Kenyan rally championship

RC3 Kenyan National Rally Championship: Hyderabad’s Naveen Pulligilla and co-driver Musa Sherif of Kasargod, created Indian motorsports history, as they became the first “all-Indian team” to participate in the World Rally Championship (WRC). The duo competed in the iconic Safari Rally Kenya 2025 from March 20 to 23 and won the RC3 Kenyan National Rally Championship.

Naveen and Musa, driving a Ford Fiesta Rally3 machine for the Africa Eco Motorsport team, were leading WRC3 class with just two stages to go and were on the verge of a fairytale debut. But their luck failed as they encountered mechanical issues with the lower arm and were forced to pull out. Thankfully, by that stage, they already clinched the RC3 class Kenyan Rally Championship title which ran concurrently and concluded after 19 stages.

"Competing in the Safari Rally Kenya was an incredible experience. The terrain isn’t just challenging, it’s a shock for any first-timer, with boulder-strewn routes and unpredictable conditions. Despite that, we managed to maintain pace and stay within three minutes of the top WRC cars. The rally, the breathtaking countryside, and the wildlife made it unforgettable. I’m definitely coming back in 2026," said Naveen, who is planning to take part in two more WRC rounds in Saudi Arabia and Sardinia.