India’s TSI Racing Set for WRC3 Return with Ford Fiesta Rally3 Car

TSI Racing is returning to the World Rally Championship after an 18-year absence. The Bengaluru-based outfit will compete in the WRC3 category with a multi-round programme, making it one of three Indian teams to undertake a structured campaign. The team first entered the WRC in 2008 as the initial Indian representative in the championship. This return focuses on a long-term presence within the global series.

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Dean Mascarenhas will drive for the team following his performance in the 2025 Indian National Rally Championship. He remains with co-driver Gagan Karumbaiah, a partnership established in 2019. The pair enters this category after securing the team, driver, and co-driver titles last season. This transition to WRC3 follows their dominance in the domestic circuit.

For the 2026 season, TSI Racing has formed a technical partnership with PH Sport. The French firm will manage the vehicle and provide on-event servicing during rallies. The organisation has previously supported world champions, providing TSI Racing with an established operational setup for the championship.

The team has selected the Ford Fiesta Rally3 for the campaign, a vehicle developed by M-Sport. It features a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, four-wheel drive, and a five-speed sequential transmission. The car is built according to FIA Rally3 regulations to accommodate different terrain and rally conditions.

The 2026 schedule consists of six rounds across three continents, starting with Rally Islas Canarias in Spain this April. The itinerary includes events in Italy, Estonia, Paraguay, and Chile, before the season finale in Saudi Arabia. TSI Racing will not participate in the 2026 Indian National Rally Championship to focus on this international programme. Mascarenhas has previous experience in European conditions, including a podium finish in the Rally4 class in France.