Exciting Rally Action Awaits at Coimbatore's Blueband Sports Rally 2026

Coimbatore Hosts Round 2 of the INRC 2026

This weekend, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu is set to host Round 2 of the FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 2026, featuring 64 cars and 128 participants ready to tackle a challenging gravel course on September 19 and 20.

The Blueband Sports Rally of Coimbatore 2026 is organized under the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), with Blueband Sports as the official promoter and the Coimbatore Auto Sports Club (CASC) overseeing the event.

The ceremonial flag-off occurred on September 18, marking the official commencement of this round. Notable attendees included Thiru. V. Sampath Kumar, the Honourable Minister of Backwards Classes Welfare of Tamil Nadu, and Shri Vijaya Kumar, Inspector General of CRPF, who were present to witness the event.

Following an exhilarating opening round at the 49th South India Rally, where Gaurav Gill, a three-time FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship winner and seven-time National Champion, made a remarkable comeback, the championship now arrives in Coimbatore. Gill led the overall INRC standings in the first round, with local driver Ritesh Rai in second and Karna Kadur in third. Kadur also secured second place in the APRC segment, while Jason Saldanha finished third. In the INRC 3 category, Tarushi Vikram claimed third place and topped both the Ladies and Junior INRC classifications.

Round 2 will see several prominent figures in Indian rallying, such as Dean Macarenhas, Karna Kadur, Naveen Puligilla, Jason Saldanha, Fabid Ahmer, and Philippos Matthai. The event also features a strong lineup of female drivers, including Pragathi Gowda, Anushriya Gulati, Athira Murali, Tarushi Vikram, and Phoebe Dale. Additionally, foreign participants from Singapore, Raguvaran Veerappan and co-driver Amanda Jia Ying Chew, will compete. The entry list showcases a variety of vehicles, including the Peugeot 208, Ford Fiesta, and Citroen C3.

Competitors will face a unique challenge in Coimbatore, as the rally's surface is predominantly gravel. They will navigate two special stages, Black Thunder and S.M. Agro, across eight runs, with both stages repeated throughout the event.

Black Thunder consists entirely of gravel, while S.M. Agro features a mix of 99% gravel and 1% asphalt. The special stages cover a competitive distance of 110.80 km, contributing to a total rally itinerary of 153.36 km, which includes 42.56 km of liaison sections.

As competitors revisit the same stages over the weekend, factors such as pace, consistency, vehicle setup, tire management, and precise pace notes will be crucial for maintaining performance.

Premnath Kasinath, Promoter and Director of Blueband Sports, stated, “Round 2 in Coimbatore presents a unique challenge for competitors and adds an important chapter to the 2026 INRC season. The gravel stages will require precision, consistency, and thorough preparation from both drivers and teams. With the stages being repeated, competitors must adapt to the conditions and maximize every run. We have a strong field assembled for this round and anticipate an exciting weekend of rallying in Coimbatore.”

Competitors have focused their preparations for Round 2 on adjusting their vehicles and driving strategies to meet the demands of the Coimbatore stages. The repeated-stage format allows drivers to evaluate their performance after each run and make necessary adjustments as the rally unfolds.

Dean Mascarenhas from TSI Racing remarked, “Our preparation for Coimbatore has centered on optimizing the car setup for gravel and ensuring we are comfortable with the stages and our pace notes. The conditions can significantly impact performance, so consistency will be vital throughout the weekend. As the stages are repeated, we will learn from each run and adapt accordingly. Our goal is to start strong, maintain consistency, and implement all our preparations when the rally begins.”

The 64-car lineup will compete across various championship categories, including INRC, INRC 2, INRC 3T, and INRC 3, along with the FMSCI Gypsy Challenge, Classic Challenge, and Masters Cup. The event will also feature competitors in Women and Junior categories.

Competitive action kicks off on Saturday, September 19, with the first car set to start Rally Day 1 at 9:30 am from the Service Park. Rally Day 2 will commence at 9:30 am on Sunday, September 20, with the provisional final classification expected at 2:30 pm.

The Blueband Sports Rally of Coimbatore 2026 is being conducted in accordance with the 2026 FIA International Sporting Code, FMSCI General Prescriptions for Stage Rallies, and FMSCI Specific Regulations for the Indian National Rally Championship. The rally carries a coefficient factor of 1.5.