Shree Hari Paudel shines at Madras International Circuit

Kathmandu: Under the much-anticipated “Explore the Track” program of the Nepal Automobiles Association (NASA Nepal), the first international participation of 2026 has been completed at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai, India. 

Among the Nepali riders who competed in the final race, Shree Hari Paudel emerged as the winner with an outstanding performance. Having long dominated domestic road racing, Paudel once again proved his excellence on an international circuit.

With high standards in track quality, motorcycles, regulations, technology, and technical aspects, the event left organizers and technical teams impressed by the performance of the Nepali riders. According to Prabha Shankar, former Formula One technical expert and Director of the Madras Motor Sports Club, “Except for a few technical aspects, the racing level of the Nepali riders was far better than expected.”

According to a press release from NASA Nepal, in a highly competitive race, Abhinav Raj Mall secured second place, while Dilip Danuwar finished third. Officials of the Madras Motor Sports Club honored the entire Nepali team, including the winners, with special awards, in the presence of office bearers from NASA Nepal.

Nepali riders delivered an impressive Asian-level performance on a world-class track during the Race Track Challenge, held from 9–11 January 2026.

Organized by the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC), the event featured an orientation session on Friday, 9 January, practice races on Saturday, 10 January, and the final race on Sunday, 11 January. 

The 11-member Nepali team was composed of winners and top performers from all categories of the Nepal Road Racing Championship, held in Dhulikhel on 20 December. The team included Shree Hari Paudel, Rajkumar Karki, Dilip Danuwar, Sayal Gajmer, Prashant Sutihar, Simon Chaulagain, Abhinav Raj Mall, Dipesh Jaiswal, Abhi Risal, Barsha Basnet, and Neetika Gajurel.

Team management was handled by the Motor Sports Nepal Club, with Binod Tandukar, the club’s director, serving as Team Manager, and Mina Thapa, a member of the Bagmati Province Automobile Association, participating as an official.

Stating that such international exposure is essential for the long-term development of Nepali racing and racers, winner Shree Hari Paudel expressed his gratitude to NASA Nepal, FIA, MMSC, and Motor Sports Nepal Club.

The event received financial and technical support from the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) and the Madras Motor Sports Club. Given the lack of an international-standard racing track in Nepal, NASA Nepal considers participation in such competitions in Chennai as an extension of its national competitive efforts.

Although there were initial concerns that Nepali riders might struggle with a new track and advanced technology, their confidence, discipline, and speed positively impressed the technical team as well.

This competition also marked the formal beginning of cooperation between NASA Nepal and the Race Track Challenge, which is being viewed as a significant milestone for Nepali motorsports.

The “Explore the Track” program, which has been running for several years, has received high praise from international federations. Despite the lack of proper tracks in Nepal, NASA Nepal believes the program has made a remarkable contribution to enhancing riders’ skills, confidence, and international exposure.

Furthermore, the 11th General Assembly of NASA Nepal, held in Chitwan on December 25 (Poush 10), approved a plan to send three teams to world-class tracks under the “Explore the Track” program this year.

Although motorcycle racing is popular in Nepal, the country still faces challenges due to the lack of organized infrastructure, proper systems, and corporate priority. 

Despite these obstacles, the courage, dedication, and consistent participation of Nepali youth have been drawing growing international attention to Nepali motorsports. With the support of FIM, FIA, and MMSC, NASA Nepal concludes that Nepali motorsports have entered a new phase of energy and opportunity.