Desert Storm Rally Moto winner Santosh headed for World Championship in Abu Dhabi

New Delhi, March 4, 2014: CS Santosh, India’s champion biker who clinched the top title in Rally Moto at the 12thMaruti Suzuki Desert Storm, is headed for the World Cross Country Rally Championship in Abu Dhabi.

“This is my year,” said Santosh. “I feel that everything will go right for me this year.” Winning the year’s first motorsport title, at the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, has certainly helped. Santosh admits that he was under immense internal pressure not to yield the title to Helmut Frauwallner, the 54-year-old Austrian who won the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya, in October 2013.

The Maruti Suzuki Desert Strom was flagged off from New Delhi on February 24. It traversed 2,200 kilometers over the wild desert outback of Sardarshahar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, before ending at Jaipur on March 1.

Santosh, the multiple supercross and motocross champion, who won the Rally Moto category at the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya in 2012, knew he had to salvage his reputation at the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2014. “I was dethroned by Helly at the Raid last year.  I had to win the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm to reclaim my title,” said the 30-year-old Bangalorean.

On Day Three of the Desert Storm, Santosh feared he would be out of the competition following the damage to the engine case after he hit a patch of rocks in Jaisalmer region. “I had about 40 kilometers to go in the competitive stage, with the fuel running. I nursed the bike back to base, and fortunately still had a lead at the end of the day. Definitely the gods are smiling on me this year,” he said.

Winning the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm has been the beginning of a good innings for him. “This is a benchmark that I set for myself, and it is only going to get tougher from here,” he said.

Santosh is the first Indian biker to have competed in the World Cross Country Rally Championship in Abu Dhabi in 2013. A freak accident knocked him out of the competition last year. The Day Three of the world championship, a malfunction in the fuel tank of his bike caused a fire. “It was so hot – the bike, the desert. I didn’t realize the fuel tank had caught fire till I was on fire too,” he said in a matter-of-fact manner.

The fire left him with burn injuries in his neck that needed two skin grafts, one in Abu Dhabi and the other in Bangalore. Doesn’t the thought of competing at the World Cross Country Rally Championship in Abu Dhabi again give him goose-pimples? “We forget pain. That’s why we go back and do this. The adrenaline rush becomes addictive. It drives you, and you live for it,” said Santosh.

On December 1 last year, Santosh opened the ‘Big Rock Moto Park’, a training ground for off-road riding, about 75 kilometers from Bangalore. The moto park, stretched over 50 acres near the Kolar gold mines, has bikes, training gear, camping facility and the right infrastructure for those who want to learn off-road riding. From a weekend programme to three-day training capsules and more, Santosh says he wants to give back to biking what it has given him – his lifelong passion and love.

The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm ran with the highest number of rallyists this year in its 12-year history. A total of 250 champion rallyists from various parts of the country and abroad competed in four categories. There were 55 teams in Rally Xtreme and 35 teams in Rally Moto (both categories based solely on fastest timing). In addition, there were 35 teams in Rally Ndure and 25 teams in Rally Xplore (both based on the time-speed-distance format).

Satish Gopalkrishnan and Savera D’Souza win Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm car rally

Jaipur, March 1, 2014: The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, the annual six-day marathon motorsport event, finished at Jaipur today after traversing approximately 2,200 kilometers over the Thar Desert and the entire span of the dune country.

Mr Manohar Bhat, Vice President Maruti Suzuki said it was remarkable that in a marathon motorsport event open to participation of vehicles of all makes, seven out of the total 9 prizes went to Maruti-manufactured vehicles.

The top prize in the Rally Ndure category went to Satish Gopalkrishnan and navigator Savera D’Souza, driving a Grand Vitara for Team Maruti Suzuki. Satish, the software guru from Bangalore, is the man who developed the TSD meter to change the face of time-speed-distance rallying in the country.

Second in Rally Ndure is the team of Pratap Thakur and navigator Dhiraj Arora, driving a Maruti Gypsy, again for Team Maruti Suzuki. Third in Rally Ndure is Ashish Budhia and navigator Arindam Ghosh.

