TVS Racing’s Aishwarya Pissay has become the first woman from Asia to compete at the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship (W2RC): BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal 2025, which concludes on September 28, 2025, as part of her preparation for the Dakar Rally 2026.
The fourth-round W2RC rally covers 2,000 km across five stages and a prologue on gravel and dirt tracks in Portugal’s Alentejo and Ribatejo regions and Spain’s Extremadura. Pissay’s participation marks a training milestone toward her goal of becoming the first Indian woman to compete at Dakar Rally 2026.
Following Portugal, Pissay will compete in the Rally of Morocco, which serves as the key qualifier for Dakar participation.
“This journey has been incredibly fulfilling and I’m proud to represent India at this level. Every milestone I have achieved has been possible because of the unwavering support, guidance, and resources from TVS Racing. Competing at the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship in Portugal is an important step in my preparation, and my next target is the Rally of Morocco, a critical qualifier on the road to Dakar. My eyes are firmly set on Dakar Rally 2026, and I am more determined than ever to push boundaries, break barriers, and represent India on the global stage. I hope this journey inspires women racers across the world to believe in themselves and chase their dreams,” said Aishwarya Pissay, TVS Racer.
TVS Racing, established in 1982 as India’s first factory rally team, has trained over 3,000 professional racers and introduced the world’s first all-women factory racing team in 2016.
Vimal Sumbly, Head of Business – Premium, TVS Motor Company said, “TVS Racing has always been a trailblazer in Indian motorsports, shaping champions, pushing boundaries, and fostering talent for over four decades. Our commitment to nurturing riders and empowering women in the sport is at the heart of everything we do. Aishwarya Pissay is a shining example of this vision. Her courage, skill, and determination demonstrate what is possible when talent is given the right support. As she races through Portugal on her path to Dakar 2026, she is not just pursuing a personal milestone, she is inspiring a generation of riders to dream bigger, break barriers, and compete on the world stage.”
The company operates under a “Track to Road” philosophy, translating racing expertise into consumer motorcycle development for its Apache series and NTORQ 125 models.