A torrential tempest tainted the Raid at Baralacha La pass this year, making the already rugged course even more difficult for the participants. The severe snowstorm stopped as many as 21 cars and seven bikes dead in their tracks. Included in the DNF’s was defending champion Suresh Rana who’s dreams of winning his sixth title hit rock bottom after his car developed mechanical failure en route. Lady luck frowned upon Autocar’s own Ameya and Rahul -who had to retire from the course due to a broken rear suspension arm.

Ashish Moudgil beat the odds Mother Nature had in store for those partaking in the Xtreme 2-Wheeler category and surged up to come out on top of second and third placed Gurpinder Sarao and Sandeep Singh Matharu.

As the rallyists reached Srinagar after completing a 2,000-km rally, the 4-Wheeler Adventure Trial category saw Dharampal Jangra/M Harikrishan comfortably come home first, followed by Pratap Singh/Amit Gosain and Murad E Lala/Mamatha M Lala in third.

In the Adventure Trial (SUV) category, Prasad/Pradeep emerged victorious with Somdev Chanda/Nirav Mehta and Yogesh Raheja/Umesh Raheja in the second and third positions, respectively.

The event was riddled with much joy and sorrow, with even the winners of all categories having their fair share of close shaves as well. The Raid De Himalaya was never intended to be a walk in the park, and this year it proved just that.



15/10/09