Goa Govt. lends support for India's first off-road motorsport event

Giving a major boost and encouragement to the Indian off-road community which has been long seeking a credible national platform to showcase their talent, the Government of Goa has come forward to lend support to the launch edition of India's first ever international level off-road motorsport event.

Goa Tourism has joined hands with the Force Gurkha Rainforest Challenge (RFC) India 2014, which is set to take place from August 8-14, as the tourism partner.

The upcoming motorsport extravaganza is an offshoot of Malaysia's Rainforest Challenge, which is one of the toughest and the most internationally represented motorsport events in the world. With seven editions held across different parts of the world, India is the eight country to join the international chapters of the RFC.

Over 40 teams, both domestic and international, are expected to participate in the launch edition of Force Gurkha RFC India. Moreover, hundreds of off-road enthusiasts representing all major off-road clubs of the country as well as a large number of touring adventurers will be converging to Goa to witness this historic occasion when India takes its first step towards becoming an international sporting destination for the global off-road community.

Over the years, Goa has hosted numerous international events including the Goa Fest and India Bike Week. However, the major influx of tourists is from October to September with monsoon being the lean season.

Goa Tourism now plans to change all that and encourage adventure lovers to visit the state during the monsoons and experience the other 'wilder' side of Goa. With a separate participation category being set for touring adventurers at the Force Gurkha RFC India 2014, it fits perfectly with Goa Tourism's plans of promoting Goa as a destination for adventure tourism.

Nikhil Desai, Director (Tourism), Government of Goa, said: "We are very excited to have the first edition of Force Gurkha RFC India in Goa. It has a synergy with our aim of promoting Goa as a destination for adventure tourists. I wish the organisers the very best for the upcoming motorsport challenge."

Force Gurkha RFC India 2014 will see participants driving through unchartered territory while battling blinding rains, vicious insects and tough terrains. Staying true to RFC beliefs and a strong commitment to preserve Goa's flora and fauna, the course has been designed away from protected forest territory and wildlife sanctuaries, on a combination of private and government land.

The event organisers have adopted an environment charter, the first of its kind for an event in India. In doing so, the organisers are doing their bit to nurture Goa's pristine beauty. To celebrate nature's bounty, an 'Environmental Award' will be given to the individual or team that shows the utmost care and attention towards the preservation of the environment.

Ashish Gupta, Founder and Director, Cougar Motorsport Pvt. Ltd., the company responsible for bring the event to India, said: "We are delighted to have Goa Tourism as our tourism partner. It is a matter of great pride for India and the state of Goa in particular that an international event of this stature is going to be held here. Goa is such a beautiful place during the monsoons; the adventure sports scene is thriving during this season. During the planning stages of the event we contemplated about many locations, but due to the specificity of our needs such as the course terrain and connectivity, Goa was an obvious choice. The wild monsoons of Goa will be the perfect backdrop for the Force Gurkha RFC India, giving adventure lovers something to look forward to and also generate good revenue for the tourism industry in Goa.