After a week of gruelling competition, Cedrick Jordan DaSilva and co-driver Mackwin Dias have emerged as the winners of the 2023 Rainforest Challenge India (RFC India). Goa has hosted all nine editions of the RFC India so far, but this is the first time that a team from Goa has taken the title.
As the winning driver, DaSilva has won free entry into the 2023 RFC Global Series finale that will be held in Malaysia later this year.
1. First Goa team to win RFC India
2. Anand V Manjooran, Chethan Chengappa second
3. Dr Mohammed Fahed VP, Rajeev Lal third
DaSilva made a strong start, taking the lead on the very first day. However, his winching rope snapped on the second day, and as a result, he couldn’t participate in SS5. But he and Dias made up lost ground over the next few stages and by Day 4 they were back in the lead.
“In a competition where you are fighting neck-to-neck for a lead of 10-20 points, losing so many points was a very big setback. It was a now or never kind of a situation for us over the next three days. So, we put our foot down, planned our stages wisely and tried various techniques to better our timings in the Stages. It was a very big struggle over the next three days to gradually come back to the top position,” DaSilva reflected.
The duo aced the Twilight Zone, considered one of the most difficult segments of RFC India. After a week and 26 stages of intense off-roading, along with the added challenge of rainfall, DaSilva and Dias took victory, having scored 2,101 out of 2,600 points.
“A long-awaited dream has come true. I have only one passion, which is off-roading, and I had won all major off-roading events in India except RFC India. So, this trophy was always on my wish list and it means the world to me to win RFC India 2023,” said DaSilva. He has now won free entry into the RFC Global Series finale that will be held in Malaysia later this year. He can elect to take Dias along with him, however, he also has the choice to pick another co-driver.
Anand V Manjooran (co-driver Chethan Chengappa) finished second overall with 2,019 points, while Dr Mohammed Fahed VP (co-driver Rajeev Lal) was third overall with 1,982 points.
Along with taking overall victory, DaSilva and Dias also won in the ‘Up to 1,610cc’ category. Other category winners include Bijender Singh (co-driver Gajender Singh) in the ‘1,611 to 3,010cc – Petrol’ category, Dr Mohammed Fahed VP (co-driver Rajeev Lal) in ‘1,611 to 3,010cc – Diesel’ and finally, Ibrahim Firaz Shaik (co-driver Dushyant Khosla) in ‘Above 3,010cc’.
Maruti makes motorsport return with RFC India
Organised by Cougar Motorsport, the Rainforest Challenge is widely regarded as one of the most demanding off-road competitions in India. The event isn’t simply about completing the stages with the quickest times, it tests competitors on several parameters like their driving and vehicle recovery skills, physical and mental resilience, as well as team-work in extreme off-road conditions.
A total of 21 teams participated in this year’s event, which even saw Maruti Suzuki make its motorsport return after a brief hiatus. Coming onboard as RFC India’s co-sponsor and 4x4 partner, Maruti provided a convoy of Jimnys that were used by RFC officials throughout the week of competition. A special Jimny Experience Zone was also set up, where participants and visitors had the chance to drive the SUV on curated tracks under the supervision of instructors.
Dipan Sur
