25 vehicles for Monsoon Challenge

The fourth edition of the Mahindra Adventure Monsoon Challenge TSD Rally has attracted 25 vehicles with a two-member crew each which will cover about 700 km in two days this weekend.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. announced a cash prize of Rs.3.5 lakh Thursday as the competitors will head out from here Saturday morning after Friday's ceremonial flag-off to Shimoga and after a night's halt, proceed to Mangalore via the scenic Western Ghats, driving along the B-Roads.

As the name suggests, the event is all about tackling the challenges of driving in monsoon rains that are in full force in interior Karnataka without missing the many checkpoints that the organisers, the Indian Motor Sports Club, Mangalore, will have along the route.

Held under the Mahindra Adventure umbrella, it is part of the challenge series of motorsport events that was launched three years ago. TSD rallies are not only about speed but also about calculated precision of time and distance. The driver and the navigator are expected to keep track of time in tandem with the distance covered.

The event has also been approved by Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) and is held especially for Mahindra vehicle owners.

"This challenge promises to be one of the biggest TSD rallies in terms of the prize money on offer. The journey aims to celebrate the monsoon vistas of incredible India as it passes through some of India's most exotic locales," Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Chief Marketing Officer -- Automotive Division -- Vivek Nayer said.