Indian Rally Team Achieves Third Consecutive Podium Finish at Rally del Paraguay

Naveen Puligilla and co-driver Musa Sherif have made history by securing a third-place finish in the WRC3 category at the Rally del Paraguay. This achievement marks their third consecutive podium in the class, following their earlier successes in Saudi Arabia and Kenya. Despite facing challenges during the race, the duo showcased remarkable resilience and skill, ultimately finishing strong. With their eyes set on the upcoming Rally Chile, this Indian rally team continues to make waves in the international motorsport arena.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 2, 2026, 18:52 IST

Historic Achievement for Indian Rally Duo

Naveen Puligilla and his co-driver Musa Sherif have made headlines by securing a remarkable third-place finish in the WRC3 category at the Rally del Paraguay, which is the 11th event of the FIA World Rally Championship. This achievement marks their third consecutive podium in the class.

The duo, representing Duran Racing, previously finished second at the Rally Saudi Arabia in November 2025, where Naveen became the first Indian driver to earn a podium in a WRC class. Together with Musa, they made history as the first all-Indian driver-co-driver pair to achieve this milestone. Earlier in March, they also claimed third place at the Safari Rally in Kenya.

Performance Overview

In their second WRC rally of the season, Naveen from Hyderabad and Musa from Kasaragod drove a Ford Fiesta Rally3, completing the race in 5 hours, 10 minutes, and 54.9 seconds, including penalties. Out of 58 entries across all classes, only 44 cars managed to finish the challenging 22 red-gravel Special Stages (SS), covering a total distance of 357.64 km.

A Remarkable Comeback

"We are absolutely thrilled with this result. Despite the ups and downs, we stayed focused and fought till the very end. To stand on the podium holding the Indian flag is a very proud moment," expressed Naveen, who receives support from Ashya Group and Yula Globus.

After facing difficulties in Special Stage 3 on Friday, which led to penalties for missing six stages, the duo executed an impressive recovery on Saturday. They steadily climbed back up the WRC3 rankings, achieving competitive stage times from SS10 onwards. Despite incurring an additional 15-minute penalty for a turbo change, their comeback culminated in a strong performance on Sunday, with Naveen delivering an outstanding run in the short SS20 and finishing second in class during the final Power Stage, SS22, behind Bolivian winners Nataniel Bruun and co-driver Mario Javier.

Looking Ahead

Musa Sherif, an accomplished co-driver with eight national titles and over 350 rallies under his belt, remarked, "Each rally has tested us differently - from the deserts of Saudi Arabia to the challenging terrain of Kenya and now the soft gravel of Paraguay. Achieving three podiums in a row at this level is truly special."

Naveen began his international rally career in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship in New Zealand in 2024 and made his WRC debut alongside Musa at the Rally Kenya in 2025. The duo, also supported by Sri Chaitanya Educational Institutions and Samveer Group, is now preparing for the upcoming Rally Chile, scheduled for September 10 to September 13.