Himachal Pradesh CM to flag off `Raid-De-Himalaya` on Oct 11

Shimla: The 13th Raid-De-Himalaya, an internationally acclaimed motorsport event, is set to be held from October 11-16, which will be flag-off by Himachal Chief Minister P K Dhumal.

The event will be held in both X-treme and Adventure categories, covering approximately 2500kms through the most rugged terrain of Himalayas in Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir. The teams -- Tata motors, Mahindra and Maruti -- are set to battle out the most predominant adventure class, while Team Army, Team Thunderbolt, Team Eagle Motorsport and Team Air Force would be participating in the X-treme class. Organised jointly by the Department of Youth Services and Sports of Himachal Pradesh, Federation of Motor Sports Club of India and Himalayan Motor Sports Association, event will start from Shimla on October 11 and conclude at Srinagar on October 16. It will for the first time that a Paraplegic competitor, Anurag Bareja from Gurgaon, who is without legs, would be participating in the competition at par with other competitors in a modified hand controlled car. Keeping in view the mandatory ecological parameters, Raid-De-Himalaya has introduced necessary sound regulations on the analogy of European norms on sound emissions as applicable to rally cars and using sophisticated sound monitoring equipments would be strictly enforced. In X-Treme category, the pre-event scrutiny would be on October 9-10 at Shimla. In the first leg, the rally will traverse through districts of Shimla, Mandi and Kullu with halt at Manali. The second leg would pass through the mighty Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft) and halt at Leh on October 12, while several routes in Leh including the 18,300 feet, Khardung-La on the highest Leh-Manali Motorable road of the world and Kargil, Rangdum, Penzi-La would be covered in the next legs to finally conclude at Srinagar on October 16. In the Adventure Trial category, the pre-event scrutiny also the pre-scrutiny would be done on October 9-10 and the rally will pass through the districts of Shimla, Mandi, Kullu Kangra, Chamba and would enter Jammu and Kashmir through Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Kokernag and Ananatnag. It would go from Srinagar to Kargil, Rangdum, Dras, Zozi-La and culminate at Srinagar on October 16. PTI