The 2025 APRC Sumatra Utara Rally, staged August 8-10 in Parapat near Lake Toba, is a cornerstone of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship and the biggest rally in Indonesia’s calendar. Its legacy reaches back to the 1996 and 1997 World Rally Championship visits, making Sumatra’s stages known for challenging surfaces and unpredictable conditions. This year, top teams from Indonesia, India, and across Asia came to compete for regional glory and championship points in Round 3 of the FIA APRC, with local roots and a global spotlight driving extra intrigue.

Before the rally, expectations centered on whether Indonesia’s home teams could leverage their experience to defend local turf, or if proven international stars like Gaurav Gill would chart a comeback. Gill, a three-time APRC champion, was closely watched as he returned for a new bid. Common talk focused on how the area’s clay-heavy roads and changing weather would affect tire wear and brake life, and whether hot, humid conditions would favor teams with the most dialed-in cooling strategies.

Reality brought drama and surprises: Gill blasted out front, winning early stages, but a mechanical failure on Saturday put him out of the overall running. He rebounded on Sunday, dominating every stage and earning full leg points for a guaranteed spot in the season finale in Japan. Instead, Indonesia’s Aldio Oekon and Respati Adhi, driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, claimed overall victory with a fast, consistent drive in 2:12:57.1. Andika Prafandi/M Dhinata came second, with Musa Arjanshah/Md Herkusuma rounding out the podium. Indian newcomer Vaibhav Marathe, alongside Ashwin Naik, won the RC3 class, while Nikeetaa Takkale triumphed in both RC4 and Ladies Class. Takkale finished 29th overall, ahead of 25 other competitors. Attrition hit hard, with about two-thirds of starters reaching the finish.

Conditions through the weekend were hot and humid. Temperatures climbed above 30°C, and humidity remained high. This punished brakes and tires, requiring careful management from crews. Clay surfaces heated up, leading to unpredictable grip and forcing calculated decisions in cornering and power delivery. Material stress was apparent everywhere, a reminder from the paint protection film world that surface endurance is as crucial in motorsport as it is in everyday driving.

Summing up, Indonesian teams exceeded expectations by sweeping the overall podium, while international contenders battled setbacks and showed flashes of speed. Final results: Aldio Oekon/Respati Adhi took first overall with 2:12:57.1, followed by Andika Prafandi/M Dhinata and Musa Arjanshah/Md Herkusuma. RC3 and RC4 class wins went to Marathe and Takkale, with Gill earning crucial leg points despite not being classified in final standings. The rally’s technical and physical demands set up a high-stakes showdown for the championship climax in Japan.

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Wessen Char is UPPF’s petrolhead who still mourns the loss of Saab (and drove her 9-5 NG till 2025). She travels between US and Europe to cover auto events. She acknowledges the chic tech of EVs but wonders if the inexorable move to everything digital is ultimately all-better. Analogue had more soul somehow :)


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