The inaugural JK Tyre Drift Challenge witnessed Anam Sekhon, hailed as the Drift champ of India, dominating proceedings as he secured victories in two out of the three categories, marking a milestone in the country’s first official drifting competition. Seasoned drifter Mudit Grover also displayed an outstanding performance, finishing on the podium in all three categories of the JK Tyre Drift Challenge.
JK Tyre Drift Challenge – All the Action
Sekhon exhibited remarkable control and precision as he maneuvered his specially-prepped Lexus GS 300 with incredible sideways drifts around the corners. Meanwhile, Mudit Grover showcased his impressive skills in his BMW E46 on the twisting drift track at the Buddh International Circuit, delivering a spectacular display of car control that produced mesmerizing tire-smoking drifts.
In the D1 category, Anam Sekhon secured a resounding victory with a total score of 744 points, leaving his closest competitor, Jugraj Singh Bhurjee driving a BMW M3, with only 476 points. Mudit Grover, in his BMW E46, clinched the third position with 286 points.
Anam Sekhon’s exceptional performance continued in the D2 category, where he accumulated 460 points, claiming another win. Mudit Grover earned second place with 262 points, while Mugdha Grover, driving the Mercedes C200 K, landed in third place with 156 points.
Despite Sekhon’s dominant run, Mudit Grover managed to defeat him in the Open category with 700 points, surpassing Sekhon’s 636 points. Samyak Kapoor secured a distant third position with 281 points.
The scoring process involved the evaluation of multiple parameters, including line, angle, style, and speed. The scores were determined by a three-member panel of international judges, which included Mr. Taniguchi Atsushi from Japan, Mr. Tanakorn Lertyaovarit from Thailand, and India’s own drift expert Mr. Alistair Woodham.
The competition featured three categories – D1, D2, and Open, which were differentiated based on the width of the car tires. The D1 category used tires that were 215-255mm wide, while the D2 category featured a maximum tire width of 205mm. The Open category allowed competitors with tires of varying widths to participate.
The JK Tyre Drift Challenge was the first officially-backed drifting event in India, supported by the Indian motorsports governing body, the FMSCI. Organized by JK Tyre, the event introduced a new motorsport discipline to Indian fans, attracting a large live audience and viewership through a live stream.
Other Events
In addition to the Drift Challenge, the Buddh International Circuit hosted the JK Tyre Formula Imperial and Indian Karting Race. These events, organized by the Imperial Society of Innovation Engineers (ISIEINDIA) and supported by JK Tyre, provided a platform for engineering students to design and develop sustainable mobility solutions.
In the Formula Imperial category, Team Screwdrivers from the Dhole Patil College of Engineering in Maharashtra emerged as the champions, with Team Accelerons from the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra securing the runner-up spot.
In the Indian Karting Race, Team Luftwaffe Racing from the Rajarambapu Institute of Technology in Maharashtra claimed the champions’ title in the EV class, while Team Niyudrath Karting from the MIT Academy of Engineering in Pune became champions in the CV class.