‘Mahindra Adventure ‘Monsoon Challenge 2019’- 40 Vehicles Zoom Off from Forum Fiza Mall
Mangaluru: The Mahindra Adventure “Monsoon Challenge 2019” which is considered to be one of the toughest rallying tracks in the country, and one of India’s biggest TSD {Time, Speed, Distance} rallies with highest price money of Rs 5.5 lakh on offer, was flagged off Today, Friday, 5 July from Forum Fiza Mall at 5.30 pm, with the First three vehicles flagged off by DCP Hanumantharayya , followed by other guest of honours, to name a few- Ms Sarah Jayashri Naik-the mother of Ace driver Ashwin Naik, Ms Ramya Naik and Master Aarsh-the wife and son of Ashwin Naik; Santhosh Rodrigues-Managing Partner of Karnataka Agencies, the dealers of Mahindra vehicles; Sudhir Rao- President of Mangaluru Motocross Sports Association; among others, who also did the flagged off of .
Organizers Ashwin Naik and Moosa Sherief
After the flag off, the the participants will halt in the City for the night, and early morning on 6 July, they will start from Hotel Moti Mahal-Mangaluru at 7 am, and all the 40 vehicles will traverse the challenging route starting from Mangaluru to Mysore before ending in Ooty. More than 600 kms will be navigated over 2 days, and the organizers are all set to challenge the monsoon and provide unlimited fun for enthusiasts. 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 organised in the monsoon anywhere in the country. The ninth edition of the Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) with 40 rugged vehicles from Mahindra stables will roll into the rain soaked, mud and rock splintered roads of the Western Ghats and other..
These 40 vehicles with seasoned rallying men will take this test for men/women and machines that will take them through some 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 Moosa Sherif has thrown these challenges, but there could be more. Ashwin and Moosa of Indian Motor Sports Club are coordinating with Mahindra Adventure on this initiative.Held under the Mahindra Adventure umbrella, it is a part of the Challenges series of motor sport events that were launched eight 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 navigator are expected to keep track of time in tandem with the distance covered.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean Ace car racer Ashwin Naik and one of the Organizer of this Monsoon Challenge said , “The rally will be held on Time, Speed and Distance (TSD) format, The rallyists will plough through the Rain washed roads and of Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts before reaching Mysuru and via Chamarajanagar and Satyamangala Ghat and finish at Ootacamund (Ooty) , and again start from Mysore and finish at Ooty on 7 July.. Like the last edition, the rally will have 7 different categories including, All ladies, couples, corporate, Doctors, Novice, Amateur and Professional class. Total cash prize and trophies worth Rs 5 lakh for the winner to take away”.
“The 2019 edition is longer by a little more than 100 kilometres from its previous editions. This time the rallyists will pass to two critical passes Sampaje in Kodagu (Karnataka) and more treacherous Satyamangala Ghats in Tamil Nadu. The total distance between Mangaluru to Ooty has been estimated to be closer to 600 kilometres. The rally has attained national importance as it is the only rally that is held during intense monsoons in a region known for 4000 MM of rain. The Mahindra Adventure Monsoon Rally 2019 route is planned by the Mahindra Adventure team in association with the IMSC (Indian Motor Sport Club of India), while the ‘With You Hamesha’ service team will ensure that participants can enjoy the rally unhindered ” added Ashwin.
Also speaking on the occasion, Selvin Jose, the Manager of Mahindra Adventure said, “The Monsoon Rally isn’t merely a rally for deriving some adrenaline rush but also an occasion to become one with nature. The rally will pass through a rain soaked region blessed with one of the most beautiful natural scenes encompassing a picturesque landscape all-around. Abetted by their trusted Mahindra vehicles, this rally offers budding motor sport enthusiasts an opportunity to test their endurance and overcome challenges. 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 Ooty and is the perfect opportunity for budding motor-sport enthusiasts to test their mettle. This rally follows the Time, Speed, Distance (TSD) format and is open only for customers of Mahindra vehicles”.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Ms Nilofer Ibrahim in the Ladies Category said, “This is my second time at the Mahindra Monsoon Challenge. Although I’ve done many TSD rallies before, what is exciting about the Mahindra Monsoon rallies is the fabulous routes and terrains that the organizers chalk out on the tulip chart . absolutely off the beaten track, plenty of off road thrills and sheer joy of long drives in the monsoons-Loads of fun, of course! “.
