Mumbai: IOS Sports and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., a sports management organisation, has announced the onboarding of two of India’s promising future rally racing talents Pragathi Gowda and Yuva Kumar.

Bengaluru-based rally driver Gowda will be representing the Asia-Pacific region in the 2023 FIA Rally Star training season after her impressive win in the Asia- Pacific finals of the FIA Rally Star program held at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai late last year. Gowda, who made her debut in Rally Racing in 2020 at the Indian National Rally Championships held at Itanagar, finished in the top 10 in her first national championship and in the process caught the eyes of the motorsport community within the country.

Now in just a little over 24 months since her debut and two credible finishes that also include a continental win, Gowda is definitely a strong contender to one of the few prominent and emerging rally drivers from India in the global rally circuit. Gowda who has been racing since a very young age and credits her motivation to her late brother Prajwal who was the reason for her to start racing. 

Gowda commented, "My racing career is short, but my ambitions are big. I am glad that in this short span, I have been able to achieve some good results and that gives me the confidence that there’s more in store for me. At this stage of my career, it was important for me to start building a professional team around me and the first need beyond the technical bit was having a commercial partner. I am glad to be joining hands with IOS Sports & Entertainment, who undoubtedly are one of the most professional and seasoned sports marketing entities in the country." 

IOS Sports & Entertainment also announced the signing of yet another promising rally rider, Yuva Kumar, into their fold. Kumar, who recently won the Desert Storm 2022 in the moto category (upto 250cc) hails from Andhra Pradesh but has been raised in Bengaluru, Karnataka. With nearly two decades of rallying experience on two wheels, Kumar currently competes for the Hero Motorsports Team Rally.

Kumar said, "Motorsports is an expensive sport and after a while to step up, we all need commercial partners to help us take us to the next levels in our careers. Last year was a good year in my career and to now take the leap it was important for me to have experts with me. I am glad that I found that in team IOS and I am looking forward to my association with them."

IOS Sports and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. COO Rahul Trehan said, "As an organisation, we have strived to bring to the fore talented youngsters to the national eye. Both Gowda and Kumar are truly motivated athletes with a tremendous ahead of them. It was their quality and sincerity that has made us put our trust in them. Motorsports is one of the most followed sports across the world, and through these athletes, we can bring some attraction towards motorsports in India."