Date:21/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/21/stories/2006092111270200.htm

New Delhi

A test for both man and machine

Madhur Tankha

NEW DELHI: Billed as the country's longest, highest and most strenuous motor sport event, the eighth edition of "Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya 2006" will be held from September 30 to October 7 in the two northern States of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

The captivating annual event that thoroughly tests the endurance and robustness of the participants as well as their machines will be flagged off from Shimla at the end of this month.

The route

The route will go through Manali, Kaza, Dhanker, Gramphoo, Patseo and Leh. It will culminate at Manali on October 7.

Announcing this here on Wednesday, Maruti Udyog Limited Chief General Manager (Marketing) Mayank Pareek said this year's event would see participation of 100 motor sport enthusiasts in three categories.

Three categories

While 30 professionals would participate in `X-treme', 34 amateurs would take part in the `Reliability' segment and the remaining 36 participants would compete in the two-wheeler category.

Six women's teams

Covering the gruelling mountainous terrain where temperatures dip below minus 20 degrees Celsius, a special feature of the event will be that six women's teams -- three of them in the tough X-treme category -- will also participate.

The Indian Army with five teams and the Indian Air Force with two teams have preferred Maruti Suzuki Gypsy as their rally vehicle.

And all the participating vehicles have been prepared as per the Motorsport Association of India specifications.