New Delhi, 23 February, 2015 : Car market leader Maruti Suzuki flagged off the 13th edition of adventurous Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm motor rally here today. Covering the most picturesque and remote areas of Rajasthan, participating motorsport enthusiasts will be covering over 2300 kms in this edition of Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm. Designed to be action packed, motorsport enthusiasts will drive on the daunting sand dunes and rough terrains experiencing Rajasthan’s pristine-scenic beauty.

Pegged as one of India’s greatest motor events Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm will cover cities such as Sardarshahar, Jaisalmer, Bikaner before concluding in the pink city of Jaipur.

The rally gets more challenging in its 13th edition, playing host to a participation of over 130 motorsports enthusiasts across categories -- XTreme, NDure XPlore and Moto Quad. It is one of the toughest motor sports events in India, giving its keen participants an opportunity to drive from the roads of New Delhi to the desert tracks of Rajasthan.

All eyes will be on the Manali man, Suresh Rana, nine times winner of Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya and three times winner of Desert Storm. Driving Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, he is looking at lifting the coveted trophy in XTreme category for the fourth time this year. Competing on a Suzuki bike in Moto category is CS Santhosh, the Dakar rally finisher, who is hoping to taste success again in this edition of Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm.

At the flag-off, talking about the popularity of the event, Mr. Manohar Bhat, Vice President, Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India said, “Thanks to this project, many more Japanese people will travel to Gujarat. Let us deepen friendship and mutual understanding between India and Japan”.

He further added, “Maruti Suzuki encourages motorsports enthusiasts from all over the country and abroad to test their skills. The rally has various formats suited for amateurs and professionals. The competition would be as intense as ever and both, man and machine would be tested to the limits.”

The route for 13th consecutive Desert Storm 2015 is designed to tackle the roughest and most challenging terrains of Rajasthan:

Ceremonial start: Motorists gear-up for a grueling 6 day long journey from New Delhi, on 23rd February, to the interiors of Rajasthan.

• Leg 1: The main rally will start from Sardarshahar at 8:00pm. It will be an exciting start that will see 130 motorsports enthusiasts participating in the 150 kms long and challenging night-stage
• Leg 2: Rallyists will compete at a scorching pace and drive on the roads of Sardarshahar towards sandy Bikaner competing on the rough terrains while conquering the desert region
• Leg 3: Keeping the spirit of adventure going, the rally will continue its journey, early morning, to the sleepy desert city of Jaisalmer. Reaching the mid-point of the rally, the motorists determination and confidence will be at peak
• Leg 4: The Storm will then come back to Bikaner, the royal fortified city with a timeless appeal
• Leg 5: Finally, the adventurous rally will come to an end in the ancient city of Jaipur where the declaration of the winner will take place. Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm rally will cover over 2300 kms from Sardarshahar to Jaipur.

For over 15 years, Maruti Suzuki has been hosting various motor sport events like Raid De Himalya and Dakshin Dare. Desert Storm is one such challenging rally event that tests the nerve and grit of its participants and their machines.

About Desert Storm: The Thar Desert isn’t a place to drive; it’s a place to fight. The Desert Storm takes its racers through the interiors of Rajasthan and along the Gujarat coast. An uneasy alliance of the formidable Thar Desert, the rocky Aravalis, and the slippery white sands of the Rann of Kutch, versus the racers who depend on their skills, motor’s ability and luck to survive.

Maruti Suzuki & Motorsports: Maruti Suzuki has been actively promoting motorsports in the country for over 15 years now. 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.

For more information please visit: www.marutisuzukimotorsport.com

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