KUALA LUMPUR – Seven-time two-wheel-drive national rally champion Gunaseelan Raju, better known as Guna, has returned to competitive rallying with a mission beyond personal glory: to give back to Malaysian motorsport and cultivate the next generation of talent.
Speaking on Scoop’s Sport Check podcast, Guna said his comeback is motivated by a desire to revive interest in rallying and provide emerging drivers with the guidance and opportunities he once received.
“The motive and the idea behind me coming back to rally is that I don’t want this sport to die,” he said. “I want to see the younger generation continue this.”
After a 15-year hiatus, Guna recently made a successful return at the Millet International Rally China, where he secured a podium finish. He hopes to leverage his experience to mentor younger racers and help rebuild the local rally scene.
“What I’m doing now is I want youngsters to look at the sport, come into the sport, and bring sponsors into the sport so that they will benefit,” he explained.
He also praised the Motorsport Association of Malaysia (MAM) for its efforts to enhance the national motorsport ecosystem.
“I think motorsport has taken a turn in Malaysia. It’s a bit more well-organised, with good sanctioning. I think they are also coordinating with sponsors to run events,” Guna said.
He highlighted the importance of grassroots programmes and smaller competitions in ensuring the sport’s long-term growth.
“So this is what MAM is doing now, organising these events and supporting small pocket events so that we have grassroots development,” he added.
Guna recalled Malaysia’s rallying heyday, when international-standard events drew strong manufacturer backing from companies such as Proton, Shell and Petronas. Early in his career, a factory drive from Proton propelled him into the spotlight.
“Proton called me and said, ‘Okay, there’s a Proton Satria and we want you to drive in the two-wheel-drive category,’” he said.
He emphasised that nurturing future champions requires sustained commitment from experienced drivers, sponsors, and governing bodies.
“I want to share my knowledge. I want youngsters to come in. Probably we can do a lot of these shows to promote the sport and get them involved. I will help them,” Guna said.
Highlighting the importance of early exposure to rallying, he said, “It must start early. It cannot start at 30 years old.”
Guna cited a recent encounter in China with a seven-year-old rally participant, who was driving a Golf GTI alongside his father as co-driver.
“So when they are doing this, why are we falling behind?” he asked, noting that Malaysia has produced numerous rally champions, including Tengku Mahaleel, YS Khong, “The Flying Sikh” Karamjit Singh, and Jimmy Lau. “All these people came up through the ranks. One day, they were also beginners. But you have to give back to the sport.”
The rally veteran’s return was capped with a second-place finish at the Mile International Auto Rally Championship 2026 in Mile, Yunnan Province, China, on May 9. – May 12, 2026