Fabid Ahmer, an epitome of clean driving: INDIAinF1 Champion Series #FabidRally

INDIAinF1 series on champion drivers and riders presents the second article this week. As we head to the third round of the Indian National Rally Championship in Jodhpur next month, we feature Fabid Ahmer, the leading driver in the overall and INRC3 class after two rounds.

Bengaluru, 29 August 2019: There is a new kid on the block and he is doing extremely well this season to catch all the eyeballs. It is Fabid Ahmer, who with his smooth and clean driving has won many a heart this season. With cool and steady performances, the youngster from Palakkad has become the cynosure leading the overall standings of the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), the flagship event of Indian Motorsports calendar.

The Kerala driver, who is registered for INRC3 category, began the season with a bang taking the runner-up spot behind Dean Mascarenhas in the South India Rally at Chennai, the season opener. In the same event, he topped the INRC3 category along with co-driver Sanath Gopalan. Last month, the talented driver, who completed 26 years last Saturday, again churned out some smooth driving to take the third position in overall standings conquering the treacherous slushy conditions which claimed many a famed driver including some top guns like Gaurav Gill, his idol, and Amittrajit Ghosh among others. Once again he scored good points, as he came second in his class, INRC3. Thus, after two rounds, he is leading the championship and promises to keep up the good work in the remaining rallies.

Fabid made his debut in the last rally of 2015 season, the Coffee Day Rally at the coffee plantations of Chikkamagaluru and was adjudged as the best novice driver. And after just a year of full season, he came second in the FMSCI 2WD Cup in 2017. Last year, he upgraded himself to the INRC3 class and once again did well to take the third in the Nationall Championship.

This writer had the chance to follow him from his early days and had a wonderful chance to sit in his car, prepared by Chettinad Sporting, at the testing track at Kethanur in Coimbatore. It was an amazing experience during the Advanced Driving School run by speed king, Gaurav Gill, who was finally recognised and presented with an Arjuna Award by the President of India on Thursday, the National Sports Day. “He is a very smooth driver. I have made some subtle changes to his style to make it more effective and he is a quick learner,” said Gill, about the Team Champions’ driver after three days of his school last year.

“The school was a big learning experience. It felt great to understand rally driving from the technical side through Gaurav (Gill). He helped me understand the importance of finesse while driving and I have been improving on what he had taught me over the last two seasons. The way he teaches is really amazing and tips are so useful during the events,” said Fabid about the coaching he underwent with Gill.

When asked about motorsport lovers in his family, he said: “Motorsports has been a part of my family from the very beginning. My dad and his friends had organised rallies in my hometown back in the 90s. My uncle Mohammed Kasim is an active INRC driver. And after growing up watching his rallies, I can say that he has been my inspiration to get into INRC.”

As a young kid, Fabid was fond of cars. “From a very young age, I took a liking towards cars. But motorsports started gripping me when I was into my teens. When my uncle started driving in INRC, I also wanted to join but I had to wait until my Engineering course was completed. But my family has been very supportive and have provided me with all the opportunities to prove myself as a rally driver,” said the modest youngster, who had completed his B.Tech before taking up LLB and successfully completing it. He currently practices law, that is when he is not rallying.

When asked who is your idol, bang came the reply: “Gaurav Gill! I look up to him because he’s a genius. He is sure of what he does and he does it in style, which appears effortless as he does it with ease and grace.” Fabid also follows the World Rally Championship and admires Thierry Neuville, because the Belgian driver chooses smooth driving over aggression. “That is the way I like it to drive too,” says the modest driver, who is getting attention for his effective and clean driving.

When asked about his driving style, which is very different from many in the scene, he said: “I have always been a smooth and clean driver rather than an aggressive driver. But different rallies need a different approach. I have learned that over the past seasons and have been able to improvise my driving according to different rallies and as such I’ve improved my driving consistency. My strength is the ability to stay calm inside the rally car even when am leading the rally and when I am pushing hard to make up my position.” That is his way of unleashing aggression in a smooth way!

“I would also like to thank Team Champions, who have been a big support to achieve my goals. I am happy to be associated with Chettinad Sporting who have been doing a great job on my car to suit my needs,” he added. Fabid pilots a Volkswagen Polo prepared by Chettinad Sporting.

“My goal this year is to win the INRC3 championship and get into JK tyre team where I aim to prove my talent and hope to get the international exposure through Jk tyres,” he concluded.