Jagdamba Motors hosts Apache racing qualifiers in Butwal; 3 riders advance to grand finale

BUTWAL: Jagdamba Motors, the exclusive distributor of TVS Motor Company in Nepal, hosted the Butwal leg of the Apache Race Experience (ARE) GP racing qualifiers. The event was organised alongside local dealership Balaji Automobiles at the Shree Gouranga Easyway Trial Centre in Manigram, Tilottama Municipality-5.

Following the training sessions, participants competed in a 160cc category race. Dhiraj BK secured first place with a lap time of 34.07 seconds. Abhishek Panthi followed closely as the first runner-up at 34.62 seconds, while Arik Shrestha claimed the second runner-up spot with a time of 34.87 seconds. These three riders will now represent Butwal in the ARE GP grand finale, competing against top qualifiers from Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, Itahari and Pokhara.

The event drew significant interest from the region's motorsport enthusiasts, prompting organisers to cap registrations at 76 participants. The riders underwent rigorous training led by two of Nepal's distinguished racers: Sujan Thapa Magar, a former ARE GP Nepal winner, and Nawang Moktan, a four-time national champion in track and tarmac racing. The curriculum covered theory sessions on riding posture, cornering techniques, braking and vision control, followed by practical on-track drills.

"The response we saw from Butwal today has been truly overwhelming. Closing registrations at 76 tells us how much passion for motorsport exists in this region," said Bishal Jaiswal, managing director of Balaji Automobiles. "Many of these riders had never been on a track before, and today they trained with national champions and raced like professionals. We are proud to bring ARE GP to Butwal with Jagdamba Motors and TVS. We hope our three finalists make the whole region proud at the grand finale and beyond."

The stakes for the upcoming grand finale extend beyond the national title. The ultimate winners of the 160cc and 200cc categories will earn an all-expenses-paid opportunity to represent Nepal at the Madras International Circuit in India, where they will compete against riders from more than 50 nations.

The qualifiers form part of a broader initiative by Jagdamba Motors to develop a structured motorsport culture in Nepal. The year-long ARE programme aims to provide budding amateur racers with a clear pathway from foundational track training to international competitive racing platforms.