Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya is India's toughest and most demanding motorsport rally. It is one of the oldest international motorsport events organised in the country, and is the only Indian motorsport event listed on the off-road rallies calendar of FIM (Federation Internationale Motorcyclisme), Geneva, Switzerland. Only 12 international motoring events world-wide are listed in this calendar.
Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya is open to both car and bike enthusiasts and for professional as well as amateur motorsport lovers. The participants drive through some of the world's highest motorable roads and passes in the Himalayas like Jalori Pass, Rohtang Pass, Kunzum La, Baralacha La, Tanglang La & Khardung La, through the inhospitable terrains in the Lahual and Spiti valleys in the Ladakh region. Most of the drive is through boulders, snow capped peaks, gushing streams and at times, temperature below -20 degree Celsius. On an average, a participant covers a distance of 300 kms every day in this approximately 1800 km and week-long motoring event. Every year, more and more people participate in the Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya, many of them from abroad. Increased interest in Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya over the years has seen the participation levels exceed 200 teams in car and bike categories. The Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya is held around October, just before the onset of winters in the Himalayan region.
For Maruti Suzuki and our partner, the Himalayan Motorsport Association, organizing the Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya means over six months of hard work and preparations. But the spirit of motoring enthusiasts and Maruti Suzuki s commitment to promote motorsport in India has kept it going - year after year. |