Indian Sports Wrap, March 11: Maini to continue with HRT Ford Racing in 2026 DTM season
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Maini to continue with HRT Ford Racing in 2026 DTM season
Indian driver Arjun Maini will continue to race for HRT Ford Racing in the 2026 DTM season, the team announced on Wednesday.
Maini remains one of HRT Ford Racing’s key drivers as the team enters the DTM season with the Ford Mustang GT3 EVO.
A Ford Racing Factory driver, Maini brings extensive DTM experience and remains an integral part of the team’s development and performance program.
The No. 36 Ford Mustang GT3 EVO, to be driven by Maini, will feature an updated RAVENOL design, now shining in a striking blue and yellow metallic look.
Maini has been an integral part of the DTM grid since the championship transitioned to GT3 machinery.
The 28-year-old Indian has competed in 78 DTM races, securing three podium finishes and one pole position with HRT. Since 2022, he has also represented the team across multiple international GT racing programs.
Since 2025, Maini has been part of Ford Racing’s international squad of factory drivers and competed with HRT in the debut year of the Ford Mustang GT3 in the DTM. With his experience, he will play an important role in the ongoing development of the car.
Maini is also widely regarded as one of India’s most prominent racing drivers.
With the official pre-season test scheduled for April 14 at the Red Bull Ring, HRT Ford Racing and Maini are entering the final phase of preparations for the upcoming DTM campaign.
The season opener will take place from April 24–26 at the Austrian circuit in Spielberg.
“We are highly motivated and well prepared for the new DTM season. With Arjun, we maintain continuity within the team. He understands the challenges of the DTM very well and will play a key role as we continue to develop the Ford Mustang GT3 EVO and grow as a team,” Ulrich Fritz, Managing Director of Haupt Racing Team, said in a statement.
Maini added: “I am thrilled and honoured to be competing in the DTM with HRT Ford Racing for another year — my second as an official Ford Racing Driver. Last season was a valuable learning experience, and we demonstrated our ability to improve throughout the year.
“I am therefore even more motivated to tackle the new DTM season, especially with the new EVO package for the Ford Mustang GT3. Our goal is to secure victories and podium finishes this year.”
-PTI
India’s Puligilla and Sherif set for iconic WRC Safari Rally 2026
Ace Indian rally driver Naveen Puligilla and co-driver Musa Sherif are gearing up for their toughest challenge as they aim to repeat their WRC3 podium finish in the third round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), the iconic WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026.
The celebrated duo, who secured a podium in their class at the WRC Rally Saudi Arabia last November, will tackle the rough terrains around Naivasha for a third consecutive time when the demanding African event runs from March 12 to 15.
Fresh from his victory at the Nashik rally that secured him the 3T class National championship title, Hyderabad’s Puligilla will compete in the WRC3 category driving a Ford Fiesta Rally3 prepared and serviced by Africa Eco Sports Nairobi.
Seasoned navigator Sherif, from Kasargod, with over 33 years of rally experience, will handle pace notes for the Indian driver. The pair made history in 2025 by becoming the first Indian duo to secure a podium finish in any WRC class, finishing second in WRC3 at Rally Saudi Arabia.
Having experienced the unforgiving African terrain last year, Puligilla and Sherif return with valuable knowledge and a clear objective: to conquer the fesh-fesh dust, massive rocks, and unpredictable wildlife crossings that make Safari Rally one of the toughest in the world.
“The Safari is the ultimate test of man and machine. Starting the Safari again is a proud moment for us. Our previous experience has taught us the importance of patience and survival. We have a fantastic car in the Ford Fiesta Rally3, and the local expertise of Africa Eco Sports in Nairobi gives us a strong advantage,” Puligilla said.
Sherif added, “The roads here are extremely rough and can change after every pass, so the pace notes must be precise. My job is to keep Naveen (Puligilla) informed and safe, especially through the notorious sections. We have prepared extensively, and the forecast of heavy rain could change everything. It could make an already brutal rally even more spectacular.”
The rally, headquartered around Lake Naivasha, features 20 Special Stages covering a competitive distance of 338.34km within a total rally distance of 1,205.46km.
The forecast of heavy rainfall may turn the typically dusty and rocky stages into slippery, muddy, and deeply rutted tracks reminiscent of the legendary Safari rallies of the 1970s.
-PTI
Published on Mar 11, 2026