Mangaluru: The Monsoon Challenge 2017 which is considered to be one of the toughest rallying tracks in the country will begin on Friday June 23 from Mangaluru and will end at Panaji in Goa on Sunday. In all, 30 vehicles with seasoned rallying men and women will take this test for humans and machines that will take them through some of the trying conditions in the fringe areas of the mighty Western Ghats. Narrow and not so good roads, heavy to very heavy rains, low visibility and also sometimes slippery roads due to mudslides are the few perils to mention. The recce of the track conducted by ace rallyists Ashwin Naik and Musa Sherif has thrown these challenges, but there could be more.
Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), India‘s leading SUV manufacturer is the brain and muscle behind this rugged event. Bijoy Kumar Y, Chief of Mahindra Adventure Initiatives said, “The Monsoon Challenge has all the ingredients of providing the best experience as the rally travels through some of the most beautiful and pristine locations from Mangaluru to Goa and is the perfect opportunity for budding motorsport enthusiasts to test their mettle. This rally follows the Time, Speed, Distance (TSD) format and is open only for customers of Mahindra vehicles.”
The Mahindra Adventure Monsoon Challenge 2017, known to be the biggest TSD (Time, Speed, Distance) rally on the circuit with the most rewarding prize money on offer, will see participation from over 30 vehicles from the Mahindra stables. These men, women and machines will drive in one of the toughest terrains on the coast covering 650 kilometres in two days, braving the rains on the fringe areas of the mighty Western Ghats.
After organising six seasons of “Monsoon Challenges” under ace rallyists Ashwin Nayak and Musa Sherief, the rally has become one of the most sought after events in Karnataka if not in South India. This road-trip will be one of its kind as the participants will be taking one of the most scenic routes to reach their destination in Goa.
After the flag off, participants will drive through Moodabidri, Karkala, Kollur and reach Murudeshwar near Bhatkal to camp there. On June 25, the drivers will head to Yana through Honnavar and Sirsi reaching Panjim through Kumta and Karwar. The participants are required to drive an excess of 300 kilometres on each day at the earliest time to prove their manoeuvring abilities and fatigue control.
“The Rally is a perfect match of endurance test of the vehicles and ability of the drivers. The test will be gruelling as they have to go through one of the toughest mountain terrains known to India. A series of unpredictable curves and muck of the Western Ghats will be haunting the drivers on the first day and heavy winds and rains are sure to torment them on the second”, say Naik and Sherief.
Monsoon Challenge event has come of age
Held under the Mahindra Adventure umbrella, it is a part of the challenges series of motorsport events that were launched six years ago. A unique concept, as the name suggests, TSD rallies are not only about speed but also about calculated precision of time and distance. The driver and the navigator are expected to keep a track of time in tandem with the distance covered.
Tough terrain and roads
The route will have highways, B roads and rough road stretches with the magnificent Western Ghats as the omnipresent backdrop. Under this challenge, participants can compete under any one of the following categories – the Monsoon Challenge sports the tag of being one of India’s richest TSD motorsport events. The event has also been duly approved by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) and is held especially for Mahindra vehicle owners.
Categories
Professional Category and Amateur Category which includes Corporate Category, Ladies Category, Couple Category and Media Category. Total prize money on offer is Rs 3.5 Lakh.
The Mahindra Adventure Monsoon Challenge 2017 route is chalked out by the Mahindra Adventure team in association with IMSC (Indian Motor Sport Club of India), while the “With You Hamesha” service team will ensure that the participants can enjoy the rally unhindered.
About Mahindra Adventure
A unique concept to showcase the tough and rugged DNA of Mahindra vehicles, Mahindra Adventure functions as an umbrella brand with a series of self-drive overland adventure expeditions are organised under its banner.
Mahindra Adventure was launched as an independent entity for all adventurous activities, in 2011, headed by Bijoy Kumar Y, Chief of Adventure Initiatives. He is a motoring enthusiast and the erstwhile editor of a popular motoring magazine. This team of motoring enthusiasts is in charge of ensuring that Mahindra’s motorsport activities are taken to the next level and they are in it for the joy of motoring, off-roading and rallying.
The Mahindra Adventure calendar comprises a series of experiential marketing events throughout the year such as the popular off-roading event, the Great Escape, several Challenges (sporting events in keeping with the company’s promise of providing adrenaline pumping challenges), Multi-Day Special Escapes such as the Monastery Escape (10 days) & Royal Escape (6 days), the Authentic Bhutan ( 8 days), Himalayan Spiti Escape (7 days) & Authentic North East Escape(Meghalaya, Assam & Arunachal Pradesh- 10 days) and Authentic Myanmar-Thailand Escape (16 days).
