Kargil: Five time winners of Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya Suresh Rana/Ashwin Naik, could not hold their lead gained over last few legs and have dropped to third position, though just three minutes behind the leaders Army Adventure team of Captain Samir Pande/Daljit Singh Sahi. Last year’s winning team from Army Adventure Major A S Brar/Swr Nilesh Kumar, which was on second position after leg 3, are now out of top ten! The Austrian biking team, participating for the first time this year, holds sway in extreme bikes category by holding on to no. 1 and 3 slots.
On fourth day, the rally started from Leh through winding routes to Kargil and ended at Rangdum. The spaghetti roads over the Jalebi Mor, Fotu La and Namika La saw tarmac driving at its best. Quick corners and no break from the climbing and dropping natural roller coaster into Wakha saw a first special stage of 83 kms. Meanwhile, the Adventure Trial category participants moved from Srinagar to Drass through Jozi La Pass and joined the Extreme Category participants at Kargil. Hereon the rally moved together again with both categories taking a left into the Suru and Zanskar valley for a short 40 kms dirt dash to Rangdum Camp.
On Day 5, the rally did loop from Rangdum, Penzi La and Pandum to return to Rangdum, passing through some gorgeous glaciers. The two nights at Rangdoum were extremely difficult for the disheveled crew with temperatures dropping to 10°Centigrade below zero.
The field is very tight in the Extreme Cars category. Suresh Rana/Ashwin Naik were leading after leg 4, with Army Adventure team of Lt. Col Shakti Bajaj/Maj B N Prakash on second slot. They were followed by Chandigarh based Hapreet/Virendra and fourth slot was held by Captain Samir Pande/Daljit Singh Sahi of Army Adventure again. The fifth leg changed it all.
Captain Samir Pande/Daljit Singh Sahi managed a coup of sorts with high speed driving and gaining a timing of cumulative 12.22.18 hrs to take the lead position. Harpreet Singh Bawa/Virendra Kashyap, who had kept themselves in contention by being in top 10 all these days, are breathing down their neck two minutes behind with an overall timing of 12.24.15 hrs. Suresh Rana/Ashwin Naik will try using their experience over the many years to regain their top position as they are just 3 minutes behind leaders and one minute Harpreet/Virendra with a cumulative timing of 12.25.46 hrs. All three are driving Maruti Suzuki Gypsy.
In the Extreme Bikes segment, the Dakar Rally winner Helmut Frauwallner continues to maintain lead with Husqvarna TE 449 clocking an overall 10.10.29 hrs over last five days. Last year’s winner Ashish Moudgil has narrowed the gap to below three minutes riding his Yamaha WR-450 to a cumulative timing of 10.13.20 hrs. Third slot holder Suresh Babu has now dropped out of top five. Another Austrian Lehner Gottfried riding a KTM Enduro moves one place up with butt is a distant third with a timing of 11.10.04 hrs.
The last and final leg tomorrow will be an early morning start with rally moving to Kargil and then a long transport into Srinagar. The lakes, abounding with lotus flowers and shikaras await those manage to complete the rally with perfect combination of man, machine and method put to task.
Maruti Suzuki India Limited, India’s leading car maker, has been hosting well-known motorsport rallies such as the Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya and Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm in the North and North-West, respectively besides motoring events such Women’s Power Drive, Autocross, Treasure Hunt to name a few. Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare was initiated three years ago for the motorsports enthusiasts of South India, and within this short period, it has emerged as premier motorsport event in Indian calendar.
Results – (Cumulative – upto Leg 5):
Extreme (4WD): 1) Captain Samir Pande/Daljit Singh Sahi – 12.22.18 hrs. 2) Harpreet Singh Bawa/Virendra Kashyap 12.24.15 hrs. 3) Suresh Rana and Ashwin Naik in Gypsy – 12.25.46 hrs
Extreme (Bikes): 1) Helmut Frauwallner – 10.10.29 hrs. 2) Ashish Moudgill
- 10.13.20 hrs. 3) Lehner Gottfried – 11.10.04 hrs.
