which is the longest at 17.5km, the Rubber Research stage at 13.4km, and the Wang Nam Sai stage, the shortest at 7.73km.
Jason Saldanha, born on March 24, 1987, is a talented Indian rally driver making strides in both the RAAT and the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC). Originally from Mangaluru, he currently resides in Belur, Karnataka, where he persistently hones his skills in motorsport. Conversely, Thimmanna, born on December 24, 1989 in Ammathi, contributes experience and steadiness to their partnership, utilizing his navigation expertise since his debut in Coimbatore in 2018.
Saldanha’s significant breakthrough occurred in April 2023 when he and Thimmanna Uddapanda, also known as Thimmu, made history by being the first Indians to win a title in their class in the Thailand Rally Nationals. Competing for 'Team Insight & Ally', they carved their names into the record books with this outstanding accomplishment.
In December 2024, Saldanha showcased another remarkable performance at the INRC Blueband K1000 Rally, their home rally. Competing in the INRC 2 category alongside Uddapanda Thimanna in a Maruti Baleno RS 1.0 for Arka Motorsports, he achieved an impressive second-place finish overall and secured the top spot in the INRC 2 class.
Earlier in the season, during the INRC Blueband Rally of Hyderabad, he and Thimmanna finished fifth overall and third in their category. Saldanha also delivered a strong performance at the 2024 Robusta Rally, the penultimate round of the INRC, where he narrowly missed a podium finish, placing fourth overall—just one second behind Aditya Thakur in the INRC 2 category.
Saldanha and Thimmu continue to elevate their game and are recognized as a formidable presence in Indian motorsports, demonstrating their prowess on both national and international rally circuits. Their next event is the South India Rally in Chennai from April 24 to 27.
