Drumil Modi, Pune
In an incredible feat, Harith Noah from Kerala has marked his name in the history books by becoming the first Indian to win a stage at the Dakar Rally. The 30-year-old rider, representing the Sherco TVS Rally Factory squad, secured victory in Stage 8 in the Rally 2 class, marking a significant milestone in his fifth Dakar appearance.
Noah, born in Germany and raised in Shornur, is the third Indian to take part in the Dakar rally, following the footsteps of KP Aravind and CS Santosh. Despite battling a cold, Noah displayed a remarkable performance, finishing 16th overall in Stage 7. However, he bounced back with determination in Stage 8, claiming the best-in-class time at the first checkpoint.
As of Stage 8, Harith Noah holds the 13th position in the overall standings and ranks third in the Rally 2 class. Sharing his experience on Facebook, he expressed, “P11 (overall standing) Stage 8, 458km. Felt good on the bike and my sickness is getting better too. I guess everything feels good when you do good.”
Harith Noah started on his racing journey in 2011, clinching seven national championships in the Supercross category. His success includes back-to-back victories in the MRF National Supercross Championship in Groups A & B in 2011 and 2012. In 2014 he won in the MRF National Supercross Championship in the Foreign Open class category.
The peak of Noah’s career came in 2017 when he dominated five out of six events he competed in. The following year, he added another National Supercross Championship to his achievements. In 2018, Harith Noah made his mark on the international rally scene with his debut at the Rally of Morocco.