BODA claims overall honours as India’s long-running 4×4 off-road event celebrates 20 years on the demanding Palar riverbed
Ranipet, Tamil Nadu: The Palar riverbed once again turned into a playground for machines, madness and mild mechanical anxiety as the 20th edition of the Palar Challenge concluded in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu. Marking two decades of one of India’s most respected 4×4 off-road events, the milestone edition brought together drivers, teams and off-road clubs from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala for a rugged contest where the sand had opinions of its own.
The event, held on the unpredictable terrain of the Palar riverbed, celebrated not just speed and skill, but also endurance, teamwork and the ability to convince a 4×4 to keep moving when the surface below seemed to have other plans. What started nearly 20 years ago as a modest off-road trail has now grown into a landmark motorsport gathering for India’s off-road community.
This year’s competition featured multiple categories, including R1 Extreme, R2 Modified and R3 Stock, with vehicles tackling sand climbs, loose riverbed sections, water crossings and technical off-road challenges. Unlike manicured motorsport circuits, the Palar terrain is naturally harsh and constantly changing, making it a proper test of both driver judgement and vehicle preparation.
The biggest honours of the weekend went to the Bangalore Offroad Drivers Association, better known as BODA, which won the Swastikfabs Trophy in the overall category with teams 621 and 622. The result underlined BODA’s strong showing across the event and confirmed Karnataka’s commanding presence in the 20th edition.
The Jeepers of Bangalore, with teams 712 and 711, finished as the first runners-up, while 4×4 Beats, Kerala, represented by teams 211 and 212, took the second runners-up position. In short, the podium had enough off-road talent to make a normal parking lot feel deeply insecure.
In the individual category, Siddarth Varman from Chennai, driving for Team 631, won the VM Sports Foundation Trophy. His performance stood out in the technical sections, where calm steering inputs and sharp decision-making mattered as much as horsepower. Siddu of BODA, driving Team 502, finished first runner-up, while Chaturaditya of Team Kali 4×4, Bangalore, driving Team 111, secured the second runner-up position.
The category winners also reflected the depth of competition across vehicle classes. In R1 Extreme, Team 621 of BODA took the win. In R2 Modified, Team 712 of Jeepers of Bangalore emerged victorious, while Kishan N from Chennai, driving Team 321, won the R3 Stock category and claimed the Lokesh Gowda Trophy.
The “Most Performing 4WD” honours further highlighted BODA’s impressive weekend. Pradeep of BODA, driving Team 621, was named the Most Performing 4WD, while Madhu of BODA in Team 622 was ranked second. Chetan of JOB, driving Team 712, took third place in the performance ranking.
Speaking about the significance of the 20th edition, Arkaprava Datta, founder of Terra Tigers and member of the organising committee, said, “Twenty editions of the Palar Challenge is a testament to the passion of every driver, volunteer, and supporter who has been part of this journey. India’s off-road community has grown tremendously over the years, and this riverbed has always been its definitive proving ground. We couldn’t be prouder of the community we’ve built together.”
The Palar Challenge has remained special because of its grassroots character. The event attracts not only professional off-roaders but also engineers, garage builders, corporate professionals and weekend enthusiasts who spend months preparing their vehicles for a few days of glorious punishment. It is part motorsport, part adventure, and part group therapy for people who believe suspension travel is a personality trait.
The 20th anniversary edition was supported by key partners including Swasigara Foods, Lambda Components, BMC Airfilters, MLM Realtors and Generation Speed.
As the dust settled over Ranipet, the 20th Palar Challenge ended with familiar sounds: cheers from teams, engines cooling down, and probably at least one person saying, “Next year, we’ll build it stronger.” After two decades, that spirit remains the real winner of the Palar riverbed.
Overall — Swastikfabs Trophy
| Position | Team No. | Club / Team |
| Winner | 621, 622 | Bangalore Offroad Drivers Association (BODA) |
| 1st Runners Up | 712, 711 | Jeepers of Bangalore (JOB) |
| 2nd Runners Up | 211, 212 | 4×4 Beats, Kerala |
Individual Category — VM Sports Foundation Trophy
| Position | Team No. | Driver |
| Winner | 631 | Siddarth Varman, Chennai |
| 1st Runners Up | 502 | Siddu, BODA |
| 2nd Runners Up | 111 | Chaturaditya, Team Kali 4×4, Bangalore |
Category Winners — Lokesh Gowda Trophy
| Category | Team No. | Winner |
| R1 – Extreme | 621 | BODA |
| R2 – Modified | 712 | Jeepers of Bangalore (JOB) |
| R3 – Stock | 321 | Kishan N, Chennai |
Most Performing 4WD
| Rank | Team No. | Driver |
| Most Performing | 621 | Pradeep, BODA |
| Second Most Performing | 622 | Madhu, BODA |
| Third Most Performing | 712 | Chetan, JOB |
