Rajiv Yadav and Dhritimaan Singh triumph at the Himalayan cross-country rally

Rajiv Yadav secured first place in the Extreme category at the sixth edition of the JK Tyre Rally of Himalayas. Dhritimaan Singh won the Moto category, and Soham Hazra took the top spot in the Time, Speed and Distance class.

The Route

Organised by Himalayan Xtreme Motorsports and Adventure X Fusion Tribe, the four-day event drew nearly 130 participants. The Moto category featured 80 riders, the Extreme class had 29 competitors, and the TSD section had 20. Women participated across all three groups, alongside rookies, veterans, private teams, and Army teams. The route started in Manali, passed through Kaza, Jispa, and Kunzum La, and reached the Zanskar region for the first time before ending in Padum on September 30.

The Vehicles

Competitors drove a wide range of vehicles, from rally-modified Maruti Gypsys, Hiluxes, and Suzuki Grand Vitaras to a Volkswagen Polo and a Honda Brio. Two-wheeler riders used Kawasaki KLXs, Royal Enfield Himalayans, KTM 390 Enduros, and Hero Xpulses.

Race Action

Rajiv Yadav led the early stages of a 72-kilometre gravel stage on Day 1, with local driver Aaryak Rana close behind. The same stage ran in reverse on Day 2, forcing drivers and riders to adjust their braking points and pacing. By the end of Day two, mechanical failures forced over a dozen Extreme category competitors out of the race, including 2015 winner Lakhpa Tsering. Daksh Gill later took momentum, climbing past 16,500 feet near Shinku La and reaching speeds up to 200 kph in the Zanskar Valley.

Podiums

In the Extreme four-wheeler class, Rajiv Yadav and co-driver Rohit Gowda won, followed by Aaryak Rana and Aditya Sharma, with Daksh Gill and Virender Kashyap taking second runner-up. In the Moto class, Dhritimaan Singh won, Happy Verma finished second, and Nitish Bharadwaj placed third. In the TSD category, Soham Hazra and Nirav Mehta took first place, Santosh HM and Prakash Muthusamy took second, Chandra Mouli and Sri Sakthi Kumar N finished third, and Sachin Mandhwani with Adhitya Anthony took fourth.

Context

Motorsport events in high-altitude mountain passes test both human stamina and machine durability through extreme weather and rough terrain. Cross-country rallies require precise navigation, vehicle preparation, and quick tactical adjustments when mechanical issues arise on remote routes.