Sanjay takale

Asia Pacific Rally Championship: Top Indian rally driver Sanjay Takale’s debut at the iconic Dakar 2025 will be a historic day for India, as it will be the first time ever an Indian will take part in the four-wheel section of any class at the Mother of all Rallies, Dakar, which is beginning from January 3, 2025, in Saudi Arabia. The gruelling route with 12 stages of over 8000 km is a daunting task even for the experienced.

Pune’s aerpace racer Takale, the first Indian to win an Asia Pacific Rally Championship title in the production class, has partnered with Compagnie Saharienne, a French Historic Rally Team, to race a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78 at the 2025 Dakar Classic. He will be the first Indian to race the Dakar Classic as a car driver with Maxime Raud as his co-driver.

“My goal is to simply experience the might of Dakar and have fun driving in the dunes. It is a long journey and will be a good learning experience. I am also very proud to be the first Indian to get this opportunity to drive on a four-wheeler at Dakar,” said Takale.