In Rally Xtreme, the first prize went to Sunny Sidhu of Chandigarh with navigator PVS Murthy. The second prize was won by Sandeep Sharma of Delhi and Varun Davessar of Chandigarh, driving a Maruti Gypsy. The third prize in Rally Xtreme went to Amartej Pal Buwal of Delhi and navigator Nakul Mendiratta, driving a Maruti Gypsy.  

In Rally Xplore, Rajesh Chalana and navigator Yogesh Gupta ranked first, driving an SX4 for Team Maruti Suzuki. Second in the category was Nitin Yadav with navigator Ravi Bansal, driving a Mahindra Scorpio. The third prize in the category went to Sanjay Takale with navigator Mustafa, driving SX4 for Team Maruti Suzuki.

In Rally Moto (Motorcycles), CS Santosh of Bangalore retained his title as India’s top biker by ranking first, driving a Suzuki RMX 450. The second prize in this category went to Helmut Frauwallner of Austria, driving a Yamaha WR450F. Third in Rally Moto was Suresh Babu, driving a Suzuki RMS 450Z.

The rally was flagged off from Delhi on February 26. It moved though the wild outback region of Sardarshahar, Bikaner, Chattargarh, Jaisalmer, Sam, Pokhran, Lakshmangarh and other areas to finally end at Jaipur.   

Mr Manohar Bhat, Vice President of Maruti Suzuki, said it was a matter of pride that the number of competitors was growing each year at the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm. The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm ran with the highest number of rallyists in its 12-year-history. A total of 250 champion rallyists from various parts of the country and abroad competed in various categories.

There were 55 teams in Rally Xtreme and 35 teams in Rally Moto (both categories based solely on fastest timing). In addition, there were 35 teams in Rally Ndure and 25 teams in Rally Xplore (both based on the time-speed-distance format).

Photo caption: Satish Gopalkrishnan and Savera D'Souza, winners of Rally Ndure, driving a Grand Vitara for Team Maruti Suzuki

Satish keeps vice-like grip over Rally Ndure at 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm

A rally vehicle in action at The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm

Bikaner, February 28, 2014: It is difficult to beat a master when he is in his element. Satish Gopalkrishnan, the Bangalore-based software guru who developed the TSD meter – the calculator especially developed for TSD rallying – has kept a vice-like grip over the top position in Rally Ndure at The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, which ends at Jaipur on March 1.

Satish Gopalkrishnan and Savera D’Souza, often referred to as Indian motorsport’s first couple, have several firsts to their credit. They have been winners in the TSD category at all major marathon motorsport events in the country – The Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya, the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm and also the Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare. They have also clinched the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) title.

Satish and Savera are now within easy reach of the Ndure crown at the 12th edition of the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm. Before the rally began, TSD national champion Jagmeet Gill had stated that among the top favourites for the TSD crown were Satish and Savera. His words might prove to be prophetic.

Mr Manohar Bhat, Vice President Marketing of Maruti Suzuki, had flagged off the rally from Delhi on February 24. Till now, the rally has covered the wild outback desert region of Sardarshahar, Jaisalmer and Bikaner.

The TSD meter, now hugely popular among rallyists all over the country, was actually developed by Satish to help his wife with the Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) rallying format. “I noticed how Savera had a tough time manually calculating each and every parameter on the gadgets we used for rallying,” said Satish. “It cost us a lot of time, and increased the chances for error. After I returned from a rally, I started work on a device to make the work easier for her,” he said.

The software designer in him took over, and Satish Gopalkrishnan designed what the rest of the field now calls the TSD meter. The small hand-held device is built around a basic scientific calculator. It helps the navigator with the minutest calculations required in rallying. What Satish developed to make rallying navigation easy for his wife has become one of TSD rallying’s blessings. The TSD meter proved instrumental in top wins at TSD rallies 2011 onwards.

