STATE TIMES NEWS
UTTARAKHAND: After hosting some of the world’s toughest motorsport rallies, Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) will flag off its maiden adventure sport rally in the mountain state- Uttarakhand. Named as Maruti Suzuki Uttarakhand Adventure Car Rally, it will be the first leg of the very popular 2016 National Super League TSD Rally Championship.
The rally is being organised in collaboration with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) and will be flagged off by Chief Minister Harish Rawat from Paryatan Bhawan in Dehradun on 14th March. It will witness participation from 35 teams driving cars and SUVs, with each team comprising a driver and a navigator.
Uttarakhand Secretary Tourism Shailesh Bagauli said, “The rally will pass by some of our most loved tourism hotspots like the world-class ski resort at Auli, and Garjiya on the border of the Jim Corbett National Wildflife Park. This will showcase to the world that Uttarakhand is the ideal adventure destination for families and youth alike, and the state has an excellent road network”.
R.S Kalsi, Executive Director, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki said, “The 2016 Maruti Suzuki Uttarakhand Adventure Car Rally will run three competitive legs over the prime Garhwal axis of the State.”
After the ceremonial flag-off on 14th March, the rally will take off in the early hours of 15th March from Dehradun. It will have the night halt at Garjiya, which borders the Jim Corbett National Park.
On the second day, the route will go along the outskirts of the Jim Corbett National Park. It will trace the path of the Ram Ganga River, almost to the source. It will traverse the pilgrim routes and will go via Bhikyasain, Adbadri and Karan Prayag and will reach the ski resort of Auli.
On the third and final day, the rally will head back from Auli to Dehradun, using the easier tarmac roads. The rally route will include forest tracks, gravel roads, dry river beds and the snow-covered roads of Auli.
The 2016 Maruti Suzuki Uttarakhand Adventure Car Rally will follow the Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) format. This is a highly safe format of rallying, which tests the skills of both the driver and navigator to the maximum, and retains the adventure of competitive motorsport.
