The rooftop of Amanora Mall was transformed into a playground of speed, sound and street style as Royal Enfield’s GRRR Nights X Underground event was held in the city of Pune. Blending motorsport action with music and urban culture, this programme drew enthusiasts for a mix of drag races, drift showcases, car meets and live performances.
At its core, GRRR Nights was about bringing motorsport to a public setting. Attendees could witness everything from drag races and drifting with the opportunity to ride shotgun in some of the cars. Additionally, attendees would also be given a chance to try stunt riding under a controlled environment. This event was host to specialists like Padma Prashanth, Sanam Sekhon, Jeet Tapaswi and Anish Shetty.
The event itself began a lot later than expected and only came alive after the sun set. Ironically, even though this event is called Underground, it was actually held on the rooftop of an empty parking lot. A mild hurdle was getting to the top with a limited number of elevators and a mile-long queue. Which meant most attendees had to either wait for their turn or muscle up and climb 6 stories.
Nevertheless, once you make the climb you can witness quite a tasteful lineup of two and four wheelers ranging in all shapes and sizes. This event was home to tuners, classics, off-roaders and some exotics. Custom cars and modified motorcycles were also part of the scene, giving the rooftop a distinctly “meet-up” vibe that extended well beyond the official programme.
The most anticipated moment of this event was with Kerala-based rider Akildas T.D., who set a new record for 27 drift circles completed in 53 seconds on a Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. His effort was met with some of the loudest cheers of the night. Beyond motorsport, the event leaned heavily into underground culture, reminiscent of a Fast and Furious car meet.
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To add to the street culture vibe there were DJ sets lined up along with some rap battles and dance offs. The blend of music, motorsport and community was deliberate, aiming to create an environment closer to a block party than a conventional auto show.
While the spotlight was firmly on the event itself, Royal Enfield used the occasion to launch a new colour option for its Guerrilla 450 roadster. For Pune’s riding and motorsport community, GRRR Nights X Underground was an opportunity to see professional stunts, drag runs and cultural performances packaged into one large-scale event.
Judging by the turnout and the energy on the rooftop, it may also be a template for how manufacturers and organisers approach similar gatherings in the future — with motorsport and culture given equal exposure.
Vishal Venugopal
Ved Janve
Stephen Raj Antony
Autocar India Team 
