Mayank Chopra and Chirag Thakur became the 2025 Indian National TSD Rally Champions. Mayank Chopra is the son of Manmohan Chopra, a social worker and former president of Rotary Club Ranipur.
Haridwar.
Displaying exceptional teamwork, precision and determination, the rally duo of Mayank Chopra (driver) and Chirag Thakur (co-driver) have emerged as the 2025 Indian National Time-Speed-Distance Rally Championship (INTSDRC-2) champions, the highest honour in the sport under the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI).
The championship journey began in September 2025, when the team registered for the FMSCI Indian National TSD Rally Championship-2 (INTSDRC-2) with an aim to compete against some of the best rally teams from across the country.
Strong start at the Rally of Mallabhum
The team’s first qualifying event was the ‘Rally of Mallabhum 2025,’ held in Bankura, West Bengal, on November 29 and 30, 2025. This was the first time this prestigious rally was hosted in Bankura and included a challenging mix of highways, dirt tracks, river crossings, and a challenging night leg. The rally attracted top TSD competitors from across India and tested both man and machine in highly competitive conditions.
Displaying remarkable consistency and navigation accuracy, Mayank Chopra and Chirag Thakur secured the First Runner-Up position in the INTSDRC-2 category and successfully secured their first qualification towards the National Finals.
Dominate the desert at the Rally De North
Competitors were required to qualify in at least two rounds to make it to the championship final, so the pair entered their second qualifying event, the ‘Rally De North’, held in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 19 and 20 December 2025.
The rally was held over approximately 150 kilometers of mixed terrain and included challenging night stages as well as difficult desert sections. The event tested the stamina, concentration, and coordination of both drivers and co-drivers in some of the most challenging rally conditions.
Mayank Chopra demonstrated excellent vehicle control and driving precision in the difficult desert terrain, while Chirag Thakur provided impeccable navigation through accurate time-speed-distance calculations, route tracking and strategic rally management.
Their combined performance not only secured victory in the INTSDRC-2 category, but also placed them among the rally’s overall top three competitors, a remarkable achievement considering the highly competitive field. This victory ensured their qualification for the INTSDRC-2 National Finals.
National glory at the INTSDRC Finals
The INTSDRC Finals were held in Bengaluru from 28th to 30th March 2026, with the best drivers and co-drivers from across the country competing for the country’s most prestigious TSD rallying title.
The championship finale featured difficult terrain, complex route layouts, and highly technical navigation challenges, where precision, teamwork, and consistency were crucial. Competing against the country’s top rally talent, Mayank and Chirag relied on their partnership and experience of over a decade.
Having competed together since 2014 and achieved numerous rally victories across the country, the pair’s exceptional coordination, trust and dedication once again proved to be their greatest strengths.
After three days of intense competition, Mayank Chopra and Chirag Thakur emerged victorious and were crowned the FMSCI Indian National TSD Rally Championship-2 (INTSDRC-2) champions for 2025, thereby recognizing them as the Indian National TSD Rally Champions.
Nationally recognized
In recognition of their outstanding achievement and contribution to Indian motorsport, the champion duo was honoured at the FMSCI Annual Awards ceremony held at The Leela Indian City, Bengaluru on 18 June 2026, where they received the prestigious National Championship award.
This remarkable achievement is a testament to the team’s unwavering commitment, years of preparation, and passion for motorsport. Their championship-winning campaign further cements their reputation as India’s most accomplished driver-co-driver partnership in Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) rallying.
Mayank Chopra and Chirag Thakur’s journey from the qualification round to becoming National Champions serves as an inspiration for budding motorsport enthusiasts across the country and highlights the growing importance of TSD Rally in India.