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Positive results for Volkswagen Motorsport India-developed Polo rally cars at K-1000 Rally
MUMBAI: The IMG K-1000 Rally turned out to be a successful outing for Volkswagen Motorsport India. The testing of the two rallyspec Polo cars developed by Volkswagen Motorsport India produced positive results. Polo R2, driven by Karamjit Singh took top honours in the IRC category and finished second overall. In INRC 1600 category, Arun Rao Aroor (AR Racing) finished first, Phalguna Urs (Racetech India) second and Sirish Chandran (Slideways Industries) third, all driving Volkswagen Polo rally cars. Rohan Pawar, also driving Slideways Industries’ Polo rally car grabbed the third position on the podium in the JINRC category.
Volkswagen Motorsport India began the testing of two company developed rally-spec Polo cars at IMG K-1000 rally. Polo R2 driven by Slideways Industries’ ace rally driver Karamjit Singh was placed in the IRC category while Group N Polo driven by Phalguna Urs was placed in the INRC 1600 category. Karamjit Singh won the IRC category and finished second overall. Multi- APRC title holder, Karamjit Singh said, “It was our first outing in the Polo R2 and I am glad we could produce good results. The feeling from the car is very positive and we are on the right
path for developing the car further.”
Phalguna Urs, also driving the factory-developed Polo, clocked consistent fast timings through the stages to finish second in 16000-cc category. Driving for Racetech India, it was Urs’ first time in a rally Polo and yet he managed to be just 1.4 seconds off the fastest in his category and clinched the second spot on the podium. Winning the INRC 1600 category was Arun Rao Aroor from AR Racing, also driving a Polo rally car. Finishing off the podium was Slideways Industries’ Sirish Chandran who finished 7.7 seconds behind Phalguna. In the JINRC Category, Slideways Industries Rohan Pawar drove throughout consistently to finish third in the end.
Prithviraj Siddappa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India commented, “The Polo R2 and Group N Polo being developed by the Volkswagen Motorsport team in India had their first competitive outing this weekend and I am glad they performed well. Karamjit’s and Urs’ results show good signs of the development of the cars. The team has worked really hard day in and day out to get the cars to this level and I am sure we will continue the development
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
