Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Shillong-based racer Phoebe Dale Nongrum heads to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to represent India at the second round of the 2026 Asia Auto Gymkhana Championship. She competes from September 4 to 6 as part of a five-member national contingent. This trip marks the first time a driver from Meghalaya or the North-East has participated in an international auto gymkhana event.
Auto gymkhana demands high precision. Drivers navigate tight turns and obstacles under pressure. Unlike traditional rallying, the sport measures reaction time and vehicle control on technical courses. Nongrum, a professional athlete since 2023, transitions here from her background in circuit racing and cross-country rallying.
She holds a long list of national credits. She became the first female Formula 4 driver from Meghalaya while driving for Ahura Racing in 2020 and 2021. She took runner-up spots in the women’s category of the Indian National Rally Championship in 2024 and 2025. Her 2025 campaign included a win in the Ladies category and a third-place finish in the T1 Modified Car category at the Dakshin Dare Cross Country Rally. She also took third in the T1 Xtreme class at the Rally of the Himalayas. Reflecting on her path, she says, "Nongrum's selection adds another international chapter to her career while putting Meghalaya's growing motorsport presence on a wider platform."
The 2026 series kicked off at the Sokol International Circuit near the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border. Following the Uzbekistan event, the tour hits Hong Kong, Thailand, India, and Chinese Taipei.
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