The Scooter Class (Xtreme) is the new official entry at one of the top 10 toughest motorsport rallies of the world -- The Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya.
The Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya, which is turning 15 this year, will be organised from October 4 to 12. The rally will begin from Shimla and will traverse some of the highest motorable roads in the world to end at Leh.
Vehicles that traditionally compete at the Raid are powerful cars, SUVs, motorcycles and quads but scooters are being allowed on a trial basis in their introductory year at the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya.
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There are six entries in the Scooter Class (Xtreme) this year.
The machines taking up the Himalayan challenge are all four-stroke, ranging from 110 to 125 cc. Three of these are Suzuki Access. All scooters will be modified to enhance performance in conformity with rally rules, statement from the organisers said.
Manohar Bhat, Vice President (Marketing) of Maruti Suzuki said that there was a huge demand from the scooter rally champions of the country to participate in the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya.
The man behind pushing for the Scooter Class at the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya is Dinesh Shetty, Chairman of the the Twin City Motorsports Club at Mumbai.
Dinesh is team leader of all competitors in the scooter class at the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya. The competitors are getting support from Suzuki in terms of spares.
Dinesh admitted that the competition will not be easy for scooters, since the machines have low bottom chassis and engine mountings.
"The challenging nature of the terrain with tight corners, hairpin bends and uncompromising jumps makes the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya one of the most demanding events in india and abroad. We know that scooter riders will have to be extra careful while taking jumps, corners etc to stay in the race," he said.
