Bengaluru’s racing sensation, Aishwarya Pissay, has cemented her place in motorsports history by becoming the first woman from Asia and India to win her class at the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal 2025, the fourth round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
Competing in the Rally2 – Women’s category, the 29-year-old trailblazer not only topped her class but also secured an impressive 27th place overall in the highly competitive international field, marking a monumental breakthrough for Indian and Asian motorsports.
The victory comes as a major milestone for Pissay, who raced as a privateer in what is considered one of the world’s toughest rally-raid series.
“This win means the world to me,” said Aishwarya Pissay following her triumph. “Becoming the first woman from Asia and India to win at this level is not just a personal milestone, it’s a message to every young girl who dreams beyond limits.”
The grueling, six-day rally covered a total distance of 2,000 km, including 1,225 km of competitive stages across 100% gravel tracks spanning Portugal and Spain.
This historic success significantly strengthens Pissay’s campaign toward her ultimate goal: becoming the first Indian woman to compete and finish the legendary Dakar Rally on two wheels. Pissay is already an accomplished athlete, having previously become the first Indian motorsports athlete to win a world title when she secured the FIM Bajas World Cup in the women’s category in 2019.
