News Broadcasting
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
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
