Sandeep Kumar Ambalavanan is an Indian racing driver and legal attorney by profession. Sandeep Kumar started racing at the age of 14 under the tutelage of Akbar Ebrahim, a former Formula 3 Racer and a veteran in the racing fraternity. Since then, Sandeep has progressed steadily, moving up the racing ladder both nationally and internationally.
Sandeep Kumar Ambalavanan | |
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Born | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
Occupation(s) | Racing driver, Racing Coach, Legal Attorney |
Years active | 2007 - present |
Over more than a decade, Sandeep has gained extensive competitive experience in racing Go-Karts, Formula cars, and Touring cars. He has won multiple national championships in India and has represented leading global brands and racing teams in various national and international championships, including the European Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup, X1 Racing League (now known as the Indian Racing League), JK Tyre National Racing Championship, MRF National Racing Championship, Rotax Asia Max Challenge, among others. In recognition of his success, Sandeep received the ‘Young Achievers Award’ from the Rotary Club in 2023.
Early life and days in Karting
editSandeep began his racing career in professional karting and participated in multiple national karting championships, including the prestigious Rotax Max Challenge India and Rotax Max Challenge Asia. He was the Vice Champion of the 2008 Indian Rotax Max Challenge (Novice Cup).
Volkswagen Polo Cup India
editPolo Cup India is a popular single-make national championship in India, introduced by Volkswagen Motorsports India. Sandeep has participated multiple times in the Polo Cup India Championship and has consistently been a top contender for the championship. In his debut year, Sandeep won the championship in the (pro) class and finished as the Vice Champion in the national category in the 2012 Volkswagen Polo R Cup.
His outstanding performance in 2012 earned him the opportunity to compete in the Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup, a European Championship, in 2013, representing Volkswagen Motorsports India. In 2017, Sandeep competed again with Volkswagen Motorsports India in the Ameo Cup Championship, where he clinched the Vice Championship title.
In 2021, Volkswagen Motorsports India re-launched their famous Polo Cup championship in India, featuring the most powerful Polo Cup Cars ever to race in the country. Sandeep won the 2020 Polo Cup National Championship, a victory that earned him a spot in Volkswagen India’s Factory Racing team for the 2021 Indian Touring Car Championship campaign. In 2023, Sandeep was awarded a guest drive by Volkswagen POLO Cup India to compete in one of their championship rounds, where he made history by winning all four races in a single weekend.
Indian Touring Cars Championship
editIn 2022, driving for Volkswagen Motorsports India, Sandeep competed in the Indian National Touring Car (ITC) Championship, the premier touring car championship in India. Sandeep played an instrumental role in developing the Volkswagen ITC Virtus Car in its debut year and went on to clinch the National Vice Champion title, with Volkswagen Motorsports India securing the National Team Championship.
LGB Formula 4
editThe LGB Formula 4 racing cars are indigenously developed formula cars from India, manufactured by LG Sports, Coimbatore. These cars race in the prestigious JK Tyre National Racing Championship as the premier class, which is one of the most competitive national championships. In 2017, Sandeep competed in the LGB Formula 4 Championship with Dark Don Racing and finished as the Vice Champion, narrowly missing the top spot. In 2020, he returned to the championship and won the LGB Formula 4 National Championship title with Dark Don Racing in the JK Tyre National Racing Championship.
Formula 1600 & Formula 2000
editIn 2017, Sandeep competed in the MRF National Racing Championship in the MRF Formula 1600 class. Despite missing the first round of the championship, Sandeep delivered a stellar performance in the remaining rounds, taking the championship fight to the eventual winner, Anindith Reddy. Though missing the first round cost him dearly, Sandeep clinched the Vice National Champion title after sweeping the final round by qualifying pole and winning all three races.
In 2023, after successful runs in the MRF National Racing Championship in 2021 and 2022 with Volkswagen India Motorsports, Sandeep debuted in the Formula 2000 Championship, India's premier formula racing championship. With multiple wins, he clinched the National Championship title in the Formula 2000 class in 2023.
