Sandeep Kumar (racing driver)

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
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

Sandeep 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

Polo 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

In 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

The 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

In 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)

The 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

Having 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

National

Season	Series	Position
2023	MRF Indian National Formula 2000 Championship	Champion
2022	Indian Touring Car Championship – Volkswagen Motorsports India (Factory Driver)	Vice Champion
2021	Volkswagen Polo R Cup	Champion
2020	JK Tyre National Racing Championship - LGB Formula 4	Champion
2017	MRF Formula 1600 National Championship	Vice Champion
	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
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

Season	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|	Multiple Top 3 finishes
2019	X1 Racing League – Team AD Racing (Delhi Franchise Team)	-
2013	VW Scirocco R Cup Europe |	8th (Novice)
2012	VW Polo Cup Colombo Night Race, Sri Lanka |	2nd
2011	JKRAS Formula BMW - Indian GP Support Race	-
2009	Rotax Max Asia Challenge in Indonesia and Malaysia	-