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The Hindu
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Meet Kerala's growing community of women in motorsports
Aparna Umesh is navigating an impossibly slushy track in her modified off-road rig, maneuvering through a bumpy dirt track with the ease of an expert. All of a sudden, the track dips into a muddy trough and the small group of onlookers hold their breath. Can she make it up the sharp incline? Sure enough, she does. Aparna is an off-roader from Kochi, who has been driving through mud and mountain for the past five years. She is among the growing tribe of women in motorsports in Kerala. Considered physically and mentally demanding, few women venture into motorsports, but the ones who do say they are in it for the sheer thrill of adventure, a sense of freedom, self-discovery and a way to overcome trauma. When driving is still largely gendered and women are constantly judged for their skill and the type of vehicles they drive, these women have been negotiating every obstacle, both literal and metaphorical, to follow their passion. Many of them often compete against men. Calm in the midst of chaos For Aparna, off-roading taught her to find calm in the midst of chaos. 'Even when the obstacle looks insurmountable; I know I have to find a way to negotiate it without hurting myself or the vehicle. So I focus, keep my cool and push on,' she says. Aparna, a marketing professional, knew from the very first time she test drove a modified off-road rig that it was her calling. 'I was introduced to off-roading at a club in Kottayam, where I drove a Mahindra CJ series Jeep, which they fondly call Blue Whale. As I drove it, I had butterflies in my stomach. I knew this was my thing.' It all began when her father surprised her with a 4x4. 'I had to learn how to fully utilise the vehicle and that led me to off-roading,' she says. Aparna joined the R&T Off Road Club in Kottayam in 2019, the only woman member then. She went on various trails and took part in competitions, slowly gathering experience on various terrains. She was the first Indian woman to participate in the Orange Fest organised by JKTyres in 2022. Today, she co-owns the Blue Whale in addition to her own vehicles and is the co-founder of R&T 4x4 Training Academy. Currently preparing for the India leg of the Rain Forest Challenge, one of the most difficult off-road motor races, to be held in Goa in August, Aparna says every competition, every trail is a learning experience. Rallying on For one of Kerala's first woman rally drivers Athira Murali, driving is at the very core of her being. A national award winning rally driver, Autocross car racer, off-roader and automotive content creator from Kottayam, she says the track has always been her safe space, something that gives her a sense of self. 'Nothing compares to the freedom and the adrenalin rush I get while driving,' she says. A mechanical engineer by qualification, she realised early on that her heart was in automobiles. Athira started riding two wheelers while in Class VII and drove heavy vehicles even as a Class X student. She has been in the competition circuit for the past 11 years, and is a part of rallies including the Indian National Rally Championship. 'It is an expensive interest to pursue. Everything including the gear come at a price. One needs to be fully invested in it to be able to sustain it,' she adds. Though she owns a 4x4, the rally cars are sponsored. Athira holds the record for being Kerala's first youngest motorsports woman driver (2014-15). She owns a tours and travels start up, too. As the woman chairperson of the Keraleeyam Motorsports Association, an organisation which has been holding motorsports events throughout the country, Athira hopes more women would enter the foray. 'Today, I can safely say I have created my space and I am owning it too,' she adds. Crazy about four-wheelers Veena Murali, who hails from Thodupuzha and is settled in Chennai, was drawn to four-wheelers as early as age 10. Her father owned an Ambassador, on which she learnt steering control. 'As soon as I was tall enough to reach the foot pedals, I learnt how to reverse the vehicle. I would help people park their cars, I was crazy about four-wheelers,' laughs Veena. It helped that her uncle, who was working in Mahindra, brought home posters and scale models of the vehicles, which she treasures to this day. 'I even had models of vehicles before they were released.' Though a skilled driver, Veena took to off-roading competitions only two years ago. The founder of a home decor brand, she decided that she would get into the competition circuit only after building her own vehicle. Though she owned a 4x4, it was preserved for everyday drives and a few fun off-roading excursions. She bought a Mahindra CJ 500, and built it for the competition. 'My first competition was at Vagamon, and after that I did the Palar Challenge, considered one of India's toughest off-road events, organised by Terra Tigers, one of India's oldest off-roading clubs in India,' she says. Veena secured second place in the individual category. 'To me, it is a test of my own abilities. Navigating an obstacle and completing the challenge brings inexplicable joy,' says Veena. 'Off-roading is a part of my life' Riya Bino, an off-roader from Pala, was drawn to the sport watching her father and uncle, both seasoned off-roaders. 