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Imagine a dense forest, towering trees, continuous rainfall, slush and muck-filled routes, crossing pits and waterfalls, rain water levels at chest level.
Now, picture yourself, driving a rugged car and manoeuvring your way through these forces of nature.
Well, it isn't as easy as it may seem despite the experience of negotiating potholed city streets. Hence, of the many off-road challenges, the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) India, is reputed to be the toughest off-road motorsport event in the country.
This is no ordinary competition. Here, every participant needs strong willpower, a mean machine and sheer grit to win the ultimate Rainforest Challenge.
And, all that – willpower, machine, grit – took Dr Mohammed Fahed VP and co-driver Rajeev Lal from Kerala to win the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) India 2024.
This year, 26 teams participated in the Rainforest Challenge (RFC), a week-long sporting event which began on July 19. During the off-road race, the drivers along with their co-drivers had to undertake 26 challenges during the week-long competition held in Quepem and Verna, towards the end of July.
The special stages/challenges tested their off-road driving and co-driving skills, their team coordination and their vehicles’ capabilities under extreme off-road conditions.
Talking to Gomantak Times Digital, an extremely happy and proud Fahed VP said, “I have been honing my skills in this field since 2019, and I’m extremely proud of our win.”
Fahed was ranked third in the previous Rainforest Challenge held in Goa in 2023.
“Our car had taken a big hit ever since the last RFC in 2023, and I realised that it needs to undergo some changes. I converted it electrical, and it moved very smoothly in the harsh weather conditions,” said the Ayurvedic paediatrician, who garnered 2,165 points out of a possible 2,600.
Talking about balancing his profession and being an off-road driver, he says, it is passion.
“During the day, I am a doctor, and by the evening or during the weekends, I turn into an off-road driver. Being raised in a huge farm, we always used to drive a jeep -- the terrain wouldn’t support any other kind of car," he mentioned.
"I grew up around jeeps and rocky terrain, so off-roading was in my blood. We had to drive a few kilometres from our rubber plantation to reach the main road leading to our city. So, I off-road to go to work,” laughed the 38-year-old doctor.
During the day, I am a doctor and by the evening or during the weekends, I turn into an off-road driver. Being raised in a huge farm, we always used to drive a jeep, the terrain wouldn’t support any other kind of car.
Dr Mohammed Fahed VP, off-rider from Kerala
Ujjal Namshum from Arunachal Pradesh and co-driver Chethan Chengappa from Karnataka bagged the second position with 2,039 points. The 44-year-old Ujjal and Chethan made the best team together and were disappointed when they came in second.
“I have competed in RFC India after a gap of five years, and this time, I had a bigger and more powerful engine in my vehicle as well as the best co-driver in the country," shared Ujjal.
"Unfortunately, we had a few topples, and since my vehicle was new, it took me a few days to get used to the car. This cost us majorly, and we were unable to retain the lead we had taken in the first two days of the competition,” added Ujjal, who runs a tea plantation in the Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, and was participating in RFC India for the third time.
Despite the wins and trophies, the event was a learning experience for newbies in this sport, car fanatics and students interested in knowing about automobile engineering.