Harith Noah – Racing Against All Odds to Become India’s Fastest Rider at the Dakar Rally

Harith Noah, a 32-year-old rally raid racer from Shoranur, Palakkad, has become a trailblazer in Indian motorsport, especially with his exploits at the Dakar Rally. His journey began in 2009, when he received his first motorcycle and started racing in the paddy fields near his home. Despite finishing last in his first race, the experience ignited a passion that would drive him to five national Supercross titles and eventually to the world’s toughest rally.

Key Milestones in Harith Noah’s Career

• Noah switched to cross-country rallies in 2018 and debuted at Dakar in 2020. In 2021, he became the first Indian to finish in the top 20. In 2024, he made history by winning the Rally 2 class, with two stage wins and missing a top-10 overall spot by just six minutes making him the fastest Indian ever at Dakar.

• In his sixth Dakar Rally in 2025, Noah crashed in the prologue and broke his wrist, forcing him to withdraw. Undeterred, he began training at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre in California, determined to make a strong comeback.

Family Support and Early Influences

Noah credits much of his early progress to his father, Mohammed Rafi, a former rally navigator who acted as his mentor and crew chief. Together, they traveled across India for national races, often doing everything themselves from transporting bikes to handling logistics.

Love for Dakar and Racing Philosophy

Noah is drawn to the Dakar Rally for its unpredictability and the sheer test of skill, navigation, and endurance it demands. He emphasizes that success isn’t about overthinking but about staying present and giving his best, regardless of the outcome. His sports science background has helped him handle setbacks, focusing on learning from mistakes rather than fixating on results.

Noah highlights the lack of early skill development and institutional support as major challenges for Indian racers, noting that most global pros start riding as young as three or five, while he began at 16. However, he is optimistic about the future, pointing to more young talent and the growth of events like the Indian Supercross Racing League. Noah isn’t thinking about retirement yet and wants to push his limits further. His dream is to see motorsport become mainstream in India, with fans eagerly following events like Supercross and Dakar.

Harith Noah’s journey is a testament to passion, resilience, and the growing potential of Indian motorsport on the global stage.