At the 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, Satish-Savera are driving a Grand Vitara for Team Maruti Suzuki. On Day Five of the rally, the champion couple are way ahead of competition with total penalties at 17.05 minutes. Their closest competitor, Pratap Thakur, is at 28.33 minutes. Third in Rally Ndure is Ashish Budhia, driving a Maruti Gypsy, with penalties at 41.42 minutes. Defending champion Somdeb Chanda is fourth in the category, with penalties at 54.17 minutes.

In Rally Xplore, Rajesh Chalana and Yogesh Gupta lead the tally, driving an SX4 for Team Maruti Suzuki.

In Rally Xtreme Sunny Sidhu of Chandigarh leads the pack with penalties at 12.10.44. Sandeep Sharma of Delhi, driving a Maruti Gypsy, is close at his heels with total penalties at 12.26.09. Third in this category is Amartej Pal Buwal of Delhi, driving a Maruti Gypsy, with total penalties at 12.31.49.

In Rally Moto, CS Santosh of Bangalore continues to lead with total penalties of 8.55.49. Second is Helmut Frauwallner of Austria with penalties at 9.29.52. Third is Suresh Babu with penalties at 10.40.47, and fourth is Trivikram Singh Rathore, with penalties at 10.46.40.

The number of competitors is the highest-ever this year, with 55 teams in Rally Xtreme and 35 teams in Rally Moto (both categories based solely on fastest timing), 35 teams in Rally Ndure and 25 teams in Rally Xplore (both based on time-speed-distance format).

Press release

Women rallyists take on big boys at 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm

Gurgaon's Sarika Sehrawat Vohra, India's only woman rallyist in Xtreme dune racing at The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm

Jaisalmer, February 26, 2014:  Ten days ahead of International Women’s Day, a group of feisty women at the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm are redefining woman power by taking on the big boys at what is still primarily a male sport – rallying.

The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm was flagged off from Delhi on Monday, with 250 champion rallyists from all over the country and also abroad fighting for top honours in one of the most prestigious motorsport events of the country. The six-day marathon motorsport event will end at Jaipur onMarch 1, covering about 2,200 kilometers through the dune outback of Sardarshahar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Jaipur.

Leading the pack is Sarika Sehrawat Vohra, India’s only woman rallyist in high-speed dune racing. The Gurgaon-based entrepreneur has been racing since 2002.

Among 55 teams of champion rallyists from all over the country and abroad, Sarika is the only woman driving in Rally Xtreme, the all-out speed category of the event. Her navigator is Delhi-based Deepali Gupta, an IT professional working with Bank of Scotland.

Sarika confesses she is a speed-freak, and is passionate about marathon motorsport races. She is driving a Maruti Gypsy for the rally.

Mr Manohar Bhat, Vice President Marketing of Maruti Suzuki, said that total number of competitors at the Desert Storm 2014 is the highest-ever in its 12-year history. It stood at 220 last year. “The high number of women competitors at the event is encouraging. Our motorsport events showcase our commitment towards youth empowerment and women empowerment," he said.

Team Army brings in its share of woman power to the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm with Capt Madavi Singh and Capt Komal S, both from The Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME). While fitness training is a major issue for all rallyists preparing for a marathon motorsport event, Capt Madhavi says the training wasn’t rally-specific for them. “In the army, fitness training is a daily thing. That was not a concern. Desert driving was new to us, and we were able to learn it during the Army trials at Bikaner,” said Capt Madhvi.

For Capt Komal, competing at the Desert Storm is a dream-come-true. “I was also chosen to compete at The Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya 2013, but during the second round of training for the event was my wedding day,” she informed with a smile. Capt Komal hopes to celebrate her first wedding anniversary at The 16th Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya in October this year. Both officers are competing in Rally Enduro, which follows the Rally Xtreme route in a Time-Speed-Distance format. They are driving a Maruti Gypsy for the rally.

