The 13th annual event, Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya will flag off from Shimla to Srinagar from 13th October to 16th October and will see the participants across the country with huge adrenaline rush and desire to showcase the power and their driving skills.
For the first time, the company has worked out two separate routes to enhance participation and engagement of the mighty Himalayan range with motorsports enthusiasts. This is in line with the expectations of motorsports enthusiasts especially amateurs, who for many years have been looking for such exciting opportunities.
In its revamped format, the X-treme and Adventure categories would have their own paths initially before meeting at Rangdum, situated 11,998 feet above sea level in an isolated region of the Suru valley in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, and continue together via Penzi-La till the final stop at Srinagar, the release added.
Teams from Tata Motors, Mahindra and Maruti are all set to battle out the most predominant adventure class. A paraplegic competitor, Anurag Bareja from Gurgaon, would be competing for the first time in this year's Raid. His participation will be at par with other competitors in a modified hand-controlled car, said Parmar.
Giving details about the itinerary, he said that the first leg for the X-treme category would traverse through Shimla, Mandi and Kullu with a night stopover at Manali. The second leg would cross over the mighty Rohtang with a long drive added to halt at Leh. Then on the Raid would cover several routes in Leh including the 18,300 feet, Khardung-La, the highest motorable road in the world, pass through Kargil, Rangdum, Penzi-La and would conclude at Srinagar on 16th October.
The 13th edition of Raid de Himalayas will see 291 contestants as compared to 277 in 2010. the X-treme and Adventure category will compete on their own treacherous paths initially, but will meet at Rangdum (Rangdum is in a valley situated 3,657 m (11,998 ft) above the sea level, in an isolated region of the Suru valley in the Ladakh region in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in Northern India) and continue together via Penzi-La till the final stop at Srinagar, J&K.