Pragathi Gowda all set for FIA Rally Star Women’s Final

Bengaluru, 19 April 2023: Indian rally star athlete Pragathi Gowda is eagerly waiting for the World Women’s Final which is now scheduled to take place in Italy in the first week of May to take a shot at the FIA Rally Star Training Season, which is rapidly taking shape with confirmation of the Training Camp and event schedule. The World Finals, originally slated to be held in South America, is put off twice.

Exciting motorsports talent Gowda from Bengaluru is expected to be among some of the most promising young rally drivers representing Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas who will gather in Sardinia for intensive training and evaluation sessions from May 21 to June 1. However, while a few of them already qualified, Pragathi Gowda needs to do well at the Women’s final. Considering that all the five other continental champions are professional drivers with a lot of saddle time, the Indian will be a rookie as we don’t even have similar cross-cars in India. Pragathi’s only seat time on the car was for the final contest of the Asia Pacific selection trials where she did drive the new vehicle about four or five times in three days and beat the best male drivers and a tough lady driver from New Zealand.

‘Matter of pride to fly the Indian flag’

“I will put my heart into it and have fun. A lot of hard work and dedication went into reaching this stage and I have respect and love for my sport and my country. I am not going to compete against each other but I will compete with myself. It is not so much about performance but it is basically going to be a learning trip. Representing Asia Pacific at World Finals is always a matter of great pride and flying the Indian flag is an honour,” said Pragathi Gowda, speaking exclusively to INDIAinF1.com.

They are the winners of the five FIA Rally Star Continental Finals, and Pragathi Gowda, the winner of the FIA Rally Star Asia Pacific Women’s Final which was held in Chennai in October 2022 will join the other Continental winners to try to get into the bigger Training Season group. In the FIA Rally Star Asia-Pacific Final with 26 drivers from seven ASNs (National Federations for 7 countries) vying for honours, Pragathi Gowda came out triumphant in the three-step test and topped among the four lady drivers on the deciding day of action at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai, India. The event was hosted successfully by the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC).

Once selected, between June and November, the six aspiring future FIA World Rally Championship winners will contest six national or regional-level events on both gravel and tarmac in identical Ford Fiesta Rally3s prepared by M-Sport Poland and running on Pirelli tyres. To enter this group, Pragathi is making all-out efforts to top the Women’s Final. “They have better technology and they have those karts to practice. But I don’t have a kart so it’s a big challenge,” said the Bengaluru lass, who wanted to taste the kart (cross-car) but went on to win at the Asia Pacific finals, as she gives her best whenever she gets back on the steering wheel.

At the completion of the FIA Star Training Season, the four best-performing drivers will secure a dream opportunity by contesting the FIA Junior WRC Championship in 2024.

Earlier, the FIA Rally Star American and Women’s Finals were supposed to be held in South America. After being postponed twice the event is now switched to Italy from May 1 to 4, followed by the Sardinian training camp.

Relocated from Peru to Uruguay, the switch to Italy and the Maggiora Offroad Arena in Piemont, northeast of the city of Turin, is the result of logistical issues.

While every effort was made to maintain the Polideportivo Motor Maldonado off-road motorsport complex in Uruguay as the venue for the FIA Rally Star American and Women’s Finals, moving to Italy makes for a more accessible location for the Women’s Final and will ensure that there will be no delay to the start of the FIA Rally Star Training Season.

The FIA Rally Star American Final – featuring participants from South and North America – had been due to take place from April 30-May 2 with the Women’s Final following on May 3. The FIA Rally Star American Final will now run from May 1-3 ahead of the Women’s Final on May 4.

On top of the #RallyAtHome Challenges winners, eight ASNs from South and North America (Argentina, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay) will send contestants to the FIA Rally Star American Final with a total of 42 drivers expected to take part. The FIA will cover their travel costs.

What’s on the agenda during the FIA Rally Star Training Camp 

The FIA Rally Star Training Camp consists of theoretical sessions covering event reconnaissance, rally car engineering, regulations, and team organisation. 

There will be practical activities including testing on gravel and tarmac, physical and mental training, recce practice, media training, and team observation through spending time with mechanics.

The FIA Rally Star Training Season members will then take part in the reconnaissance for Rally Italia Sardegna at the same time as the drivers contesting round six of the FIA World Rally Championship (June 1-4).

Media activities in and around the Rally Italia Sardegna Service Park will be the focus on the final day of the FIA Rally Star Training Camp on June 1 and will include taking part in a press conference and being interviewed by accredited media.

Prior to arriving in Sardinia, the six FIA Rally Star Training Season participants will take part in a series of webinars aimed at getting them fully prepared for the Training Camp.

All costs are covered by the FIA with the best four drivers at the completion of the FIA Rally Star Training Season securing a fully funded season in the FIA Junior WRC Championship in 2024.

The FIA Rally Star Training Season events have been specifically chosen to equip the drivers with experience in a wide variety of conditions and circumstances. 

Robert Reid, FIA Deputy President for Sport said: “Firstly, I would like to express our gratitude to Ivan Dibos Mier, President of the Touring Automóvil Club del Perú, and to Jorge Tomasi, President of the Automobile Club del Uruguay, for all their efforts to bring the FIA Rally Star American and Women’s Finals to their countries. The enthusiasm and passion from the Peruvian and Uruguayan teams would have made for a fantastic event in both countries, had it not been for reasons beyond their control requiring a change of venue.

“We now look forward to eight ASNs being represented in Maggiora by some promising young drivers and we thank the Maggiora Off Road Arena and the Automobile Club d’Italia for their assistance in the organisation of the event.

“Beyond these final decider rounds, we are excited to announce details of the FIA Rally Star Training Camp and the six events the winners of the Continental Finals and Women’s Final will contest during the upcoming FIA Rally Star Training Season. The team has worked hard to develop what will be a comprehensive FIA Rally Star Training Camp itinerary. The six events have been chosen to give the drivers the opportunity to sample a variety of conditions that are likely to be encountered in the Junior WRC Championship.

“We are grateful for the support of our partners and, specifically, Automobile Club d’Italia and our colleagues at Rally Italia Sardegna for all their assistance. We also extend our thanks to the organisers of the six rallies who will welcome us from June to November.”

The FIA Rally Star Training Season event schedule confirmed

The FIA Rally Star Training Season will feature six events, four on gravel and two on Tarmac. The six FIA Rally Star Training Season participants will compete in identical Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally3s run by M-Sport Poland. The event calendar is as follows:

•    Rally San Marino, Italy (gravel), June 16-17

•    Rallye Weiz, Austria (Tarmac), July 13-15

•    Rally Nova Gorica, Slovenia (Tarmac), September 22-24

•    Rally Saarema, Estonia (Gravel), October 6-7

•    RallyRACC, Spain (Gravel), October 20-21

•    Lausitz Rallye, Germany (Gravel), November 9-11

A test will take place ahead of each event along with an extensive post-rally debrief following afterward.