Ashwin Naik, speedster from Mangaluru is making India proud on international shores. The budding Motorsport sensation finished third in the British rally championship held in Wales recently, but has brought laurels to the nation, being the first Indian to have entered the league in Britain along with his driver Amittrajit Ghosh.
Born to Jayasheel Naik and Sharth J Naik, Ashwin completed his early studies at Milagres Junior college and St Aloysius college. He completed diploma in civil engineering from KPT Mangalore.
In an exclusive interview, Ashwin Naik speaks about his journey in the field of Motorsport, which is considered as a ‘waste of time’ and ‘risky game’ by many in India.
Here is the excerpt
First of all, how does it feel to be called the first Indian to enter British Rally Championship and emerge as second runner up?
It’s obviously a proud moment for me and the most cherished experience of my life. Yes, to be the 1st Indian in the British Rally Championship round one 2016, was indeed a dream come true mainly because I represented a country, which was once a British Colony. This victory will remain in pages of history for Motorsport for long. I dedicate this victory to my family, friends, driver, riders who stood by me and supported me.
How and when did you decide to become a rally driver?
My days of Motorsport goes back 20 years from now, to my college days. Like any other youngster we used to ride on the High Streets of Mangalore (May be rash), only till I realised that there is an arena called ‘MotorsSports’.
You had used Ford Fiesta for the Britain rally. Was there a specific researched reason behind it?
Internationally, most of the manufacturers are into rallying and Ford is said to have very sound footing in the British Rally Championship. With the backing of M-sport, the car has been proven for its reliability. So we chose to drive Ford Fiesta – R.2.T.
Apart from being the first time that we were entering the BRC (British Rally Championship), we also had many other firsts like 1st time in a left hand drive car, 1st time in the snow, 1st time in night stages, 1st time in an unknown territory against 120+ competing car etc etc. With the limited seat time of 30 miles of testing, I think probably we got best result out of the Ford Fiesta. This car had electrical issues hence our result was affected and we landed up being 2nd Runner up rather than the winner.
Tell us, what’s more important in rallying: The car or the driver?
Rally is not just about the car and the driver. Rallying is a package of 20% Driver, 20% Co-driver, 20% Car, 20% Tuner and 20% Luck. These 5 parameters can make you either a 100% winner or a loser.
Which is the rally race/ stage that you have found the toughest so far in your career? Why?
After participating in close to 200 rallies in India and Abroad, I feel every rally throws a different challenge and I respect every terrain and Rally that I have participated in. In terms of toughness the last BRC was challenging-mainly because of snow, darkness and the reversal of the driver’s position as compared to India(in left hand drive).
After doing the Worlds highest rally for 10 years and the only co-driver in the country who has won all national-level rallies like Raid de Himalaya, Desert Storm, Sub Himalayan rally SJOBA, Dakshin Dare, Mogal rally Kashmir, All Indian rally championship, India Baja, Nagaland rally, Rally of Arunachal, and many more, I feel the Himalayan rally was the toughest, with sub zero temperature and spine chilling drops.
Which one is the most cherished memory related to the competitions you took part in?
As I said every rally is important and the memories will go into pages but, the first rally(1995) in Karavali TSD format on a bike and the first rally in car ‘Coorg Orange Rally 2000’ will be memorable simply because it all started there.
How competitive is the Indian rallying scene compared to European? What do you think should be done to promote Motorsport more in India?
Indian rallying is also very competitive and that’s why we could get a promising result in the BRC. Yes, there is lack of faster cars and involvement of manufacturers and sponsors, which makes us handicapped, especially when we are competing in international Rallies. Also Motorsport is expensive and access to competition parts are also limited.
Drivers like Gaurav Gill, Naren Kumar, Hari Singh, Arjun Balu, Sanjay Takale and many others are getting some quick stage time in international Rallies. Amittrajit Ghosh is also setting some good pace. Indians have the capacity to take on the best from the world.
With a growing economy and with more brands coming to India I feel manufacturers will also will have to show their muscle power by putting their cars in to rally/ Race. Motorsport is like a gym for vehicle manufacturers. Motorsport even today in India is at the grassroots-level, mainly due to lack of awareness and lack of Sponsors.
When did you and your driver Amittrajit Ghosh join hands and start driving together?
Amittrajit Ghosh and I have been rallying together since 2007. We first started off with the Indian National Rallying Championship and then represented teams like Red Rooster Racing, M.R.F ltd, and now Rallying for Team Mahindra Adventure in XUV 500.
Amitt is from Calcutta and is currently based in London. We have won 2 National Championships, 35 Podium finishes in national rallies and done many other cross country rallies together.
There is a notion that motor sport is a risky game. What is your take?
I totally disagree with this. I feel the huge population of Indian youth should be following a sport which is played in 160 countries and not play a game which is played in 16 countries.
Media plays a big role in promoting any form of sport as they are the window to the world. The sport must be showcased in a way it should be showcased. The point is that it is not a risky game if it is played on the right track with proper safety measures in place. Motorsport is not a game which should be played on public roads!
What is it that you are into when you are not rallying?
Well, I run an I.T company called Nirmal Info World and Nirmal info services, which cater to the Information Technology requirements in and around Mangalore. During my leisure I workout for fitness in Motorsport. Also, I am a Partner of IMSC Motorsport which runs Motorsport events in India.
A message you have for our readers.
As long as you have got passion, faith and are willing to work hard you can do anything you want in life. Everyone has talent, what’s rare is the courage to follow it till the end.
Even when I started Motorsport as passion it took 20 years time to stand and talk to people. In a city like Mangalore, Motorsport is considered as dangerous, unsafe and waste of time. Sorry to say Motorsport is safer than driving on Indian roads and it can also be a good career.
I specifically want to tell youth that life is beautiful don’t make it short. Please wear helmet/seat belt while riding and driving. Roads are not for racing we have tracks/stages where you can prove your performance.
