The eighth edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive supported by Experience Bengal & GTA – was ceremonially flagged off by Mr. Devendra Prakash Singh, Inspector General of Police – North Bengal along with Mr. Ranjan Sarkar, Deputy Mayor of Siliguri, from Siliguri’s City Center on March 23. Also in attendance were several other dignitaries and guests. Himalayan Drive 8, popularly referred to as HD8, will also form the Grand Finale of the Indian National Regulatory Run Championship (INRRC) 2021.
Just Sportz Management Pvt. Ltd., an affiliate of Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI), the National Sports Federation approved by Govt. of India proposes to run HD 8, a competitive TSD Car Rally from 23rd to 27th March 2022. Himalayan Drive which has already run seven successful editions from 2013 to 2019 with the active support of West Bengal Tourism and other government departments, has been able to showcase the North Bengal as a premier destination for adventure sports to the entire nation.
The Rally also draws inspiration from Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal Ms. Mamata Banerjee’s vision of connecting various regions of Bengal and encourage people to people connect in the region. Many of the previous editions have also travelled to neighbouring Bhutan and Nepal making it the only Tri-Nation Event of India. This has been another step in that direction of establishing a connect with our neighbours and towards the aspiration of Biswa Bangla – Connecting Bengal To The World. Though this year HD8 is unable to travel to the neighbouring countries due to Covid restrictions, the core ideology of connecting people and showcasing of North Bengal as a sought after destination continues to be at the core of the event.
Twenty-two qualifying teams including seven All Ladies teams from all over the country will pit their driving and navigation skills against each other through tough terrains, including dirt tracks, river beds, and narrow and steep mountain roads, in the three-day event in the bid to be crowned the Indian National Regularity (TSD) Rally Champion for 2021. The All Ladies teams will also be competing for the INRRC Ladies Cup. The INRRC qualifiers will concurrently take part in the Pro Category and another eight teams will be participating in the Adventure Category of Himalayan Drive 8.
The INRRC 2021 qualifying rounds for East, West, North, Central, South and Northeast zones were held over the past few months and Himalayan Drive 8 will be the Grand Finale of this championship.
After the ceremonial flag-off from City Center, Siliguri, on March 23 at 4 PM, the competitive part of the rally will begin on March 24. The competitors will drive through tea gardens, embankments and riverbeds spread over many parts of Jalpaiguri districts to reach Murti, a popular tourist destination. This first leg will also have a night stage.
The second leg will be flagged off from Murti on March 25. A very challenging route through narrow village roads, riverbeds, tea estates and the Himalayan foothills has been chalked out for this second leg that will culminate at Murti.
In the third and final leg, competitors will be flagged off from Murti and will take to the mountains, passing through scenic tea estates and popular tourist spots like Samsing and Gorubathan to cross the 80-year-old Coronation Bridge spanning the Teesta River to drive through mountain roads to cross Jorebunglow and Ghoom to culminate at Darjeeling.
The prize distribution ceremony will be held at Darjeeling on March 27.
The Zonal Champions:
The Kolkata team of Subir Roy & Nirav Mehta have emerged as zonal champions from East Zone, while former national champions S.K. Ajgar Ali & Mohammed Musthafa won from North East zone, Sandip Mukherjee & Prakash M from West Zone, Adarsh Tiwari & Chirag Thakur from Central Zone and Santosh Kumar V & Nagarajan T from South Zone.
The press was welcomed by Mr. Siddhartha S. Bose, Director – Just Sportz and Chairman of the Rally and the conference was addressed by Mr. Tamal Ghosal Director – Just Sportz, Council Member & Chairman of Regularity Rally Commission of FMSCI, Mr. Suchandan Das, Director – Just Sportz & COC of HD8, Mr. Binny Sharma, Chief Rally Coordinator and moderated by Mr. Jaideep Mazumdar, Media Coordinator.
JK Tyres & Industries Limited, India’s leading tyre manufacturer, has been associated with Himalayan Drive as the Title Sponsor since its inception in 2013. According to Mr. Sanjay Sharma, Head – Corporate Communication and Motorsport – JK Tyres & Industries Limited said “We are really excited about the JK TYRE HIMALAYAN DRIVE 8. The fact that it is the National Championship Finals shows how the event has grown over the last 7-8 years into one of the important motorsports events in the country & It has been a privilege for JK Tyres to have been associated with event since inception & see it grow into it’s present avatar.”
According to Mr. Tamal Ghosal, “The first seven Himalayan Drive Rallies have unlocked the great prospect of adventure sports in the Eastern Himalayas. This year by becoming the Grand Finale of the National Championship it will showcase the best motorsports talent in India & it will be a privilege & honour to crown the National Champions at Darjeeling on 27th March 2022.”
Mr. Binny Sharma said: “The development of North Bengal, especially for tourism, is a priority for the Government. The Rally promises to showcase and unveil the lesser known and yet to be explored areas of North Bengal which, if properly marketed and will surely be one of the most treasured tourist destinations in India in times to come. I thank Just Sportz wholeheartedly for promoting such destinations.”
Power Drive 