Tura, July 31: Aneesh Sangma isn’t letting one victory soak in long enough.
Fresh off his historic first-place finish in the Gypsy category at the 2025 Blueband INRC Rally of Coimbatore, the Tura racer is already looking ahead — determined to turn a breakthrough moment into a movement for rallying in the Northeast.
Back home, Tura erupted in celebration. On July 30, the Tura Motor Sports Club (TMSC) honoured him with a kotip and pandra — traditional Garo symbols of honour. “Aneesh’s victory is a source of pride for the entire Garo Hills,” said TMSC President Grahambell Sangma at the felicitation ceremony.
Adding to the moment was the surprise presence of Sanjay Sangma, MLA of Mahendraganj and a key mentor of TMSC. His appearance underscored the local government’s continued support for developing motorsport in the region.
“It’s inspiring to see a local talent shine on the national stage,” said MLA Sanjay Sangma.
“Aneesh’s journey is a testament to passion, perseverance, and community backing.”
For Aneesh, the journey traces back two decades, when as a boy in Tura he watched rally cars thunder through town. “The sound, the speed, the atmosphere — it stuck with me,” he recalls. That fleeting childhood moment grew into a dream that never faded.
Despite his passion, Aneesh never got a chance to compete professionally — until 2025. With support from motorsport friends in South India, he entered his maiden Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) round in Coimbatore, held July 25–27. Driving a Maruti Gypsy arranged by enthusiast Darshan and guided by seasoned navigator Dinky Varghese of Coimbatore, whom he had met only weeks earlier, Aneesh was finally on the track.
“In rallying, victory is never a solo act,” he says. His four-member crew, led by a mechanic known simply as Mr. Macho, became his pit warriors. “In the service park, you have just minutes to fix everything. These guys were flawless.”
The chemistry with Dinky clicked quickly during the recce. By Stage 2, the duo had found a rhythm — balancing aggression with caution. Aneesh admits the first stage was nerve-wracking: “I was pushing too hard — Dinky kept telling me to be careful.” By the final stage, with a commanding one-minute lead — huge in rallying terms — the strategy was simple: bring the car home safe.
With a total time of 1:41:16.700, Aneesh clinched first place in the Gypsy category (Group F), a historic first for his club and a proud milestone for Meghalaya. “I just screamed when we crossed the line,” he recalls.
Now, Aneesh’s sights are set beyond one win. He plans to compete in more INRC rounds and dreams of nurturing homegrown talent through Bilgaro, Tura’s signature rally, which marks its 10th edition this November. “I want to show that the Northeast has rally talent. We’re not just here to participate — we’re here to win.”
The achievement has drawn strong support back home. Mahendraganj MLA Sanjay A. Sangma was among the guests at the felicitation, alongside Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, whose encouragement and assistance made the journey possible.
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