Shimla, Oct 6 (IANS) Three all-women teams are among the 108 entries in the 11th edition of the world’s highest and toughest motor rally - the Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya rally - that began Tuesday.
“There are 108 vehicles participating in the X-treme Four-Wheeler, X-treme Two-Wheeler and Adventure Trial categories. Out of these, there are three all-women teams, including one in the X-treme Four-Wheeler category,” said Manjeev Bhalla, one of the organisers of the rally.

Shuchi Thakur, 29, and her navigator Molona Wati, 25, are the only all-women team in the X-treme Four-Wheeler category. Shuchi has been a participant for the past four years, while this is Molona’s first attempt. She will be at the wheel of a Maruti Gypsy.

“This time I am aiming to capture the Himalayas. I am all prepared, both mentally and physically,” Shuchi claimed confidently.

The rally, organised by the Himalayan Motorsport Association, will conclude in Srinagar on Oct 12 after travelling through more than 2,000 km in the lofty mountains of the Himalayas. It will cover some of the highest motorable passes in the world, including the Rohtang Pass and the Kunzum Pass.

The rally has seven entries from the Indian Army and three from the Indian Air Force. Suresh Rana, five-time consecutive winner of the ‘Raid’ in the X-treme Four-Wheeler category, is once again aspiring to retain his title. Last year’s first runners-up and second runners-up, Capt A.S. Brar and Anil Wadia respectively, are trying their luck once again.

The organisers this year are using the latest technology to keep track of the participants’ vehicles. “This time we are deploying satellite-based global positioning systems to monitor the vehicles,” said Bhalla.

The Raid-de-Himalaya is the only Asian motor sport event listed on the off-road rallies calendar of the Switzerland-based FIM (Federation Internationale Motorcyclisme), which captures the attention of the international rallying circuit as well.

“This time there is no entry from abroad. This may be due to swine flu or global recession. Last year, there were five foreign participants in the rally,” Bhalla added.