With APOGEE ’25 fast approaching, Malhar Patwardhan, the APOGEE Coordinator for Inspired Karters Gravity (IKRG), sat down with the EPC to detail the club’s technical journey and their vision for the upcoming fest.

Malhar stated that IKRG would be organising a Kart Expo in keeping with the fest theme, Under Steel Skies. He mentioned that there would be a stationary display at the car park beside Krishna Bhawan, alongside a dynamic showcase with the team driving the kart. Malhar said that the objective of this was to give the institute administration a look at the club’s workings, incentivising them to provide more funding. Malhar also spoke about the Soapbox Challenge, an event inspired by Red Bull races. Currently awaiting administrative approval, it features karts with no engines and ‘faulty’ brakes descending the Snake Path. Throwing light on the ongoing preparations, Malhar said that with ideation and planning complete, the primary task pending was the actual construction of the kart. 

He explained that the engineering lifecycle of a go-kart is an intensive, year-long commitment. The work starts with 3D design and simulation, followed by budgeting and procurement. Malhar noted that Pilani’s remote location creates a massive bottleneck for logistics and transport. The team’s experience at the Go Kart Design Challenge (GKDC), Coimbatore, in February 2026 was particularly bittersweet. Malhar recounted how they found poor-quality parts right before the electrical technical inspection. To get through, the team relied on jugaad to pass the inspection. Unfortunately, the time spent on these repairs meant they arrived ten to fifteen minutes late for the brake test. This small delay led to their disqualification from the endurance race.

Reflecting on his role as a Coordinator, Malhar admitted that it felt like a huge responsibility initially, as the appointment decision was made precipitously. Nevertheless, it proved to be an excellent learning opportunity that catalysed his personal growth.