Motorsport

Who Is Sanjay Takale? India's First-ever Rally Driver To Participate In Four-wheel Section

𝓀 At the Dakar Rally, Sanjay Takale will race with a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78 over 8,000 kilometres, with 5,000 kms of 12 special stages

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Rally driver Sanjay Takale Photo: X|Doordarshan Sports
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Rally driver Sanjay Takale became the first-ever Indian to take part in the four-wheel section at the Dakar Rally 2025, held in Saudi Arabia from January 3-17. (More Motorsport News)

ღThe 56-year-old also became the first Indian to win an Asia-Pacific Rally Championship title (APRC) in the production class, partnering with a French team Compagnie Saharienne. 

ꦆAt the Dakar Rally, he will race with a Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78 over 8,000 kilometres, with 5,000 kms of 12 special stages.  

🌺"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," Takale was quoted as saying by the PTI before the event. 

🤡Takale started off his motocross raced back in June 1987, and won over 100 trophies until 2001, and drew curtains to his two-wheeler career after taking home the bike National round title in Nashik for TVS factory. 

𝄹He also became the first Indian to win the production class title in 2013 in Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.

ꦉTakale made World Rally Championship3 debut at Rally Finland and finished 14th in his class in 2018, and repeated it in 2019.

ꦅTakale works as a chief advisory officer for Aerpace, a transportation company, and has Maxime Raud as his co-driver in Dakar classic, which will take place along the main Dakar event.

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