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SANJAY TAKALE
Overdrive
|February 2026
The 57-year old rally driver born in Manjri, close to Pune in Maharashtra, is a pioneer when it comes to motorsports in India.
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He started doing motocross back in the eighties before switching to traditional rallies in cars and becoming an Asia-Pacific Production Cup champion. The initial phase was 14-years of motorbike racing before entering the world of rally in 2012. He bagged the top spot at Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in his first season and the same year recorded multiple wins in rallies of France, Japan, Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand. At a global level, he has also participated in events of the World Rally Championship.
On talking about how racing entered his life, Sanjay said, “I never thought I would actually become a racer. It was just something I loved watching. But life has a way of pushing you toward what you're meant to do. Rallying is not just speed. It is patience, bravery, and the willingness to be uncomfortable for hours. It tests every part of who you are.”
This story is from the February 2026 edition of Overdrive.
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