Sanjay Takale Poised to Make History as First Indian Driver in Dakar Cars Category
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Pune, Dec 27 (NationPress) The celebrated Indian rally driver Sanjay Takale is gearing up for his debut at the legendary Dakar 2025, which will mark a significant milestone for India, as it will be the first time an Indian participates in the four-wheel segment of any class at the Mother of all Rallies. The event kicks off on January 3, 2025, in Saudi Arabia. The grueling course, consisting of 12 stages and spanning over 8000 km, presents a tough challenge even for the most skilled competitors.
Hailing from Pune, Takale is an accomplished racer who was the first Indian to clinch the Asia Pacific Rally Championship title in the production class. He has teamed up with Compagnie Saharienne, a prestigious French Historic Rally Team, to pilot a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78 at the 2025 Dakar Classic. This will be a historic moment as he becomes the first Indian to drive in the Dakar Classic, with Maxime Raud as his co-driver.
“My objective is to experience the essence of Dakar and enjoy the thrill of driving in the dunes. It’s a long journey that promises valuable learning. I am incredibly proud to be the first Indian to have this opportunity to race in a four-wheeler at Dakar,” expressed Takale.
Some sections of the route evoke nostalgia for this Pune native, who traveled to over 100 countries from 2001 to 2007 as a backpacker.
A motorsport enthusiast, Takale began his racing career in motocross in June 1987 and amassed over 100 trophies by 2001. He concluded his motocross career with a significant victory at the national bike round in Nashik as a TVS factory rider before shifting his focus to endurance rallies in 2009. A seasoned competitor in the Indian National Rally Championship and the Malaysian Rally Championship, he frequently participates in Asia-Pacific Rallies.
After achieving numerous accolades in four-wheel racing, he became the first Indian to earn recognition for his nation at the APRC, winning the Production class title in 2013. In 2018, he made his Rally3 debut at the World Rally Championship3 during Rally Finland.
Takale secured an impressive 14th place in his class while driving a Ford Fiesta R2, despite minimal seat time, alongside co-driver Darren Garrod, and repeated this achievement in the 2019 event. In 2022, he represented Team India at the FIA Motorsport Games, finishing eighth in his inaugural tarmac rally in a Peugeot 208 Rally4.
He is also a consistent participant in the Asia Cross-Country Rally, where he won the T2 category in an Isuzu D-Max in 2011. In August 2024, he drove his Toyota Hilux Revo to 13th place in the T1D class, achieving an overall 23rd position.
Born on February 2, 1968, in Manjri village, Takale serves as the director of Aerpace, an Indian transportation firm. He will be partnered with Frenchman Maxime Raud as his co-driver, and the two will navigate the Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78.
The 2025 Dakar Classic runs concurrently with the main Dakar Rally from January 3 to 17, marking its 47th edition and the sixth to take place in Saudi Arabia. The route begins in Bisha, traverses the Empty Quarter, and concludes in Shubaytah on January 17.
The race format consists of 14 days of competition, segmented into 12 stages. Among the challenges is a marathon 48-hour “chrono” stage, extending 950 km. Five stages will feature distinct routes for cars and bikes, alongside one mass start stage.
This edition of Dakar promises enhanced navigation and a classic format, with 94 cars participating, including 36 rookies. For the Indian speedster from Pune, this is viewed as a valuable debut experience among the rookies. He will compete in the ‘86 to 98 low average class, driving car number 722, the only entry from India in Dakar 2025.
