Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya

Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya is India's toughest and most demanding motorsport rally. It is open to both car and bike enthusiasts and for professional as well as amateur motorsport lovers. Not only does Maruti Suzuki produce stylish cars like the Suzuki Estilo or A-Star, but it also gears for the rough-terrains of the world by producing cars with the caliber of Maruti Gypsy and Suzuki Esteem. 

The participants drive through some of the world's highest motorable roads and passes in the Himalayas like Jalori Pass, Rohtang Pass, Kunzum La, Baralacha La, Tanglang La & Khardung La, through the inhospitable terrains in the Lahual and Spiti valleys in the Ladakh region. Most of the drive is through boulders, snow capped peaks, gushing streams and at times, temperature below -20 degree Celsius. On an average, a participant covers a distance of 300 kms every day in this approximately 1800 km and week-long motoring event.

Every year, more and more people are coming for the Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya, many of them from abroad. In 2009, as many as 175+ teams participated in car and bike categories. Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya is the only Indian motorsport event listed on the off-road rallies calendar of FIM (Federation Internationale Motorcyclisme), Geneva, Switzerland. Only 12 international motoring events world-wide are listed in this calendar.

The Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya is held around October, just before the onset of winters in the Himalayan region.

Some Quick Facts about the 11th Maruti Suzuki Raid-De-Himalaya rally  :

*Highest ever participation of 175+ teams

*Total Distance: 1,800 Km;

*Crosses some of the world's highest passes

The 11th Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya runs in these separate versions:

Xtreme: This is the toughest of the lot and is open only to those 4 wheeler drivers who have prior rallying experience and have competed in one of the earlier editions of the Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya or Maruti Suzuki Rally Desert Storm.

Adventure Trial: This version is open to those motor-sports enthusiasts who would like to take on the Himalayas but without the tough competition, difficulty and stress involved in the Xtreme. This section would be open only to stock cars and only certain safety related modifications would be allowed in the competing cars. This is where first timers would fit in.