Cheers! Mahindra Monsoon Challenge ends in Varca-Goa with Drivers in Great Spirits
Mangaluru: Three years in a row Team Mangalorean was present at the Closing Ceremony/Prize Distribution of the Mahendra Adventure Monsoon Challenge-in 2016 the rally ended in picturesque Canacona-Goa at Lalith Resort; in 2017 it ended in Panjim-Goa- and this year the Mahendra Monsoon Challenge culminated at Reganta Resort-Varca, Goa, and Yours Truly graced the occasion, amidst drivers, guests and well-wishers.
Varca- This small town known for its picturesque countryside in South Goa hosted the 38 rugged drivers and their mean machines from the stables of auto major Mahindra and Mahindra who participated in the ‘Mahindra Monsoon Challenge 2018. The rallyists were flagged off on Friday 29 June from Bharath Mall-Mangaluru, and after an overnight stay at Hotel Moti Mahal-Mangaluru, they carried on with their adventure on 30 June, from Mangaluru and ended their journey at Murudeshwar. On 1 July, they once again began their journey-and after covering several rain battered parts of Karnataka close to 700 kilometers they arrived in good spirits to the culmination point at Regenta Beach Resort-Varca, Goa.
The drivers who held the pole position on Saturday night when they reached Murudeshwar, Takale Sanjay and his co-driver Mohammad Mustafa, K P Karthick Maruthi and C Shaktivel and Ravindra Kumar BV and Sagar M emerged overall winners of the Monsoon Challenge 2018. They were announced overall victorious at a glittering ceremony at a resort on Sunday 1 July at the Varca Resort.
Apart from the overall championship, Mahindra’s adventure initiative had created different categories that included Corporate, Ladies, Couple, Doctor and Novice sections. In class 2 category N Maheshwarn and N Murgan topped the chart; In Corporate section Arvind Ganeriwala and Arjun SSB; in couples section Deepika Bhaduri and Aman Gulfam, in Doctors section Dr. Ganesh MK and Dr. Vikram Jain, and in Ladies category Shivani Pruthvi and Deepti Pruthvi, topped the list. Akshay Jain and Akhil Nayak topped in the local category; and in Novice section Koushik K S and Sachin RK topped the chart. The II nd place in Doctors Category was bagged by Dr Raghavendra Pidamale, professor at KVG Dental College Sullia, private practice at Belthangadi and Dr Muralidhar Rai , dental surgeon at B C road.
The Mahindra Monsoon Challenge is the first rally in the country held during the peak of monsoon and is fast gaining the attention of the International drivers. Launched by the Mahindra’s adventure initiative eight years ago has become benchmarks of sorts in the world of motorsports. Indian Motor Sports Club, Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) and Mahindra Adventure initiative have together given this event an international dimension of rally rules and standards. According to Bijoy Y Kumar chief of the Mahindra Adventure Initiative, there has been an improvement of rallying spirits among the participants in every edition of Mahindra Monsoon Challenge and the event was getting bigger and better- and this year 38 drivers took part, which is a big number so far.
Mahindra wasn’t kidding when they named this particular event as the Monsoon Challenge. Hosted in the Southern part of India, the Monsoon Challenge lets you truly experience the intensity and beauty of Indian monsoons in all its glory. The 2018 edition of the Monsoon Challenge was held as a drive from Mangaluru to Varca in Goa, covering nearly 700 kms. Now when you think of a route like this, you’re usually thinking of taking a straight and direct expressway route from A to B. And while that would be the quickest route, Monsoon Challenge 2018 had a different route charted out that would let the drivers drive little on expressways and national highways and more on state highways while taking them through the lush green environs of Karnataka/Goa.
In the process, taking these brave hearts through rather beautiful and untouched landscapes of the region in all its monsoon beauty. And to make things interesting, Mahindra hosts the Monsoon Challenge to be a Time, Speed, Distance rally that allows Mahindra customers to bring in their own Mahindra car and take part in the event. The drivers had the good experience of Karnataka while driving through villages located literally in the middle of nowhere as they drove through their designated route that went from Mangaluru-Murdeshwar to Varca via Honnavar, Hadinbal, Jog Falls, Kumta and many more.
And like one driver speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “There were times (briefly when the rain would stop) when you could see across the horizon without any human settlements in sight. As we reached Varca late in the evening our two-day drive stretching across the lush green landscape of Karnataka was at an end. And while we may not have performed optimally at the TSD rally, the Monsoon Challenge gave us a nice opportunity to see parts of the country we would never have otherwise seen for the route was a well charted out one that abandoned the National Highways for the most part and took us through some very scenic areas. Kudos to the organizers for a job well done”
This coastal region on the Western seaboard of India has given its own gift to the world of motor rallying, the first one to be organized in the monsoon anywhere in the country. The eighth edition of the Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) with 38 rugged vehicles from Mahindra stables rolled into the rain-soaked, mud and rock splintered roads of Western Ghats and the coast. These 38 vehicles, including one from Sri Lanka and the other from Dubai, with seasoned rallying men who took this test for men/women and machines, took 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 were the few perils to mention. The recce of the track conducted by ace rallyists Ashwin Naik and Moosa Sherif of Indian Motor Sports Club has thrown these challenges, and they were the ones who coordinated with Mahindra Adventure on this initiative.