The petite Garima Avtar, a Sufi singer, golfer and entrepreneur based at Noida, is a regular at motorsport events across the country, including the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya, the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, the Mughal Rally in Kashmir and the Royal Rajasthan Rally. Garima said the excitement and the challenge of the rallies kept her hooked to the sport. “My annual calendar is marked with the rallies I must do, and then make space for holidays,” she said. Garima’s navigator Sukhbans Mann is a home-maker based at Gurgaon. 

The 2014 edition of the Desert Storm started with 55 teams in Rally Xtreme (4X4) and 35 teams in Rally Moto (Motorcycles). These two categories are based solely on fastest timing.

In addition, 35 teams in Rally Ndure and 25 in Rally Xplore took the start on day one. Both these categories follow the Time-Speed-Distance format. Rally Ndure is the more challenging category here, since it follows the Xtreme route. The Xtreme (4-wheelers), Endure and Xplore teams comprise two rallyists each – the driver and the navigator. 

Sunny Sindhu leads

On Day Three of the rally, Sunny Sidhu of Chandigarh was leading Rally Xtreme, followed by Delhi's Sandeep Sharma, driving a Maruti Gypsy. In Rally Xplore, Sanjay Takale and Mustafa of Team Maruti Suzuki are leading, driving an SX4. Second in this category are Rajesh Chalana and Yogesh Gupta, again driving an SX4 for Team Maruti Suzuki. Third in Rally Xplore is Nitin Yadav with navigator Ravi Bansal, driving a Tata Aria.

In Rally Moto, Bangalore's CS Santosh is leading, followed by Helmut Frauwallner of Austria and Jes David of Jaipur. Defending champion Mohit Verma of Chandigarh lost his ranking at the third place due to a mechanical problem in his motorcycle. 

Santosh ahead of Austrian legend Frauwallner at Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm

A rally vehicle in action at The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm

Bikaner, February 25, 2014: Bangalore's champion biker CS Santosh is fighting to retain his title as India’s top biker, and is leading on Day One of the 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, which was flagged off from New Delhi on Monday.

Following Santosh is 55-year-old Helmut Frauwallner of Austria, first at The Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya 2013 in October last year. Both Santosh and Helmut, popularly known as Helly, are riding foreign bikes at the Desert Storm. Santosh is riding a Suzuki RMX 450, and Helly a Yamaha WR450F, giving each other tough competition in Rally Moto (Motorcycles). 

Third in Rally Moto is defending champion Mohit Verma of Chandigarh.

The 12thMaruti Suzuki Desert Storm is running with the highest number of competitors ever, at 250. The six-day rally will end at Jaipur on March 1, covering about 2,200 kilometers. The 2014 edition of the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm was flagged off with 55 teams in Rally Xtreme (4X4) and 35 teams in Rally Moto. In addition, there were 35 teams in Rally Ndure and 25 teams in Rally Xplore.

Kolkata’s Somdev Chanda with navigator Nirav Mehta, defending champions at The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, is leading Rally Endure at the motorsport marathon. Chanda-Mehta are driving a Maruti Gypsy for Team Maruti Suzuki.

In Rally Xplore, Sanjay Takale and Mustafa of Team Maruti Suzuki are leading their category, driving an SX4. Second in this category are Rajesh Chalana and Yogesh Gupta, again driving an SX4 for Team Maruti Suzuki. Third in Rally Xplore is Nitin Yadav with navigator Ravi Bansal, driving a Tata Aria.

The results of the Xtreme category were not ready at the time of going to the press.

During the night stage which opened the rally, competitors in Rally Xtreme and Rally Ndure drove through 96 kms of deep sand and light gravel.

Jayesh Desai, president of Northern Motorsport, which organizes the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, said the opening night’s challenge was highly exciting for all competitors. “There is the psychological pressure of the first night, and people tend to over reach. The need is to sit back and work out the right strategy,” said Desai. Of the 55 teams which took a start in Rally Xtreme, only 34 teams managed to finish the night stage successfully. The rest can opt for a re-start on the next stage with penalties.