Also speaking Dr Prashanth Marla-the Medical Director of A J Hospital & Research Centre said, “This Monsoon Challenge is a unique experience, taking a break from regular schedule of hospital duties, to drive through rain lashed roads. I am glad to note that many doctors are taking part in this rally, since we all want to spread the message, “To STOP assault on health care workers and doctors. Over all I think this Challenge is a two-days fun filled extravaganza”. Also speaking were Dr Raghavendra Pidamale and Dr Muralidhar Rai, both of AJ Hospital who said, “This rally is adventurous and exciting since it shows us through the nature’s beauty in the midst of rain, at its best. And also through this rally we doctors want to bring an awareness by spreading the message to STOP VIOLENCE against Doctors and other health care fraternity. “
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 organized 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.
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), TriNation Escape (10 days), One lap of Iran (9 days), Himalayan Spiti Escape (10 days), The Snow Escape (7 days) and the Summit – a drive to the Everest base camp (14 days).
To spread the DNA of off-roading, the Mahindra Adventure team has also recently launched the Mahindra Adventure Off-Road Training Academy in Mangaluru to encourage off-roading amongst the adventure seekers. This is the second Off-Road Training Academy after the first one in Igatpuri.
Mahindra Adventure Off-road Training Academy is 28-acre facility, India’s first dedicated facility providing a one stop solution to learning everything about a Mahindra 4WD vehicle and how to use it to its full potential. Through this, we hope to leverage the brand’s off-road heritage, showcase the vehicles abilities and give the participants the confidence to explore the limits of the vehicles. Custom-made Mahindra Thars equipped with radio sets are exclusively used as training vehicles at the facility.
For more details on Mahindra Adventure, you can visit http://mahindraadventure.com/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
PARTICIPATING TEAMS IN THE MAHINDRA MONSOON
DRIVER NAVIGATOR PLACE
1 SANTOSH KUMAR T NAGARAJAN COIMBATORE / CHENNAI
2 AVINASH BIRNALE MOHAN KUMAR DOSS BANGALORE
3 ASHIMA DUGGAL AMRITA SHERGILL BANGALORE
4 SONY THOMAS RAKESH B KURUP PALAKKAD
5 DR SAURAV MAHANTA SANJAY RAO BANGALORE
6 SANAY MATHUR AMIT MATHUR BANGALORE
7 LAKSHMI KARTHIK LALITA GOWDA BANGALORE
8 SOURAJIT DUTTA SUVRAJIT DUTTA KOLKATA
9 KARTHIK KASHYAP APARNA IYER BANGALORE
10 DR RAGHAVENDRA PIDAMALE DR MURALIDHAR RAI MANGALORE
11 DR RITHESH KB DR GANESH PRASAD MANGALORE
12 GITIKA PANT NEENA JAIN MUMBAI / GURUGRAM
13 ANURAG BHARDWAJ ANURAG MITTAL MUMBAI
14 DR SHIBIN GIRISH DR ADITHYA BHARADWAJ MANGALORE
15 PRAMOD VIG PRAKASH MUTHUSAMY BANGALORE / ERODE
16 ANIL ABBAS SINI ANIL COCHIN
17 N MAGESHWARAN N MURUGAN NAMAKKAL / COIMBATORE
18 ABHILASH N MURTHY RAVI KUMAR BM BANGALORE
19 VINOD A MOHD MUSTAFA MK COIMBATORE / ERODE
20 JATHIN AKASH KUMAR YOHAN ROBIN KUMAR BANGALORE
21 PRAVEEN BALAN ANAND DESHPANDE BANGALORE
22 RAVINDRA KUMAR SAGAR M BANGALORE
23 SANDEEP DSILVA RAVIRAJ MANGALORE
24 DR MAHESH SANTHRAYA G DR VISHWAS K PAI MANGALORE
25 KSHAMTA YADAV SNEHA BHARDAWAJ GURUGRAM
26 DEEPSHIKHA BHADURI AMAN GULFAM KOLKATA / NEW DELHI
27 AKHIL NAYAK PADMASHREE SHETTY MANGALORE
28 RANJINI B.R NILOFER IBRAHIM BANGALORE
29 DR GANESH M.K DR VIKRAM JAIN MANGALORE
30 SUDARSHAN SHANKAVARAM SARIKA NAIK BANGALORE
31 SARAVANA KUMAR SHANKAR THANU BANGALORE
32 KOUSHIK K S SACHIN R K SAGAR
33 ATHIRA MURALI ADARSH ABRAHAM KOTTAYAM / PALAKKAD
34 AKSHAY K JAIN CHITANTH JAIN MOODUBIDRI
35 KARTHICK MARUTHI SAKTHIVEL ERODE
36 DR PRASHANTH MARLA LENIN JOSE MANGALORE
37 SUMAN BASAK AVEEK DUTTA BANGALORE
38 DILIP DOSHI ADITYA ANTONY CHIKMAGALUR
39 MEDIA 1- BALAMURUGAN
40 MEDIA 2 – VISHAL MENON RAHUL NAGARAJ
