A Drive Through Nature’s Masterpiece! Monsoon Challenge 2018 Flagged Off
Mangaluru: What a perfect way to mark the beautiful monsoon season in this coastal City, with the flag off ceremony of “Mahindra Adventure Monsoon Challenge 2018” that took place at Bharath Mall on Friday, 29 June 2018 at 6 pm- The Eighth edition of the country’s only monsoon motor rally was flagged off ceremoniously , where 38 teams all driving Mahindra vehicles set off from the ramp of the mall towards the rugged roads of west coast combined with rugged terrain of the foothills of the Western ghats. There are three all-woman team participating and two teams of couples. All the vehicles from the Mahindra stables are taking part that includes XUVs, TUVs and the dashing Thars.
Commissioner of Police T R Suresh waved the flag to the first few vehicles, followed by Richard Rodrigues, dealer for Mahindra Vehicles (Karnataka Agencies) on the coast, Bijoy Kumar Y- chief of the Mahindra Adventure Initiative, Ace international rallyist from India Ashwin Naik, FMSCI president Moosa Sherief, Dr. Prasad Hegde-chairman of the Pana group of institutions Mangaluru also participating in the flag off ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, T R Suresh said it is a proud moment for the City that such a popular rally is being flagged off from Mangaluru. He wished all the participants a safe journey in this adventure. It was a perfect evening with slight drizzle, which didn’t dampen the flag off ceremony. As part of the flag off ceremony, Kudla’s traditional “Tiger Dance” was performed by a bevy of dancers, doing some somersaults, jumps etc, which was enjoyed by the crowd.
Being the eighth edition the organizers have added a fifty kilometer night section for those who opt for it. The total prize money is to the tune of Rs. 3.5 lakhs. The 700 kilometer plus rally passes through some of the breathtaking sectors but equally treacherous stretches. The rallyists will have to brave the severe monsoon rains that is sweeping the Western coast. The Mahindra Adventure initiative had three rounds of Reece on the route and have even charted couple of alternative routes in case of unassailable blockages of the original routes. Speaking to Team Mangalorean Ashwin Naik said the Mahindra monsoon challenge is the first rally in India to be held during the monsoons which makes it unique in the country. He thanked the Mahindra Adventure Initiative for the encouragement the company has extended to motoring. (eom)
This Rally is One of India’s biggest TSD (Time, Speed, Distance) rallies with highest prize money on offer, and Mahindra Adventure Monsoon Challenge 2018 is held under the Mahindra Adventure brand as part of the Challenge series. This Motorsport TSD event will fetch the winners the highest prize money of Rs. 3.5 lakh plus on offer. The rally comprising of exclusive Mahindra vehicles will traverse the challenging route starting from Mangaluru to Varca, Goa. “The Monsoon Challenge 2018″ has laid emphasis on the TSD (Time, Speed and Distance) module to decide winners. The challenge was organized to encourage motor sports at the grass root level while imbibing the taste of adventures in people. Goa is always chosen as the destination because of the peculiar monsoon that it has and the amalgamation of hill and coastal rains that is sure to give drivers a tough time.
Despite being one of the most treacherous hilly off-road driver tests, 38 vehicles took part in this Challenge, with drivers/participants hailing from Cochin, Erode, Bengaluru, Pune, Chikkamagaluru, Kolkotta, Kerala, Mangaluru and other places. And this time drivers from Sri Lanka and Dubai have entered in this rally. The participants will drive through Moodbidri, Karkala, Kollur and reach Murudeshwar near Bhatkal to camp there. The drivers will then head through Honnavar reaching Varca-Goa through Kumta and Karwar. The participants are required to drive excess of 300 kilometers on each day at the earliest time to prove their manoeuvring abilities and fatigue control. Held under the Mahindra Adventure umbrella, it is a part of the Challenges series of motor sport events that were launched seven years ago. A unique concept, as the name suggests, TSD rallies are not only about speed but also about the 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.
The Federation keeps a check on the organization and participant co-operation. At the end of each day, participants should drive happy despite a few rules and guidelines be enforced. We have also marked some towns and cities on the path as ‘Free Zones’ where the drivers can drive relaxed through traffic. To add to this the Federation also encourage road safety through stickers conveying the need to drive safe, on each participant. Prize money to the total of three and half lakhs will be awarded to the winners according to their stand on the podium.
The Rally is a perfect match of endurance test of the vehicles and ability of the drivers’ 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. The Professional Category and Amateur Category in this Rally includes Corporate Category, Ladies Category, Couple Category & Media Category; For all the geeks who wanted to know the formula that will decide the winner, it is calculated by multiplying Distance by 60 (time) upon Speed.
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