Dean Mascarenhas and Gagan Karumbaiah
BENGALURU: From India’s national rally circuit to the asphalt stages of Gran Canaria, Dean Mascarenhas and Gagan Karumbaiah are about to take the biggest leap of their careers.The Team TSI Racing duo will make their FIA World Rally Championship debut in the WRC3 class at Rally Islas Canarias.
The rally will feature 18 special stages over 301.30km — a demanding surface that will test not just speed, but precision, patience and adaptability.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“This puts India on the map at the WRC. It’s opened the doors for youngsters back home,” Dean said, reflecting on the impact on Indian motorsport.For Dean, this is the culmination of a career built on persistence. A veteran of Indian rallying since his debut at the K1000 in 2010, he has spent more than a decade climbing through the ranks, collecting podiums, runner-up finishes and titles across multiple classes.
His breakthrough came in 2025, when he won the INRC Overall Driver’s Championship after a season of remarkable consistency.Dean and Gagan are not just taking a shot at international competition; they are stepping into it with a clear understanding of the scale of the challenge. “Our journey has been good, and a lot of things have fallen into place,” Dean said. “It’s not just about going out there and driving — a lot of effort has gone into it with an entire team working behind us,” the 32-year-old added.
Gagan’s path has been different, but no less compelling. With roots in 4×4 off-roading, autocross and even rally driving, he developed a rare breadth of motorsport experience before settling into the co-driver’s seat. His methodical approach and composure under pressure have made him an ideal partner for Dean, and their bond has only strengthened since they began competing together in 2019.Now, the focus has shifted to mastering the details that matter most at the world level.
The Mangaluru-Kodagu pair has been training in Spain, refining their pace notes, adjusting to the demands of the new car. “The grind never stops,” Dean said. “Wherever we drive, we have to keep practicing. We’ve been working on our pace notes and understanding and practicing with the new car.”Gagan echoed that emphasis on precision. “Pace notes are the key,” he said. “If you are thorough with the pace note, the speed, what you carry and the approach towards the corner, it will take you to the next level.”For Dean, the maiden outing is about learning rather than making bold predictions. “The idea is to learn,” he said. “You can’t go out at the topmost level of rallying and say that you’re going to be the best out there. It’s not possible because there are a lot of people who have been doing this for years.”Dean and Gagan, who are skipping the INRC this year, know they are entering unfamiliar territory. “We need to learn, adapt and progress,” Dean said. “We can’t keep competing only back home.”For Dean and Gagan, Rally Islas Canarias is more than just a debut — it is a statement of intent.
