Team MRF Tyres has won the final round of European Rally Championship 2024 at the Rally of Silesia, Poland. Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi (ITA) steered the team to victory, participating in Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, and became the eighth different winner of the eight round 2024 FIA European Rally Championship.

Mabellini's maiden European career triumph was made possible by the exceptional performance of the Italian crew, who was placed second in the last championship round at the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion. As the first Italian to win a European rally outside of Italy in 13 years, this is a noteworthy outcome. With this outcome, Mabellini concluded the season in fourth position, just a few points below third place, and made a substantial contribution to Team MRF Tyres' second-place finish in the rankings.

As the only driver to fight two-time European champion and former WRC driver Hayden Paddon, Mabellini was in the running from the beginning, finishing second in the opening show stage. After a fierce duel that lasted down to the tenths of a second, Mabellini's triumph on SS11 on Day 2 marked a turning point and put him in the lead. The pivotal moment came three stages from the finish: following a largely dry rally, the rain and shifting weather conditions made tyre selection extremely important. Mabellini showed maturity by driving with both speed and precision while Team MRF Tyres made no mistakes. By the finish, he had increased his advantage from a slim 1.9-second cushion to 18.3 seconds.

Amaury Molle (B) and Alex Dubois (FRA) of Team MRF Tyres also finished in Katowice with their Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. After an accident at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín two months ago, the Belgian driver returned and showed steady performance. Molle fought hard to restore confidence and consistency, achieving outstanding times, including sixth on SS11, despite the extremely unpredictable circumstances.

Mabellini said, “I’m extremely happy. I want to thank Team MRF Tyres for believing in me from the start. We’ve worked hard together, and achieving this result is a huge satisfaction for all of us. A big thanks also to Virginia, who understands me perfectly, guides me, and without whom I wouldn’t be able to give my best, and to everyone who supported us from Italy. It’s been an incredible weekend, a season finale to remember. We’re enjoying this moment.”

Molle said, “It’s been a weekend full of positives. I know it will take time to fully regain my rhythm and the confidence to push at 100 percent, but I felt a great connection with the car, and Alex and I did a good job, improving stage by stage. We made a small mistake on the final stage but that doesn’t change our outlook on the weekend’s result. Thanks to Team MRF Tyres for this opportunity; now we have the winter to prepare and focus on our 2025 season.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

TVS Motor Company hosted the TVS Apache Racing Experience International (ARE GP) in Nepal. The event, held at the Vehicle Academy and Research Centre in Satungal, Kathmandu, marks the 20th anniversary of the TVS Apache series and represents the first international expansion of this racing programme.

The initiative provides a platform for owners to operate their motorcycles in a championship environment. Participants receive instruction in race craft and riding techniques from professionals. The selection round in Kathmandu attracted over 55 riders and 300 spectators. Competitors navigated a circuit featuring 10 corners, with performance tracked by lap timings.

The event featured three classes based on engine displacement: 160cc, 200cc and 310cc. The top three finishers in each category qualified for a final at the Madras International Circuit (MIC) in India, scheduled for April 2026. These finalists will compete against riders from four different nations.

Rewards for the championship winners include a trip to a MotoGP event, entry into the TVS India One Make Championship (OMC), and team apparel. The programme also provides winners with a tour of the TVS factory and access to brand events such as TVS MotoSoul. The day included stunt shows, gymkhana sessions and music to create a festival format for enthusiasts.

Vimal Sumbly, Head – Premium Business, TVS Motor Company, said, “As we celebrate 20 years of TVS Apache built on a legacy of TVS Racing, performance and racing led technology the international expansion of ARE GP is a natural extension of our journey to push boundaries and set new benchmarks in motorsport. ARE GP has played a pivotal role in nurturing grassroots motorsports, and Nepal’s rapidly growing community of performance enthusiasts makes it an ideal destination.”

Shahil Agrawal, Executive Director – Jagdamba Motors, added, “Motorsports has always inspired the younger generation and with the launch of TVS ARE GP internationally, starting with Nepal, the platform will support in channeling the aspiration and structure it professionally. The racing format will significantly enhance the visibility for performance motorcycling, nurture local talent and energise dealerships while bringing riders, enthusiasts and communities together. We are proud to partner with TVS Motor Company in creating opportunities for Nepalese riders to compete, grow and represent the country on an international stage.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Yulu, an electric vehicle company, has conducted rider awareness initiatives in Bengaluru and Delhi to mark National Road Safety Month. The activities, aligned with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) theme ‘Sadak Suraksha, Jeevan Raksha’, aimed to promote traffic discipline among electric vehicle (EV) users and delivery partners.

