As an automobile leader, Maruti Suzuki has been promoting motor sports since its inception in the 1980s. To popularize action sport, the Maruti Suzuki motorsport calendar is packed with exciting motoring events. Be it for a motorsport enthusiast, an amateur or a professional, there are events that offer the thrill and joy of motorsport to one and all. The annual calendar of events includes Autocross, Treasure Hunt and professional rallies including Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya, Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm and Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare. These events provide rallying thrills as well as promote safe driving habits. The event, often referred to as 'Mini Dakar', is amongst the toughest and most challenging motorsport events worldwide. The rally, spanning 6 days had 9 'high-speed' competitive sections, with interesting names like Twilight Rann, Great Rann, Rann Déjà vu, Mad Max, Big Max, Thar Xpress, Twister, Twister Redux and The Sting. The rally, split into three categories - Xtreme, Xplore and Ndure - tested the nerve and grit of all participants and their machines. Felicitating the winners, Mr Shashank Srivastava, Chief General Manager (Marketing) Maruti Suzuki India, said, "This is an occasion for us to thank all the participants and congratulate them for delivering on our promise of testing the nerve and grit of all participants and their machines. Besides, they also provided excitement to motorsport lovers and helped in promoting controlled and safe driving habits, a corporate social movement that Maruti Suzuki has started nationwide through every possible means including motorsport events" After the flag off from Ahmedabad the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm traversed a grueling 3500 km through the arid Rann of Kutch, Bhuj, interiors of Rajasthan through Barmer, Jaisalmer, Pokhran, Thar, Bikaner, and Jaipur, before reaching Delhi today. Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm was organized in partnership with Northern Motorsport for the 9th year in the running. Amongst the top 18 finishes 11 vehicles were from Maruti Suzuki models and included all the three podium finishes of this edition. Mr. Shashank Srivastava, said, "The Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm is an attempt to make motorsports more challenging and that has really come true by looking at the increasing participation every year. It is great to see most of the leading competitors on a Maruti Suzuki Vehicle. The event also brings us closer to our customers who look for thrill and adventure in driving our cars. " Mr. Shashank Srivastava, added, "The next edition of Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm will take place early 2012. Plans are already afoot for making it further grand by encouraging more domestic and international participation, adding new categories and terrains" |