Raid-de-Himalaya Re-loaded

IT’S back. Maruti Suzuki has announced the launch of the 8th edition of Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya starting from September 30 to October 7, 2006. This year has a record enrollment with 100 motorsport enthusiasts participating across the three categories - 30 in X-treme (for professionals), 34 in Reliability (for amateurs) and 36 in the two-wheelers category.

After the flag-off from Shimla on September 30, the Raid-de-Himalaya will traverse through Manali, Kaza, Dhankar, Gramphoo, Patseo and Leh and will finally culminate in Manali on October 7. This year the total prize money for the event has been doubled to Rs 6 lakhs. Rallyists will cover over 300 kms of grueling mountainous route in a day - another first for rallying of any kind. It will pass through some areas where temperature dips below minus 20 degrees Celsius.

For the first time, the Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya will pass along Pangong Tso, a huge water body on the Indo-China border, 200 Kms north of Leh. In all, it will cover 2139 kms across 6 of the world’s highest mountains passes at over 5500 meters, in eight days. The raid will also see participation by six women teams. Three of them are taking the tougher ‘X-treme’ category challenge. All participating vehicles are prepared as per MAI specifications.

The Raid-de-Himalaya is India’s longest, highest and most strenuous motorsport rally that thoroughly tests the endurance and robustness of the man and the machine. It is the only event that runs in both states of Jammu & Kashmir as well as Himachal Pradesh.