'Monsoon Challenge 2017' rally to be flagged off on June 24

The seventh Monsoon Challenge Mangaluru-Panaji car rally, through the 750-km route along theWestern Ghats, will be flagged off from here on June 24.
The rally, organised by ace rallyists Ashwin Naik and Musa Sherief has completed six seasons and become one of the most sought after events in Karnataka.
"This road-trip will be one of a kind as the participants will be taking one of the most scenic routes to reach their destination in Goa," a release here said.
The monsoon would be based on time, speed anddistance (TSD) maintained and covered by participants alongthe curves of the lower Western Ghats to the plains along theKonkan coast.

Participants would have to endure the brunt of the heavy showers as well as keep up their TSD to achieve best results.
The rally would also prove to be a test for participants' vehicles as the roads in the coastal region are not known for the best of surfaces during the monsoons.

On the first day, the participants will drive through Moodbidri, Karkala, Kollur and reach Murudeshwar near Bhatkal to camp there.
On June 25, the drivers will head to Yanathrough Honnavar and Sirsi reaching Panaji through Kumta andKarwar.
The participants are required to drive an approximate of 400 km on each day at the earliest time to prove their manoeuvring abilities and fatigue control.

The Rally is amatch of endurance test of the vehicles and ability ofthe drivers for whom it will be a gruelling experience as theyhave to go through one of the toughest mountain terrains known to India, the release said.
"A series of unpredictable curves and muck of the Western Ghats will be haunting the drivers on the first day and heavy winds and rains are sure to torment them on the second," Naik and Sherief said in the release.