175 motorists to set out in Raid-de-Himalaya

SHIMLA - More than 175 daredevil motorists will set out across the rugged Himalayan ranges during the 12th edition of the world’s toughest motor rally, Raid-de-Himalaya, next month, an organiser said here Wednesday.

This year the rally, which will pass through the lofty mountains of Himachal Pradesh, skips terrains of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region, president of the Himalayan Motorsport Association (HMA) Vijay Parmar told IANS. It would cover 2,500 km in six-days.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal would flag off the Raid from Shimla Oct 9. It would pass through Shimla, Nalagarh, Solan, Manali, Kaza, Keylong and Sarchu before culminating at Manali.

“For the first time, the rally skips Leh. A decision in this regard was taken to express solidarity with the cloudburst victims. The rally would concentrate around the Spiti Valley for the most part using the rough roads around Kaza,” he added.

A cloudburst occurred at Choglamsar village Aug 6, which is situated above Leh town, causing flash floods and mudslides that washed away government offices, paramilitary camps and residential homes.

The HMA, a member of the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of India, has been organising the Raid since 1999.

The Raid-de-Himalaya is the only Asian motor sport event listed on the off-road rallies calendar of the Switzerland-based FIM (Federation Internationale Motorcyclisme), which captures the attention of the international rallying circuit as well.

The Raid has X-treme four-wheeler, X-treme two-wheeler and adventure trail categories.