What are you driving and why?
Jaguar E-Type Series 3. It's pure vintage class with a V12 engine. Enzo Ferrari once said the E-Type was the most beautiful car ever made - and who am I to disagree?
What's next on your wish list?
Not a "what" but a "where". I love the cars I own, and what I’d most like is to be able to drive them in India, especially on a road like the Goa-Mangalore highway or on one of the mountain routes.
Dream money-no-object car?
I’m really drawn to cars with a rich history, so for me, it would have to be one of the Rolls-Royces owned by the maharajas. They had a spectacular collection, but I think my favourite of all is the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.
Who is your all-time greatest motorsport hero?
Joginder Singh, the 'Flying Sikh'. He won the Safari Rally three times, one of the toughest races on the rallying calendar.
Favourite road?
The Grand Trunk Road. It’s over 1,500 miles long, runs through four countries, and dates back to 300 BCE. It connects to Amritsar, home to the holiest gurdwara in the Sikh faith. I’ve pilgrimaged there once before. It’s a special journey, and the incredible scope and history of the road that connects to it really add to the enormity of the experience.
What's on your automotive bucket list?
I want to hold a cross-country classic car rally from the north to the south of India. India is home to a really vibrant, passionate community of car enthusiasts, and the rally would be a great opportunity to draw attention to that subculture and introduce more people to classic cars.
Your ideal five-car garage?
An almost impossible question, but it would have to be:
- Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
- Jaguar E-Type S1
- 1960 Corvette Stingray
- 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
- Something fun… 1987 Hindustan Ambassador
What was your first car/bike?
A Yamaha FS1-E moped. I bought it when I was 17. I saved up for months!
Dipan Sur
Saptarshi Mondal
