The 13th Raid-De-Himalaya car rally of Himachal Youth Services and Sports Department and Motor Sports Association will be flagged off on October 11 by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, said an official spokesman here on Saturday. The Raid will be covering approximately 2,500 km through the most rugged terrain of Himalayas and will have both X-treme and Adventure categories. The teams from Tata Motors, Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki are set to battle it out in the most predominant Adventure category. In the X-treme category, Team Army, Team Thunderbolt, Team Eagle Motorsport and Team Air Force would participate. Keeping in view the mandatory ecological parameters, Raid-De-Himalaya has introduced necessary sound regulations, claimed the spokesman. In the X-treme category, the pre-event scrutiny would be on October 9 and 10 in Shimla. In the first leg, the rally will traverse through the districts of Shimla, Mandi and Kullu and will halt at Manali. The second leg would pass through the mighty Rohtang to halt at Leh on October 12. Next day, it will cover several routes in Leh including the 18,300-foot Khardung-La, the highest Motorable road in the world and cover Kargil, Rangdum and Penzi-La to conclude in Srinagar on October 16. In Adventure Trial category, the pre-event scrutiny would also be held on October 9 and 10. It will pass through the districts of Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, Kangra, Chamba, and would enter Jammu and Kashmir, through Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Kokernag and Ananatnag. From here it would go to Kargil, Rangdum, Dras, Kargil, Zozi-La and culminate in Srinagar on October 16.

Program and Route

Thursday 24^th June 2010

Documentation + Technical Scrutiny                                      0900 – 1500 hrs

Venue – Royal Springs Golf Course

Friday 25^th June 2010

Leg 1 Start   Srinagar –Daksum- Chatergala - Jammu             0500 hrs

Start Venue – Royal Springs Golf Course

Leg 1 End at Jammu                                                            1900 hrs

Venue – Hotels Ashok and Hari Niwas

Saturday 26^th June 2010

Leg 2 Start  Jammu – Pir Ki Gali - Srinagar                            0500 hrs

Venue – Hotels Ashok and Hari Niwas

Leg 2 End at Srinagar                                                           1900 hrs

Venue – Royal Springs Golf Course

Sunday 27^th June 2010

Post Event Scrutiny                                                              0900– 1100 hrs

Venue – Royal Springs Golf Course

Ceremonial Flag In                                                               1130 – 1230 hrs

Venue – Royal Springs Golf Course

Prize Distribution Ceremony                                                  1800 -1930 hrs

Venue -  SKICC Auditorium

Rally Dinner                                                                         2100 hrs onwards

Venue -  SKICC Lawns

ELIGIBILITY

The Rally of the Mughal Road is open to 4X4 vehicles only. There will be two versions running concurrently – the Xtreme and the Enduro.

The Xtreme will be a Stage rally and  the Enduro would be a TSD one. Both will traverse the exact same route though at different speeds.

The Xtreme section will be run to the Raid regulations of the FMSCI and FiA but will have only one Class – T1. All vehicles, whether modified or not, are permitted, but will fall under the T1 Class. Full safety norms will be observed at Scrutiny.

For the Enduro, there will be one Class – SUV. Soft Top vehicles are permitted as are all modifications. Winches, oversize tyres, snorkels, roof lights and monster trucks are more than welcome ! Scrutiny will ensure safety norms as prevalent for TSD rallies. Good condition tyres, working electrics, seat belts (normal) and helmets for all crew. Average speeds required will not be more than 40 kph.

To be eligible to participate all crew must have a valid FMSCI Rally license. All entrants must have an FMSCI Entrant license.

ENTRY FEE

For the Enduro the Entry Fee is Rs. 10,000/- per vehicle for a crew of 2. More than 2 crew members will attract a fee thrice that. More than 4 members per car are not permitted.

For the Xtreme version only 2 members per vehicle are permitted. The Entry Fee is Rs. 10,000/- per vehicle.

Entries will close on the 31st May 2010.

Only the first 20 paid up up entries will be accepted as competitors in the Xtreme version and similarly only 20 SUV’s will be allowed participation in the Enduro version. To pay early is to ensure a spot on this incredible rally.

PRIZE S

There will be 5 overall prizes in either version of the Rally of the Mughal Road.

XTREME

1ST OVERALL               2 LAKHS

2ND OVERALL          1.25 LAKHS

3RD OVERALL                  1 LAKH

4TH OVERALL                50,000

5TH OVERALL                25000

ENDURO

1ST OVERALL               2 LAKHS

2ND OVERALL          1.25 LAKHS

3RD OVERALL                  1 LAKH

4TH OVERALL                50,000

5TH OVERALL                25000

For more info, please visit www.xplorearth.com