'It was only natural that I gravitated to it,' she says. Born and brought up in a verdant plantation setting, Riya used to drive her father's Major Jeep ever since she was in Class VIII. A kindergarten teacher, the gentle-spoken Riya says she knows no fear tackling some of the most complicated trails. She pushes the rig to its limits, and conquers the terrain. 'The backyard of my house was akin to an off-roading track. Off-roading has been a part of my life. It comes easily to me.' She has been competing and is known as one of the emerging talents in the off-roading community. 'For me, it is the energy that one gets when doing something one loves.' Beating trauma When Shilpa Surendran reached a 'breaking point' in life, she sought refuge behind the wheel. The electronics engineer from Thiruvananthapuram, who started a coaching centre to teach Math, found driving therapeutic during rough patches. As someone who loved riding motorcycles and driving, she found herself spending time at a friend's workshop. Her interest gradually deepened and Shilpa eventually joined the Thiruvananthapuram Off-Roaders Club. She began taking part in competitions and built her Land Cruiser 80 series. Shilpa says support from friends has helped her puruse her interest in auto sports. 'It is mentally and physically challenging, but the reward is in overcoming it,' she says. An active presence in the Autocross circuit (a sport where drivers have to navigate a temporary course marked by cones, in the fastest time), Shilpa also performs stunts. 'It makes me feel good about myself; it has made me confident. That is the thing with motorsports. It sort of makes you feel invincible,' adds Shilpa. Social media has helped create awareness and interest in motor sports and more women are now exploring it. Though it requires training and practice, combined with a passion and the means to afford it, motor sports, as the women in it are proving every day, is a matter of grit over brawn.
Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
JK Tyre Inds surges after Q4 PAT climbs 88% QoQ to Rs 97 cr
JK Tyre Industries rallied 8.78% to Rs 378.50 after the company's consolidated net profit jumped 88.35% to Rs 97.04 crore on a 2.31% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 3,758.60 crore in Q4 FY25 over Q3 FY25. On a Year on year (YoY) basis, the company's revenue increased 1.6% while net profit declined 42.7% in Q4 FY25. In Q4 FY25 profit before tax stood at Rs 143.94 crore, up 79.05% QoQ and down 42.8% YoY. EBITDA jumped 15% QoQ to Rs 384 crore in Q4 FY25. EBITDA margin expanded 110 bps to 10.2% in Q4 FY25 as against 9.1% in Q3 FY25. This growth was supported by higher volumes and enhanced operational efficiencies, despite elevated raw material costs. On full year basis the companys consolidated net profit declined 37% to Rs 495.04 crore on a 2.1% fall in revenue from operations to Rs 14,692.92 crore in FY25 over FY24. Raghupati Singhania, chairman & managing director (CMD) said, Despite a challenging and uncertain global economic landscape, JK Tyre delivered a promising performance in FY2025, gaining significant momentum in the fourth quarter. In the domestic market, JK Tyre recorded a healthy uptick in both replacement and OEM segments compared to the same quarter last year. This growth reflects not only the Companys robust brand equity and deep market reach but also the positive macroeconomic environment and growing automotive demand. Exports grew by 4% quarter-on-quarter, underscoring the Companys strong international presence and competitive product offerings. JK Tyres subsidiary companiesCavendish Industries (CIL) and JK Tornel, Mexicocontinued to make strong contributions to the companys overall revenues and profitability, reinforcing JK Tyres integrated global strategy and diversified footprint. The companys ongoing push toward premiumisation is yielding positive results. Premium products such as Levitas Ultra, Smart Tyre, Ranger Series, and Puncture Guard tyres in the passenger vehicle segment, along with the XF, XM, and XD series in the commercial segment, are witnessing increasing market preference, strengthening JK Tyres position in the value-added product space. JK Tyre has displayed exceptional resilience and strategic clarity through FY2025. We are entering FY2026 with renewed confidence, backed by a robust demand outlook across all segments. The Governments accelerated focus on infrastructure, a strong pipeline of new vehicle launches, potential easing of interest rates, and an expected normal monsoon position us well for sustained growth. Meanwhile, the companys board recommended a dividend of Rs 3 per equity share of Rs 2 each for financial year 2024-25. The said dividend, if declared by the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting (AGM), is planned to be credited/dispatched within two weeks of the said meeting Further, the companys board approved the re-appointment of Anshuman Singhania as a managing director for a term of five consecutive years with effect from 21st October 2025, subject to requisite approval of the members of the company at the ensuing Annual General Meeting (AGM). JK Tyre & Industries is a leading player in the Indian tyre industry, offering comprehensive end-to-end solutions across multiple segments. The company manufactures tyres for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, farm equipment, off-the-road (OTR) applications, and two- and three-wheelers.
Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
JK Tyre Inds surge after Q4 PAT climbs 88% QoQ to Rs 97 cr
JK Tyre Industries rallied 8.78% to Rs 378.50 after the company's consolidated net profit jumped 88.35% to Rs 97.04 crore on a 2.31% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 3,758.60 crore in Q4 FY25 over Q3 FY25. On a Year on year (YoY) basis, the company's revenue increased 1.6% while net profit declined 42.7% in Q4 FY25. In Q4 FY25 profit before tax stood at Rs 143.94 crore, up 79.05% QoQ and down 42.8% YoY. EBITDA jumped 15% QoQ to Rs 384 crore in Q4 FY25. EBITDA margin expanded 110 bps to 10.2% in Q4 FY25 as against 9.1% in Q3 FY25. This growth was supported by higher volumes and enhanced operational efficiencies, despite elevated raw material costs. On full year basis the companys consolidated net profit declined 37% to Rs 495.04 crore on a 2.1% fall in revenue from operations to Rs 14,692.92 crore in FY25 over FY24. Raghupati Singhania, chairman & managing director (CMD) said, Despite a challenging and uncertain global economic landscape, JK Tyre delivered a promising performance in FY2025, gaining significant momentum in the fourth quarter. In the domestic market, JK Tyre recorded a healthy uptick in both replacement and OEM segments compared to the same quarter last year. This growth reflects not only the Companys robust brand equity and deep market reach but also the positive macroeconomic environment and growing automotive demand. Exports grew by 4% quarter-on-quarter, underscoring the Companys strong international presence and competitive product offerings. JK Tyres subsidiary companiesCavendish Industries (CIL) and JK Tornel, Mexicocontinued to make strong contributions to the companys overall revenues and profitability, reinforcing JK Tyres integrated global strategy and diversified footprint. The companys ongoing push toward premiumisation is yielding positive results. Premium products such as Levitas Ultra, Smart Tyre, Ranger Series, and Puncture Guard tyres in the passenger vehicle segment, along with the XF, XM, and XD series in the commercial segment, are witnessing increasing market preference, strengthening JK Tyres position in the value-added product space. JK Tyre has displayed exceptional resilience and strategic clarity through FY2025. We are entering FY2026 with renewed confidence, backed by a robust demand outlook across all segments. The Governments accelerated focus on infrastructure, a strong pipeline of new vehicle launches, potential easing of interest rates, and an expected normal monsoon position us well for sustained growth. Meanwhile, the companys board recommended a dividend of Rs 3 per equity share of Rs 2 each for financial year 2024-25. The said dividend, if declared by the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting (AGM), is planned to be credited/dispatched within two weeks of the said meeting Further, the companys board also approved re-appointment of Anshuman Singhania as a managing director for a term of five consecutive years with effect from 21st October 2025, subject to requisite approval of the members of the company at the ensuing Annual General Meeting (AGM). JK Tyre & Industries is a leading player in the Indian tyre industry, offering comprehensive end-to-end solutions across multiple segments. The company manufactures tyres for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, farm equipment, off-the-road (OTR) applications, and two- and three-wheelers.