In Bengaluru, the company held a 5-kilometre rally focused on road safety and anti-drug awareness. The event was flagged off by Inspector R. Veeresh of the Vivek Nagar Police Station and included the participation of 30 police officials. The route covered junctions in Koramangala and surrounding areas to engage with residents and road users regarding responsible riding.

In Delhi, Yulu joined a two-wheeler rally organised by MoRTH and the Delhi Traffic Police at Connaught Place. Flagged off by Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) DK Gupta, the event involved 200 riders. These participants interacted with commuters to highlight safety protocols.

The company utilises various platforms to communicate safety information, including in-app notifications, WhatsApp alerts, training videos and workshops held with local authorities. In Bengaluru, Yulu has also stationed safety marshals at junctions to assist riders and ensure compliance with traffic regulations at the request of the city's traffic police.

RK Misra, Co-Founder and President - Ecosystem Partnerships, Yulu, said, “Enabling people to navigate cities safely and securely is a vital part of Yulu’s mission. Therefore, we work closely with all relevant stakeholders — from delivery brands to gig workers and transport officials — to sensitise communities to the importance of responsible and safe riding.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Vega Auto has launched a nationwide public safety initiative, ‘Pehnoge to Bachoge’, to address the practice of two-wheeler users carrying helmets rather than wearing them. The campaign aims to shift consumer behaviour from owning helmets to avoid traffic fines to using them for protection on every journey.

India records over 400,000 road fatalities annually, with data showing that more than 55,000 two-wheeler riders die because helmets were not worn at the time of an accident. The campaign features a 60-second film set in Mumbai traffic, depicting everyday scenarios where riders treat helmets as accessories. The narrative ends with a crash to highlight that carrying a helmet provides no safety benefit.

The initiative uses the hashtag #WearItDontCarryIt and focuses on the gap between helmet sales and actual usage.

Vega Auto is calling on influencers, policymakers and citizens to promote helmet wearing as a non-negotiable habit. The campaign identifies a trend where helmets are frequently carried on arms, handlebars, or used as footrests while the rider's head remains unprotected.

Dilip Chandak, Chairman, Vega Auto, said, “Every year we sell lakhs of world-class helmets, yet we see the same heartbreaking sight on our roads where helmets dangle from handlebars, arms, or are used as footrests while heads remain unprotected. At Vega Auto, we celebrate when someone chooses Vega, but our job isn’t done until that helmet is worn on every journey. The statistics are heartbreaking because the solution already exists in millions of homes. Pehnoge toh Bachoge is our commitment to shift the nation from helmet ownership to helmet usage, from evading fines to embracing life. Let’s turn every helmet into the protection it was designed to be.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Classic Legends, one of the leading mid-sized motorcycle manufacturers, has been granted a patent for an adjustable visor and speedometer system. The patent, initially featured on the 2025 Yezdi Adventure, is valid for 20 years from 21 March 2023. This mechanical innovation allows riders to modify the height and position of the interface to suit their stature and comfort during road or off-road use.

The company has developed a portfolio of intellectual property, including a previous patent for an Airfilter Multifrequency Resonator used in its 650cc models, such as the BSA Gold Star. Unlike standard resonators that target a single frequency, this technology dampens air-filter noise across the engine's entire revolution range. Classic Legends also introduced the Alpha 2 liquid-cooled 334cc engine, which focuses on thermal efficiency and performance within the mid-capacity segment.

The OEM’s approach focuses on ergonomics and mechanical function. On the 2025 Yezdi Adventure, a centrally routed exhaust is used to manage heat and improve comfort, while twin headlamps are employed for illumination width. For the 2025 Yezdi Roadster, design decisions regarding chassis geometry and mounting strategies allow for adjustable seating and specific riding triangles.

Susheel Sinha, Head – R&D, Classic Legends, said, “This patent may solve a specific rider-interface problem, but it represents how we think about motorcycles. At Classic Legends, performance engineering is not about feature accumulation. It has to bring mechanical clarity and durability to how a motorcycle feels over years of use. It is the same with design decisions that start with the rider and the road. The recognition is fresh encouragement for us to keep building rider-centric motorcycles with a strong engineering foundation.”

Classic Legends continues to invest in in-house R&D and engineering talent, resulting in two granted patents and two pending filings. The company manufactures the 650cc engine for the BSA Gold Star, which is among the largest single-cylinder engines in production in India. Its product range has previously introduced technologies to the mid-sized category including six-speed gearboxes, traction control, and assist and slipper clutches.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!