41 teams announced for 2018 RFC India

Kerala will have the largest representation on the entry list, with 10 teams from the South Indian state taking part in the off-road event.

7 Telangana-based teams will be seen in action, while Karnataka and Maharashtra will have four teams each. Moreover, there will be three teams apiece from Chandigarh, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Delhi.

Three teams from Arunachal Pradesh will also contest the RFC India, marking the first time in event’s history that an outfit from the North East has signed up for an event.

An all-women squad will also be seen in this year's RFC India, which will run from 21st to 28th July in Goa.

Mr. Ashish Gupta, Founder and Director, Cougar Motorsport, said, “In the last 4 editions of RFC India, we have witnessed some exceptional offroading talent and I am confident that this trend will continue this year as well.

“It’s overwhelming to see such a tremendous response to RFC India 2018 registrations. We filled all the available slots within 72 hours of posting the registrations call on Facebook in February.

“I am humbled by the immense love & acceptance from the entire offroading fraternity and promise to bring a better, tougher and a more gripping competition this year.

The winner of the fifth edition of RFC India will take home $10,000 USD (Rs 6.7 lakh), including an automatic entry in the RFC Mother Event in Malaysia worth $3900.

RFC Trophy

To expand the RFC franchise in India, organisers Cougar Motorsport will host the maiden Rainforest Challenge Trophy in Arunachal Pradesh from 16th to 20th October.

Cougar has hosted regional editions of RFC India in the past, with those events run to a similar format to the one held annually in Goa.

“There are many offroading enthusiasts who want to experience extreme 4X4 adventures, but not in a competition like RFC India because of the extreme vehicle modification requirements and the amount of time one has to spend training for the competition,” Gupta said.

“Moreover, due to limited participation slots, many entries fail to make it to the RFC India participants list every year.

“So, in order to extend the sport and give a thrilling experience to Indian offroaders, we are bringing the Rainforest Trophy to India.

“I am confident that it will be a giant leap towards making international level of offroading experience accessible to more people in India.”