Jeet Jhabakh Scripts History: Wins Maiden FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship Title
Jeet Jhabakh makes history as the first 2WD driver to win the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in his debut international season.
Indian motorsport has reached a monumental milestone as Jeet Jhabakh has been crowned the 2026 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) champion. In a stunning debut international season, Jhabakh has not only secured the overall drivers' title but has rewritten the record books of a competition spanning nearly four decades.
A Historic First for Indian Motorsport
The victory is layered with historic achievements. For the first time in the 38-year history of the APRC, a driver has managed to win the overall title using a two-wheel-drive car. Furthermore, Jhabakh and his co-driver, Musa Sherif, have etched their names in history as the first all-Indian driver and co-driver pairing to clinch this prestigious continental championship.
The success was a joint effort, with Musa Sherif also securing the 2026 APRC Co-drivers' Championship, marking a golden season for the Indian duo.
“We were quick at every rally and never threw one away, and that’s what wins a championship. We had our share of problems across the season, but my co-driver Musa Sherif called every corner right and the engineers kept the car going. I’m proud of what we have achieved. This championship is a start, not a finish,” said Jeet Jhabakh.
The Road to Glory: Consistency and Dominance
Jhabakh's path to the title was defined by an extraordinary level of consistency. He accumulated a total of 73 championship points, finishing a massive 35 points ahead of his nearest rival. Remarkably, he scored points in every single round of the season without a single retirement.
Key highlights of his campaign included:
- Rally of Indonesia (Danau Toba): A spectacular first-place overall finish.
- South India Rally (Chennai): A strong second-place overall finish.
- Otago Rally (New Zealand): A second-place finish in his specific category.
Beyond the overall title, Jhabakh also secured the 2026 FIA APRC4 Championship, further proving his dominance in the two-wheel-drive category. To achieve this, he utilized a Ford Fiesta Rally4 for the overseas legs of the tour and a nationally approved Hyundai i20 N Line for the Indian round.
From Circuit Racing to Rallying Legend
While the APRC title is a new peak, Jhabakh is no stranger to the podium. He transitioned to rallying in 2024 after a highly successful career in circuit racing, where he was a two-time Indian national racing champion. His circuit accolades include:
- Winning all 10 races in his debut Vento Cup season (2016).
- Becoming the first-ever Ameo Class champion in 2019.
- Securing three consecutive Indian Touring Cars (ITC) team championships.
- Amassing over 50 career podiums.
- Competing at world-renowned tracks such as the Circuits of the Americas, Catalunya, and Spa-Francorchamps.
His transition to the dirt was swift. After finishing as the runner-up in the INRC3 championship in 2024 and the INRC3T championship in 2025, Jhabakh was perfectly primed for his historic 2026 international breakthrough.
A New Era for India on the Global Stage
This victory signifies more than just a personal trophy for Jhabakh and Sherif; it signals India's growing competitiveness in international rallying. By conquering the Asia-Pacific region in his very first attempt, Jeet Jhabakh has firmly placed Indian motorsport in the global spotlight.