Isuzu is the new sponsor for the 2018 Rainforest Challenge (RFC) in India. The 5th edition of RFC India will be held in Goa from July 21-28, 2018. From 2014-2017, the event was sponsored by Force Gurkha.

This year 41 teams, including a women's team will be competing for the top spot. There are 10 teams from Kerala, 7 from Telangana and 4 from Karnataka & Maharashtra each. Chandigarh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Arunachal Pradesh will each have 3 teams while 1 team from Haryana will be joining the group.

The Rainforest Challenge is an off-road competition organized by Cougar Motorsports in India. The event is divided into 26 Special Stages, where teams have to navigate through rugged terrain and various obstacles. The winner receives a cash reward of USD 10,000, which includes a free entry to the annual RFC Mother Event held in Malaysia. 

Cougar Motorsports has also announced a Rainforest Trophy (RFC) off-roading expedition in Arunachal Pradesh from October 16-20, 2018. The non-racing event will be based on the RFT Malaysia as well as the Borneo Safari.

The fifth edition of the Rainforest Challenge India (RFC) will be held in Goa from July 21-28, 2018. Cougar Motorsport has also announced the inaugural edition of the Rainforest Trophy India (RFT), which will be held in Arunachal Pradesh from October 16-20, 2018.

41 teams from across India will be competing in season 5 of RFC India. These include multiple teams from the states of Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Haryana. For the first time, a women's team and teams from Arunachal Pradesh will be taking part in this year's event.

The Rainforest Challenge is an off-road motorsport competition, where each team competes in 26 Special Stages (SS). The team with the maximum points wins the title and receives benefits worth US$ 10,000, which includes a free entry to the annual RFC Mother Event held in Malaysia worth US$ 3,900

The Rainforest Trophy is a non-racing event organized in partnership with Manabhum Offroaders Club of Arunachal Pradesh (MOCA). The format of the event will be similar to RFT Malaysia and the Borneo Safari, where teams have to negotiate natural obstacles on rough trails.

Gurmeet Virdi and Kirpal Singh Tung of Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh have won the Force Gurkha RFC India 2016, after they managed to score 2,177 points out of a possible 2,700 in the event. They were a part of the up to 1,610 cc petrol or diesel category. The two have thus become the first Indians to win the off-road competition. RFC India is regarded as one of the toughest off-road motorsport events in the country.

Malaysian driver Merwyn Lim, along with his co-driver Hamizan Bin Abdul Hamid, of Force Motors managed to secure the second spot with 2,166 points. Another Malaysian - Tan Eng Joo and co-driver Tan Choon Hong came third after accumulating 2,111 points. Kabir Waraich and Gagan Sachdeva of Force motors tied with Goan driver Cedrick Jordon DaSilva and Floyd Preston for the fourth spot, as both of them scored 1,938 points.

Following were the category-wise winners at the RFC India 2016:
• Up to 1,610 cc Petrol or Diesel category - Gurmeet Virdi (Kirpal Singh Tung)
• 1,611 to 2,610 cc Diesel category - Merwyn Lim (Hamizan Bin Abdul Hamid)
• 1,611 to 2,610 cc Petrol category - Bijender Singh (Gajender Singh)
• Above 2,610 cc Petrol or Diesel category - Dr. Chaitanya Challa (Shabarish Jagarapu)

Force Motors was announced as the winner of the Team Award.