Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 28: The Minister of State for Tourism, Home, Industries and Commerce, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo this morning flagged off 4th Mughal Car Rally from world famous Royal Springs Golf Course, here today.
Touted as the ‘battle of champions’, the fourth edition of the Mughal Road Car Rally began this morning amidst much fanfare and enthusiasm.
The rally has three categories – Rally Xtreme (cars), Rally Xtreme (Motorcycles) and Rally Enduro. The first two categories are fast paced, while Rally Enduro follows the Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) format.
Under Extreme category (Leg-1) the rally will pass today from Srinagar-Pulwama-Shopian-Srinagar where as under Enduro (Leg-1) the rally will pass through Srinagar-Pampore-Pulwama-Dubjain-Pir-Ki-Gali, Bafliaz-Thanamandi-Rajouri-Akhnoor-Jammu. Similarly, tomorrow on June 29 under Extreme Category (Leg-2) the rally will pass through Srinagar-Khanabal-Qazigund-Verinag-Kokernag-Daksum-Simthan-Pass-Srinagar Whereas under Euduro (Leg-2) the rally will pass through Jammu-Reasi-Mahore-Gool-Ramban and return via National Highway to Srinagar.
Many of the best rallyists from across the country are participating in the event.
The champions in the country’s first hill-climb motor-sport battle include Limca Book of World Records holder, 49-year-old Sampada Rangnrekar from Mumbai, eight-time winner of the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya Suresh Rana from Manali and three-time winner of the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, Satish Gopalkrishnan.
The Mughal Rally takes its name from the Mughal Road, the historic path used by Emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan to travel from Delhi to Kashmir.
The rally has been sponsored by J&K Tourism Department, J&K Bank and Himachal Pradesh based Himalayan Motor Sports with a view to promote adventure Tourism.
The rally will feature a hill climb race to two of the highest passes in the country-Pir Ki Gali and Simthan Pass, showcasing the state’s amazing potential for adventure sports.
“The Mughal Rally has become a boost to tourism in the region and is already one of the most famous events on the motorsports calendar of the country,” Kitchloo said.
He said all necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth conduct of the rally.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah is scheduled to give away trophies and prizes among the winners of the car rally on June 30, 2013 at SKICC Srinagar.
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