Mangaluru — Dalton D’Souza and Vernon D’Souza of Team KA 19.20 United Offroaders Mangalore have etched their names in motorsport history by completing all 20 stages of one of the world’s five toughest off-road contests — the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) India 2025, held in Goa.
“This wasn’t just my race,” Dalton reflected. “It was our shared dream — mine, Vernon’s, and the entire team’s — to prove that with drive, teamwork, and resolve, nothing is out of reach.”
For Dalton, RFC was the ultimate arena where man and machine are pushed to extremes. This year’s chance almost slipped away when his Jeep, “Taurus,” returned from an out-of-state build incomplete, with major engine timing issues, just days before the event. Many urged him to delay to next year.
Enter Ashwin Das — nicknamed the “Doctor of Mechanics” — and his crew at The Mod Garage, Pumpwell. In an intense 72-hour rebuild, Ashwin, Manish, Dinesh, Sheethal, and Shashi revived Taurus to race-ready form by July 29.
Vernon’s role as co-driver proved critical — navigating tricky terrain, making split-second calls, and keeping the team calm under pressure.
Across 20 gruelling Special Stages, the pair tackled mud pits, rock climbs, water crossings, rope sections, and mechanical setbacks, including a snapped steering rod in SS13. Despite penalties and one DNF, they finished 6th in the Modified Diesel Category — an outstanding result for a debut.
Dalton credited family, friends, sponsors, KA 19.20 United Offroaders, and his mechanic team for the achievement. “This year, we made history. Next year, we chase the podium,” he vowed.