India Gazette
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- India Gazette
Indian National Autocross Championship Round-1: Goa's Vaibhav Marathe emerges fastest
ANI 05 May 2025, 00:22 GMT+10 Chikmagalur (Karnataka) [India], May 4 (ANI): Goa's Vaibhav Marathe finished on top of the Chikmagalur Gravel Fest 2025, Round 1 of the JK Tyres FMSCI Indian National Autocross Championship (INAC) 2025, which was held here at Survey 85 on Sangnipura Road in Kurvangi Grama. Marathe, representing JK Tyres, fended off a tough fight from his teammate Syed Salman to finish with a timing of 02:57.876 s in the INAC 1 Unrestricted Class. Aeman finished third with a timing of 03:01.786 s while Salman finished in 02:59.687 s. The Chikmagalur Gravel Fest 2025 served as the qualifying round of the FMSCI Indian National Autocross Championship 2025. Syed Salman later won the INAC 1 2000 CC class, finishing with a timing of 02:59.169 s, while Chetan Shivram and Aeman finished second and third, respectively. Vaibhav Marathe could only manage a fourth-place finish in this class. Ashad Pasha finished on top of the INAC 2 1650 CC class while Aeman and Syed Salman finished second and third. Syed Salman then went on to win the INAC 2 1450 CC class and followed it up with another victory in the INAC 2 1100 CC. The INAC 2 800 CC class was won by Azveer. Zeeshan Mohammed won the INAC 3 category while Shameena CP finished on top in the Women's category with a timing of 03.41.004. Sanctioned by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) and conducted under the 2025 FIA International Sporting Code and relevant FMSCI regulations, the Gravel Fest in Chikmagalur is one of seven qualifying rounds that form the INAC Cup circuit. To qualify for the Grand Finals, each driver must participate in at least two rounds. Only the top five finishers in each class will secure a berth in the final championship face-off, where the best of Indian autocross will be crowned. The event was promoted by Octane Pits by Lokesh Gowda and organised by the Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur (MSCC) in association with JK Tyre Motorsport. (ANI)
Hans India
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
Goa's Vaibhav Marathe emerges fastest at Indian National Autocross Championship round 1
Goa's Vaibhav Marathe finished on top of the Chikmagalur Gravel Fest 2025, Round 1 of the FMSCI Indian National Autocross Championship (INAC) 2025 which was held here at Survey 85 on Sangnipura Road in Kurvangi Grama. Marathe representing JK Tyres fended off a tough fight from his teammate Syed Salman to finish with a timing of 02:57.876 s in the INAC 1 Unrestricted Class. Aeman finished third with a timing of 03:01.786 s while Salman finished in 02:59.687 s. The Chikmagalur Gravel Fest 2025 served as the qualifying round of FMSCI Indian National Autocross Championship 2025. Syed Salman later won the INAC 1 2000 CC class finishing with a timing of 02:59.169 s while Chetan Shivram and Aeman finished second and third respectively. Vaibhav Marathe could only manage a fourth place finish in this class. Ashad Pasha finished on top of the INAC 2 1650 CC class while Aeman and Syed Salman finished second and third. Syed Salman then went on to win the INAC 2 1450 CC class and followed it up with another victory in the INAC 2 1100 CC. The INAC 2 800 CC class was won by Azveer. Zeeshan Mohammed won the INAC 3 category while Shameena CP finished on top in the Women's category with a timing of 03.41.004. Sanctioned by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) and conducted under the 2025 FIA International Sporting Code and relevant FMSCI regulations, the Gravel Fest in Chikmagalur is one of seven qualifying rounds that form the INAC Cup circuit. To qualify for the Grand Finals, each driver must participate in at least two rounds. Only the top five finishers in each class will secure a berth in the final championship face-off, where the best of Indian autocross will be crowned. The event was promoted by Octane Pits by Lokesh Gowda and organized by the Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur (MSCC). --IANS aaa/
