Sarwar Hussain Chowdhury takes podium at Sepang

Sarwar Hussain Chowdhury Earns Sepang Podium for Bangladesh

Bdbusinessdaily.com – Bangladeshi motorsport driver Dr Sarwar Hussain Chowdhury has claimed third place in the Auto Gymkhana Male Double category at the Malaysia Festival of Speed, held at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit. The result marked a major international achievement for a racer whose career began on Bangladesh’s Rallycross scene more than a decade ago.

Chosen by the Automobile Association of Bangladesh (AAB) to represent the country, Sarwar joined fellow Bangladeshi drivers Kashfia Motaleb and Antar Bhuiyan in the national contingent. Their appearance placed Bangladesh alongside competitors from more established regional motorsport programmes.

“I was selected by the Automobile Association of Bangladesh, AAB, to represent Bangladesh at MFOS. Other team members included Kashfia Motaleb and Antar Bhuiyan,” Sarwar said.

A precision-focused test at Sepang

Auto Gymkhana differs sharply from the Rallycross racing through which Sarwar became familiar to local fans. Rather than trying to set the fastest lap around a traditional race circuit, drivers tackle a compact, technical layout against the clock. Tight turns, sudden directional changes and limited room for error make vehicle placement and driver control central to the discipline.

The format can look less dramatic than high-speed circuit racing, but its demands are substantial. A small mistake can cost valuable seconds, while a quick and accurate sequence through obstacles can determine the final order. For a driver moving toward wider international competition, it offers a demanding test of reaction time, precision and consistency.

Sarwar said the field at the Malaysia Festival of Speed included competitors with serious credentials.

“There were Singapore, Sri Lanka and Malaysia’s AAGC teams there, so no part of it was grassroots. All of them are international competitors and regional champs.”

That level of opposition added weight to the Bangladeshi driver’s third-place finish. A podium at Sepang represented more than a single event result: it offered evidence that Sarwar could compete effectively beyond the domestic motorsport environment where he built much of his experience.

From Rallycross beginnings to a championship title

Sarwar entered competitive racing in 2013 through Rallycross Bangladesh. Over successive editions of the championship, he became a regular podium contender and one of the more recognisable competitors in the discipline. His persistence was rewarded in 2024, when he won the overall Rallycross Championship.

“I started racing from 2013 when I first competed in Rallycross Bangladesh. I’ve scored several podiums there and won the championship in 2024,” he said.

Two cars became closely linked with that journey. Earlier in his career, Sarwar competed in a substantially modified Honda Civic EF using a K20A Type R engine. Later, his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V became the machine most strongly associated with his Rallycross campaigns.

The Evolution was developed over several years and incorporated parts from multiple generations of Mitsubishi’s performance saloon. Its setup included a 4G63T engine sourced from an Evo VIII MR, along with an Evo 6.5 drivetrain and limited-slip differentials. The car’s long development reflected the technical commitment required to remain competitive in Rallycross.

Building international experience

Although Rallycross produced important results at home, Sarwar had already begun looking beyond that category. In 2019, he travelled to India for Formula LGB training, gaining time in a purpose-built single-seater racing car. Plans for additional overseas competition were later disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

His international path resumed in 2025 when he joined the AAB Racing Academy and obtained a National Racing Licence. During the same year, he represented Bangladesh in Auto Gymkhana at the Asia Auto Gymkhana Championship, competing in Taiwan and Uzbekistan.

Those events exposed him to drivers from countries with deeper motorsport infrastructure and longer international racing traditions. They also provided experience that helped prepare him for the Malaysia Festival of Speed and the challenge of competing at Sepang.

For motorsport followers, Sepang remains one of Asia’s most recognisable venues. The circuit staged Formula One races from 1999 through 2017 and continues to host major international events, including MotoGP. A podium there carries particular significance for a Bangladeshi driver working to establish a larger presence in regional competition.

Gymkhana as a route to bigger categories

Sarwar does not view Auto Gymkhana as the final destination of his racing career. Instead, he sees it as a disciplined foundation that can support a move into quicker and more complex forms of motorsport.

“I’ll continue with Gymkhana. Though it does not look as impressive, it requires a high level of skill and car control and is a great starting point for other types of racing,” he explained.

His longer-range targets include Touring Car racing, endurance events and potentially Formula 4.

“I plan on growing from here to Touring Car racing, Endurance and might try a stint at Formula 4 in the future,” Sarwar added.

The Sepang result gives that ambition a meaningful platform. After progressing from domestic Rallycross podiums to a national title and now an international Auto Gymkhana podium, Sarwar’s career reflects a gradual expansion of Bangladesh’s presence in regional motorsport.