Press release

12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm flagged off

 

Manohar Bhat, Vice President Marketing, Maruti Suzuki, flags off the 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm

from New Delhi on February 24, 2014 

New Delhi, February 24: The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm was flagged off from Delhi today, with 250 champion rallyists from all over the country and also abroad fighting for top honours in one of the most prestigious motorsport events of the country.

The ceremonial flag- off of the six-day marathon motorsport event was done by Mr Manohar Bhat , Vice President Marketing, Maruti Suzuki. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bhat said that this year, the rally will run from February 24 to March 1. It will begin from Sardarshahar and will end at Jaipur, covering about 2,200 kilometers.

Mr Bhat added that from a two-day rally over a decade ago, the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm has evolved into a motorsport event of massive proportions that now traverses the Thar Desert and the entire span of the dune country.

As the dense fog in the capital cleared and gave way to a sunny morning, top rallyists of the country drove up for the flag-off in the specified start order. The headstart for the flag-off was taken by Suresh Rana of Team Maruti, winner of Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2013.

Rana is considered the most formidable competitor in the Xtreme category. He is nine-time winner of the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya, and has won the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm thrice – in 2009, 2012 and 2013.

Rana is aiming for a hat-trick this year. His strategy for the Desert Storm is that of a hardened, experienced rallyist. The biggest challenge, Rana said, is the treacherous desert terrain. “To finish first, you must finish,” he stated.

The who’s who of Indian motorsport is competing at the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, considered to be India’s mini-Dakar. Top competitors in Rally Xtreme (4X4) include three-time APRC champion Karamjit Singh, a Malaysian of Indian origin; APRC 2013 winner Gaurav Gill, Amanpreet Ahluwalia, Lohit Urs, Sunny Sidhu, Sandeep Sharma, Harpreet Bawa, Major Amarinder Singh Brar, Lt Col Shakti Bajaj, Sarika Sehrawat, Amartej Pal Singh Buwal and Gaurav Chiripal.

Rana and Karamjit Singh will drive for Team Maruti. They are driving Grand Vitara for the rally.

In the Xtreme Moto (Motorcycles) category, Helmut Frauwallner, a 55-year-old Austrian and CS Santosh, a 30-year-old from Jaipur, are going to begin their six-day battle to determine who is India’s top marathon off-road biker.

Santosh, multiple national supercross and motocross champion, is raring to salvage his reputation as India’s best biker at the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm.

Dakar-finisher Frauwallner, popularly known as Helly, has been big on the Indian motorsport circuit in the last few years. He was first in the Moto category at India’s iconic motorsport event, The Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya in 2010 and 2013. In 2012, Santosh narrowly beat Helly and topped the Moto category at the Raid. But in 2013, Santosh had to bow out of the Raid on the third day.

Santosh admits that he was “dethroned” by Helly last year. “Yes, I have to salvage my reputation at the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm. I’m carrying a lot of a weight on my shoulders, and luckily I’m strong,” said the feisty 30-year-old.

Both Santosh and Helly are riding foreign bikes at the Raid. Santosh is riding a Suzuki RMX 450, and Helly a Yamaha WR450F. The other major contenders for the Moto crown at the Desert Storm are defending champion Mohit Verma (riding a KTM Duke 390), Suresh Babu (Suzuki RMS 450Z), Gurinder Rahal (KTM 500 EXC), Jes David (KTM Duke 200) and Mohan Lal Sharma (Yamaha RX 135). David and Sharma are former Desert Storm (Moto) winners.  

Jayesh Desai, president of Northern Motorsport, which organizes the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, said the the number of rallyists this year is the highest-ever in the 12-year history of the Desert Storm. It stood at 220 last year.

The 2014 edition of the Desert Storm will have 55 teams in Rally Xtreme (4X4) and 35 teams in Rally Moto (Motorcycles). These two categories are based solely on fastest timing.