Indian Racing League (IRL)
editThe Indian Racing League (IRL) is the only four-wheeler racing league in the world and was the first of its kind to be launched. The league attracts world-class drivers competing for the top spot. Sandeep made his IRL debut with AD Racing Delhi in 2019. In 2022, he raced with Chennai Turbo Riders, a Chennai-based franchise team, where he consistently finished on the podium. A notable highlight was when Sandeep and his teammate Jon Lancaster, a British racing driver, won the Hyderabad street race, though they later lost the top spot due to a post-race penalty. In 2023, Sandeep competed in the Indian Racing League with Speed Demons Delhi. In 2024, Sandeep is set to compete with Chennai Turbo Riders, in the 2024 Indian Racing League.
Involvement with Indian Racing Fraternity
editHaving been involved in Indian motorsports for more than a decade, and having successfully raced in various series and championships, Sandeep is actively involved in coaching and training new and upcoming racing drivers. He is also involved with various championship organizers, acting as a race director and clerk of the course. In 2024, Sandeep has been assisting Meco Motorsport in organizing the Indian National Karting Championship as its race director.
Racing record
editCareer summary
editNational
editSeason | Series | Position |
---|---|---|
2023 | MRF Indian National Formula 2000 Championship | Champion [1] |
2022 | Indian Touring Car Championship – Volkswagen Motorsports India
(Factory Driver) |
Vice Champion[2] |
2021 | Volkswagen Polo R Cup | Champion [3] |
2020 | JK Tyre National Racing Championship - LGB Formula 4 | Champion [4] |
2017 | MRF Formula 1600 National Championship | Vice Champion[5] |
JK Tyre National Racing Championship - LGB Formula 4 | Vice Champion | |
VW Ameo Cup & Scholarship Awardee | Vice Champion | |
2015 | JK Formula India Series | - |
JK Tyre National Racing Championship - LGB Formula 4 | - | |
2012 | VW Polo R Pro Cup India | Champion |
European Scirocco R Cup Scholarship | Awardee [6] | |
2011 | Formula BMW Asia - Indian GP Support Race | Participant |
Rotax Max Challenge India | 8th | |
JK Tyre National Racing Championship - Formula Swift | 3rd | |
2010 | MMS Rookie Cup Rotax Max Karts | Champion |
JK Tyre National Racing Championship - Formula Swift | 6th | |
2009 | MMSC Cup Formula Fissme | Vice Champion |
2008 | Indian Rotax Max Challenge (Novice) | 2nd Overall |
2007 | Amaron Karting Challenge, Chennai | 3rd |
International
editSeason | Series | Position |
---|---|---|
2024 | Indian Racing League – Driver for Chennai Turbo Riders | - Current |
2023 | Indian Racing League – Driver for Speed Demons Delhi | - |
2022 | Indian Racing League – Driver for Chennai Turbo Riders| [7] | Multiple Top 3 finishes |
2019 | X1 Racing League – Team AD Racing (Delhi Franchise Team) | - |
2013 | VW Scirocco R Cup Europe | [8] | 8th (Novice) |
2012 | VW Polo Cup Colombo Night Race, Sri Lanka | [9] | 2nd |
2011 | JKRAS Formula BMW - Indian GP Support Race | - |
2009 | Rotax Max Asia Challenge in Indonesia and Malaysia | - |
References
edit- ^ "Sandeep Claims MRF Formula 2000 Crown". 18 December 2023 – via The Hindu.
- ^ "Indian National Touring Car Championship: - National Team Champions and National Driver Vice Champion". 4 March 2023 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Sandeep Kumar wins inaugural VW Polo Cup". 13 February 2022 – via Times of India.
- ^ "2020 JK NRC: Sandeep Kumar secures LGB Formula 4 title". 25 January 2021 – via Autocar India.
- ^ "MRF Formula 1600: Kumar Sweeps as Reddy Claims title". 17 September 2017 – via USF 2000 News.
- ^ "A.Sandeep Kumar to represent India at 2013 Scirocco R-Cup". 3 December 2012 – via APN News.
- ^ "Official website of Chennai Turbo Riders". 2022 – via Chennai Turbo Riders Website.
- ^ "Sandeep Kumar represents india at 2013 Scirocco R Cup". 3 December 2012 – via APN News.
- ^ "Volkswagen Polo race returns to Colombo Night Races". 24 January 2013 – via Business Standard.