Manali rallyist Suresh Rana, who started the 'Himalayan Rally' in 2021 with 50 riders and 20 four-wheelers, which he insists is now the country's only cross-country rally (the Himalayan Raid stopped running a long time ago several years and Desert Storm has not been organized for three years) smiles when saying that managing a rally is a completely different ball game than participating in one, as it involves intense planning, logistics, route selection and participant safety.
As the fourth edition of the Himalayan Rally will be held from October 2 to 6 this year, and will feature TSD (Time, Speed and Distance) and Extreme categories, the rally ace told IANS: "We are growing every year in terms of participants and duration of the rally, it is our decision not to have more than a total of 50 participants."
The four-day rally, this time it will start in Manali, spend three days in Kaza and end where it started. "Though we wanted to reach Jammu and Kashmir, the roads have been developed at a rapid pace. There is little scope for cross-country adventures. In two to three years, the same will happen in Kaza too."
While he wants the rally to grow each year, this veteran is clear that it wouldn't come at the expense of safety or big profits. "My team and I spend months doing reconnaissance. We are constantly looking for routes that are challenging, but not extremely dangerous," he said.
Highlighting that the event is organized on a no-profit-no-loss basis, and sometimes the organization has to contribute to the expenses, India's most successful rallyist laments the struggle to get sponsors. While Hero backed them last year, Rana laments that he spends most of his time seeking funding from the government and private sector.
"It has been proven all over the world that motorsports events boost tourism. However, we have never received any help from the Himachal government. Of course, local administrators help us with permits and road closures etc. , but much more is needed," he said. Frog.
Noting that every year he sees new talent in the two-wheeler category, while the four-wheeler category is dominated by veterans, Rana said, "Many of my contemporaries participate in the latter, although my son won the SJOBA this year."
Noting that it is still difficult for a rally driver to survive in his craft, despite Indians participating in F1, the World Rally Championship (WRC) and the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), not to mention Gaurav Gill won Arjuna Award, Rana says federations, government and private sector should come together to promote the sport in India.
"The potential is huge. Why not start by building infrastructure? While the South boasts of decent infrastructure, the northern part of the country is surely lagging behind in terms of basic infrastructure. Furthermore, like many other countries, it is It is necessary that there be a liberal political custom for rallyists who import high-speed vehicles," he concluded.
sukant/bc
As the fourth edition of the Himalayan Rally will be held from October 2 to 6 this year, and will feature TSD (Time, Speed and Distance) and Extreme categories, the rally ace told IANS: "We are growing every year in terms of participants and duration of the rally, it is our decision not to have more than a total of 50 participants."
The four-day rally, this time it will start in Manali, spend three days in Kaza and end where it started. "Though we wanted to reach Jammu and Kashmir, the roads have been developed at a rapid pace. There is little scope for cross-country adventures. In two to three years, the same will happen in Kaza too."
While he wants the rally to grow each year, this veteran is clear that it wouldn't come at the expense of safety or big profits. "My team and I spend months doing reconnaissance. We are constantly looking for routes that are challenging, but not extremely dangerous," he said.
Highlighting that the event is organized on a no-profit-no-loss basis, and sometimes the organization has to contribute to the expenses, India's most successful rallyist laments the struggle to get sponsors. While Hero backed them last year, Rana laments that he spends most of his time seeking funding from the government and private sector.
"It has been proven all over the world that motorsports events boost tourism. However, we have never received any help from the Himachal government. Of course, local administrators help us with permits and road closures etc. , but much more is needed," he said. Frog.
Noting that every year he sees new talent in the two-wheeler category, while the four-wheeler category is dominated by veterans, Rana said, "Many of my contemporaries participate in the latter, although my son won the SJOBA this year."
Noting that it is still difficult for a rally driver to survive in his craft, despite Indians participating in F1, the World Rally Championship (WRC) and the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), not to mention Gaurav Gill won Arjuna Award, Rana says federations, government and private sector should come together to promote the sport in India.
"The potential is huge. Why not start by building infrastructure? While the South boasts of decent infrastructure, the northern part of the country is surely lagging behind in terms of basic infrastructure. Furthermore, like many other countries, it is It is necessary that there be a liberal political custom for rallyists who import high-speed vehicles," he concluded.
sukant/bc
