Motorsport titans of India gear up for Raid de Himalaya

A total of 31 teams for Xtreme cars and trucks, 37 teams for Xtreme motorcycles and quads, 12 bikers in the Alpine two-wheeler category, and 31 teams in Adventure Trail, which follows the Time-Speed-Distance format, are going to race on the highest reaches of the Himalayas.

The Raid, starting and culminating at Leh, will run from October 8 to 14. (File picture)

Motorsport titans of India will clash in the 20th edition of the Raid de Himalaya – the world’s highest cross-country motorsport challenge – on the tough roads of Kargil, Zanskar and Ladakh. The Raid, starting and culminating at Leh, will run from October 8 to 14.

A total of 31 teams for Xtreme cars and trucks, 37 teams for Xtreme motorcycles and quads, 12 bikers in the Alpine two-wheeler category, and 31 teams in Adventure Trail, which follows the Time-Speed-Distance format, are going to race on the highest reaches of the Himalayas.

This year’s Raid will run its first stage on the never-before traversed section from Lamayuru, called the moonland of Ladakh, to Photoksar. Rallyists are going to race on a newly-upgraded road that was earlier a mule track into Zanskar. Crossing the Sirisir La at a height of 4805 meters above sea level, the 20th Raid De Himalaya is going to enter totally unchartered territory.