JK TYRE HIMALAYAN DRIVE 9 SET FOR A GRAND FLAG-OFF ON APRIL 2, 2023
Siliguri, April 1, 2023: The ninth edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive supported by Experience Bengal, Government of Sikkim and Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA)--will be flagged off from Siliguri’s Mayfair Tea Resort at 9 am on April 2, 2023.
This edition of JK Tyre Himalayan Drive will also be an integral part of the prestigious G20 Tourism Working Group Global (TWG) Meet which is being held in North Bengal now.
Just Sportz Management Pvt. Ltd. an affiliate of Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI) , the national sports federation approved by Govt. of India, will run the JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 9 (HD 9) , a competitive TSD Car Rally from April 2 to April 5, 2023. Himalayan Drive which has already run 8 successful editions in 2013 , 2014 ,2015 , 2016 , 2017 ,2018, 2019 and 2022 with the active support of West Bengal Tourism & other Govt. departments. The premier event has been able to showcase North Bengal as a premier destination for Adventure Sports to the entire nation.
The Rally also draws inspiration from Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal Ms Mamata Banerjee’s vision of Connecting various regions of Bengal & to its neighbours and encouraging People to People Connectivity in the region. Many of the previous editions have also travelled to Bhutan & Nepal making it a TRI-NATION EVENT. This has been another step in that direction and towards the aspiration of BISWA BANGLA - CONNECTING BENGAL TO THE WORLD.Though this year HD 8 is unable to travel to the neighbouring countries due to Covid restrictions , the core philosophy of connectivity & showcasing of North Bengal continue to be the core philosophy of the event. JK Tyre & Industries Limited, India’s leading tyre manufacturer, has been associated with Himalayan Drive as the Title Sponsor since its inception in 2013. According to Mr. Sanjay Sharma, Head –Motorsport - JK Tyre & Industries Limited said “We are really excited about the JK TYRE HIMALAYAN DRIVE 9. T It has been a privilege for JK Tyres to have been associated with event since inception & see it grow into it’s present avatar. Our association with Himalayan Drive has helped identify talent and build a culture of motorsport in the Eastern part of the country”
A total of 26 teams, including two All Ladies teams from all over the country will pit their driving and navigation skills against each other through tough terrains, including dirt tracks, river beds, and narrow and steep mountain roads, in the three-day event.
JK Tyre in their constant endeavour to promote and encourage women to take up to motorsport has given the opportunity to the winners of their annual JK Tyre WIAA Women’s Rally to Valley event which concluded in Nasik last week to experience the thrill of Himalayan Drive. The two winning teams of Parul Shah & Pradnya Chavarka and Preeti Khandelwal and Anagha Joshi from Mumbai have won themselves a sponsored drive and will be taking up the challenge.
According to JustSportz Pvt Ltd Director Mr. Tamal Ghosal, “The first eight Himalayan Drive Rallies have unlocked the great prospect of adventure sports in the Eastern Himalayas. It is fitting that Himalayan Drive has this year become part of a prestigious G20 event on tourism”.
Chairman of the Rally and Director, JustSportz Management Pvt Ltd, Siddhartha Sadhan Bose said: “It is befitting that India’s chairmanship of G20 will be celebrated through Himalayan Drive 9, which will be an event coinciding with the Tourism Working Group Global meet. We are extremely proud that we can showcase the tourism potential of this region to the delegates of the G20 countries and we will be very happy if we get participants from G20 countries to the future editions of Himalayan Drive”.
After the ceremonial flag-off from Mayfair Tea Resort in Siliguri on April 2 (Sunday) at 9 AM , the competitors will drive through tea gardens, embankments and riverbeds spread over many parts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts to reach Murti, a popular tourist destination. This first leg will also have a night stage.
The second leg will be flagged off from Murti on April 3 (Monday) morning. A very challenging route through narrow village roads, riverbeds and tea estates before traversing through the mighty Himalayas for this second leg that will culminate at Gangtok in Sikkim.
In the third and final leg commencing April 4 (Tuesday) morning, competitors will be flagged off from Gangtok and will take to the mountains, driving by steep gorges and verdant forests and popular tourist destinations like Namchi and Jorethang to culminate at Darjeeling.
The prize distribution ceremony will be held at Darjeeling on April 5 (Wednesday) morning.
