Amir Yardenay, a 27-year-old Israeli who was at the Israel-Gaza border in July, pulling out injured and dead soldiers till he lost count, is among the 50 bikers at the 16th Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya, which will take off from Shimla on October 5.
And among the oldest Raid competitors are two 53-year-old Germans who have brought with them a 35-year-old classic car – a “self-converted Rally Replica Mercedes SLC 350, built in 1979”. The car has been transported all the way from Stuttgart in South Germany. Martin Eitdorf and Jurgen Konnecke, competing in Raid Adventure, say the 16th Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya is part of their motorsport motto: “Old cars, new adventures”.
The six-day marathon event will end at Manali on October 10 after crossing some of the most remote mountain passes in Ladakh and the Zanskar range of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Competing at the Raid has been my dream since 2010. Sometimes I couldn’t arrange the funds, other times it didn’t work out. And this summer when I was supposed to be here, I had to delay my flight thrice because I was on war duty, my normal life stripped away, feeling every day that I might die,” said rally enthusiast Yardenay.
In sharp contrast to the Israeli are the two Germans on their India adventure, hugely excited about the largest and most demanding rally event in Central Asia. Martin and Jurgen said they are “always looking for like-minded people for affordable motorsport, adventure travel and international understanding”.
Mr. Manohar Bhat, Vice President of Maruti Suzuki, said that the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya will run over a total distance of approximately 1,650 kilometers this year. “The six-day motorsport marathon is among the top ten toughest rallies of the world, and demands the best out of man and machine,” said Mr Bhat.
Around 240 top rallyists of the country will compete at the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya. The Raid will have 49 competitors in Rally Moto (Motorcycles and Quads), 40 teams in Rally Xtreme, 55 teams in Rally Adventure and three competitors in the scooter class.
