Chikkamagaluru, 4 May 2025: Vaibhav Marathe of Goa clocked the fastest time in the the Chikmagalur Gravel Fest 2025 to claim the Overall honours and also clinched the premier class, the INAC 1 Unrestricted Open in the first South Zone qualifier round of the Octane Pits FMSCI Indian National Autocross Championship (INAC) 2025 here on Sunday.

Marathe, former class winner and a regular in Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), clocked two minutes and 57.876 seconds for the 2.2km twin track.

Organized by the Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur (MSCC) in association with JK Tyre Motorsport, the weekend event is a qualifying round, where the top five will be eligible for the grand finals. However, each driver is expected to drive in at least two qualifiers.

Syed Salman won three classes including the top INAC1 Upto 2000cc class and, later added two more victories in the INAC2 upto 1450cc and INAC2 upto 2000cc classes.

Defending Overall champion Ashad Pasha of Chikkamagaluru could win only INAC2 upto 1650cc class but was in contention in the other two INAC2 classes to keep his chances open for a grand finale shot.

Farooq Ahmed, left, fmsci vice-president presenting the Fastest Driver award to Vaibhav Marathe of Goa who clocked the best time in the INAC round 1 qualifier in Chikkamagaluru on Sunday. Photo courtesy MSCC

2019 INRC winner, Chetan Shivram of Bengaluru won the INAC2 Unrestricted class and is in line for qualification in two other classes. Zeeshan Mohammed won the INAC3 open and Shameena bagged the Ladies class ahead of reigning champ Pallavi Yadav.

The placings here does not count much as the top five have a chance to qualify and it is the finals that matter. Each driver has to take part in at least two of the seven qualifying rounds and the top five qualify for the grand finale, where INAC champions for 2025 are decided.

Provisional Results Round 1 qualifier:

Overall (Top 10 fastest times):

1. Vaibhav Marathe 02:57.876;

2. Syed Salman 02:59.687;

3. Syed Salman 02:59.457;

4. Ashad Pasha 02:59.627;

5. Syed Salman 02:59.687;

6. Ashad Pasha 03:00.554;

7. Aeman Ahmed 03:01.457;

8. Aeman Ahmed 03:01.788;

9. Chetan Shivram 03:02.472;

10. Aeman Ahmed 03:02.985.

Class 1. INAC 1 - Class A: Up to 2000cc

1. Syed Salman 2 minutes, 59.169 seconds;

2. Chetan Shivram 03:05.490;

3. Aeman Ahmed 03:06.986.

Class 2. INAC 1 - Class B: Unrestricted Open

1. Vaibhav Marathe 02:57.876;

2. Syed Salman 02:59.687;

3. Aeman Ahmed 03:01.788;

Class 3. INAC 2 - Class C: Up to 1450cc

1. Syed Salman 03:07.957;

2. Nameer Pasha 03:08.321;

3. Ashad Pasha 03:09.518;

Class 4. INAC 2 - Class D: Up to 1650cc

1. Ashad Pasha 03:00.554;

2. Aeman Ahmed 03:03.698;

3. Syed Salman 03:06.444;

Class 5. INAC 2 - Class E: Up to 2000cc

1. Syed Salman 02:59.457;

2. Ashad Pasha 02:59.627;

3. Aeman Ahmed 03:01.457;

Class 6. INAC 2 - Class F: Unrestricted

1. Chetan Shivram 03:02.472;

2. Aeman Ahmed 03:02.985;

3. Nameer Pasha 03:08.234;

Class 7. INAC 3 - Class G: Open

1. Zeeshan Mohammed 03:19.429;

2. Vaibhav Marathe 03:24.253;

3. Nameer Pasha 03:26.574;

Class 8. Ladies class

1. Shameena CP 03:41.004;

2. Pallavi Yadav 03:49.478;

Note: Each driver has to take part in at least two qualifiers and the top five in each class will make it to the grand finals, which has fmsci National championship status and the winners will be crowned as INAC National champions for year 2025. There are seven rounds of qualifiers in the calendar.