Team Mangalorean spoke to a few rallyists, who shared their experience on this Rally. Dr Vikram Jain from Prasad Nethralaya Specialty Eye Care Clinic -Mangaluru, who was joined his partner Dr Ganesh MK from Father Muller Hospital-Mangaluru, having won the First place in “Doctors Category” driving 2011 Mahendra Bolero said, “This is the second time that I have taken part in Mahindra Monsoon Rally-in 2017 I had won the IInd place. Me and my partner are overwhelmed at this big win this year. This rally gets better and better each year, and this year it has improved immensely. Well organized, good hospitality, perfect route maps/instructions, made our experience a worth one. We feel proud to be Mangaloreans since this Challenge is happening from Mangaluru. I am looking forward to take part in the Mahindra Monsoon Challenge 2019”.
Akshay K Jain {Moodabidri} and Akhil Nayak {Puttur} who won the First place in Local category said, ” This is the second time we have taken part in this Challenge. Last year we came fourth, but it feels good to win the first spot this year. The Challenge was well organized, routes well marked, instructions well mentioned, and above it was a pleasant and scenic journey, without any problems. We loved the entire route driving through the picturesque nature. Will try this Challenge next year too”.
Mangaloreans Sandeep D’Silva and Ashwin A Pinto, both employees of Infosys-Mangaluru, having won the IInd place in ‘Corporate Category” driving a 2016 Mahindra Thar said, “Even though we have taken part in other Mahindra rallies like Off Roading in Sept 2017, this is the first time we competed in TSD event. Fantastic arrangements, Very good routes, map nicely done, it was easy to find the route and destination, and the hospitality was awesome. We will party hard tonight having won the IInd place in pour first try in TSD event. Looking forward to the 2019 Challenge”
Dr Vishwas Pai {husband of Vathika Pai- President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry} and Dr Mahesh SG, both doctors at A J Hospital and Research Centre-Mangaluru having won the IIInd place in Doctors Category driving a Mahindra XUV said, ” Well organized rally than others that we have taken part. It was a superb experience entering for the First time in TSD Challenge. We enjoyed the scenic routes which we have never seen before. No doubt, you will see us in the 2019 Monsoon Challenge”.
Shafraz Junad and Akhry Ameer {Co-driver} both from Sri Lanka having driven a rented Mahindra KUV 100 said, “Although we didn’t win in this event, it was a great experience- and Challenge quite adventurous and quite different from our rallies in Sri Lanka. We knew that we won’t win since the system was little different and we couldn’t catch up with it. But we will come back in our own Nissan Pick Up truck to take part in the Sept 2018 Dakshin Dare Raid. But this TSD Challenge was well organized, had attracted more drivers, and I can say it is the best TSD Challenge in India. We have taken part earlier in the Chikmagaluru Coffee Day 2016/2017 rallies- and won 3rd place in APRC. We belong to the Ceylon Motor Sports Club, and the motorsports systems here in India and Sri Lanka, both have pros and cons. But it was indeed a great experience experimenting TSD Mahindra Monsoon Challenge in India for the first time”.
Ashwin Naik ace international rallyist and Musa Sherief president of the FMSCI said the monsoons put the drivers and their co-drivers to the ultimate test against the natural forces mainly the pouring rains and misty conditions. They appreciated the ruggedness of Mahindra vehicles that took the punishment of the driving condition in monsoons battered roads and the special night driving segment which has been introduced specially this year.
Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), India‘s leading SUV manufacturer was the brain and muscle behind this rugged event. The Mahindra Adventure Monsoon Challenge 2018, known to be the biggest TSD (Time, Speed, Distance) rally on the circuit with the most rewarding prize money on offer of Rs 3.5 lakhs was indeed a successful one with 38 drivers taking part. This road-trip was one of a kind for the participants who took one of the most scenic routes to reach their destination in Goa. The Monsoon Challenge wasn’t merely a rally for deriving some adrenaline rush but was also an occasion to become one with nature. The rally which passed through a rain-soaked region blessed with one of the most beautiful natural spectacle’s encompassing a picturesque landscape all-around was a memorable experience for all these drivers. Aided by their trusted Mahindra vehicles, this rally offered budding motor-sport enthusiasts an opportunity to test their endurance and overcome challenges.
Dr Vikram Jain from Prasad Nethralaya Specialty Eye Care Clinic -Mangaluru, who was joined his partner Dr Ganesh MK from Father Muller Hospital-Mangaluru, having won the First place in “Doctors Category”
Akshay K Jain {Moodbidri} and Akhil Nayak {Puttur} who won the First place in a Local category
