Date:16/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/16/stories/2007021605392200.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

SAARC rally

NEW DELHI: The first SAARC Car Rally will be flagged off in Dhaka on March 15.

Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries, Member states of the SAARC and the SAARC Secretariat, the rally will travel from Bangladesh across India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka before culminating in the Maldives on April 14.

Addressing mediapersons here on Thursday, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan revealed the idea of the SAARC rally was mooted by PM Manmohan Singh in his speech at the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka in November 2005.

Around 30 vehicles from the participating nations are likely to take part in the 31-day rally spread over 8200km. The rally, which is non-competitive in nature, will be a piloted convoy where a pilot car will guide the participating Tata Safaris through the route.

The rally will reach the Capital on April 1. On April 3, it will be flagged off by the Heads of States and Government of all SAARC countries gathered for the 14th SAARC Summit. — Special Correspondent.