In addition, there will be 35 teams in Rally Ndure and 25 in Rally Xplore. Both these categories follow the Time-Speed-Distance format. Rally Ndure is the more challenging category here, since it follows the Xtreme route. The Xtreme (4-wheelers), Endure and Xplore teams comprise two rallyists each – the driver and the navigator.

Press release

Defending champion Suresh Rana aims for hat-trick at 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm

Rana with his prize-winning Grand Vitara at the 15th Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya

New Delhi, February 22, 2014: Rally legend of India Suresh Rana aims for a hat-trick at The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, which will be flagged from New Delhi on Monday. 

Suresh Rana, the rallyist with the highest number of motorsport golds in the last two decades, is the defending champion at the rally. His prime rival at the Storm is APRC (Asian Pacific Rally Championship) 2013 champion Gaurav Gill of Delhi. Rana has beaten Gill twice earlier at the Desert Storm, in 2012 and 2013. Both times, Gill had to bow out of the six-day motorsport event in the first stage itself. 

Rana has won the Desert Storm thrice – in 2009, 2012 and 2013. He is nine-time winner of India’s iconic motorsport event, the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya. Also spicing up the competition is three-time APRC champion Karamjit Singh, a Malaysian of Indian origin. They are competing in Storm Xtreme, which is about driving high speed over the harsh, treacherous terrain of the Thar Desert. Rana and Karamjit Singh will drive for Team Maruti. They are driving Grand Vitara for the rally.

Mr Manohar Bhat, Vice President Marketing, Maruti Suzuki, said that the Desert Storm will traverse a grueling 2,200 kilometers through the rough outback of Sardarshahar, Bikarner and Jaisalmer to finally end at Jaipur. “It is a matter of pride for us that 250 champion rallyists from the country and abroad will compete in the event. There are 55 teams in Rally Xtreme (4X4), 35 bikers competing in Rally Moto, 30 teams in Rally Ndure and 20 teams in Rally Xplore,” said Mr Bhat. The rally will end at Jaipur on March 1.

Rana’s strategy for the Desert Storm is that of a hardened, experienced rallyist. The biggest challenge, he said, is the treacherous desert terrain. “To finish first, you must finish,” he quipped.

Rana admitted that driving top-speed in the sand can lead be tricky. “One has to maintain momentum so that one doesn’t get stuck, and take on the dunes at the right speed and angle,” said Rana. He admitted that the two night stages at the Desert Storm – on the first and the last day of the event – could be the biggest challenge.

“The navigator’s role is very strong here – there is no room for error. You need momentum, and you also need to make sure you don’t get lost. During the night stages, if you can see 50 meters ahead, drive only that much, and refrain from wild risks. Getting lost in the wild desert outback can incur heavy penalties, and drive the best of competitors out of the event,” he observed.

Rana’s navigator is Ashwin Naik of Bangalore. The duo was also the winning team at The 15th Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya 2013.

Karamjit Singh of Malaysia has been APRC champion in 2001, 2002 and 2004. His navigator for the Desert Storm is Parminder Thakur. Thakur, who hails from Manali, was the navigator for Rana in 2012 and also in 2013, when the duo won the top position at the Desert Storm.

The other major competitors in the Xtreme category (4X4) at the Desert Storm are Amanpreet Ahluwalia, Lohit Urs, Sunny Sidhu, Sandeep Sharma, Harpreet Bawa, Major Amarinder Singh Brar, Amartej Pal Buwal and Gaurav Chiripal.

The Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm is one of the toughest and most popular rallies in the country given the conditions, tough stages and spectacular terrain ranging from desert stretches and vast salt flats to dirt tracks.

Jayesh Desai, the President of Northern Motorsport, which organizes the Desert Storm, said that the rally will run this year with the highest number of competitors, at 250. Last year, the total number of competitors stood at 220. 

Rally Xtreme (4X4) and Rally Moto (motorcycles) are based solely on fastest timing. Rally Ndure and Rally Xplore follow the time-speed-distance format. Rally Ndure is the more challenging category here, since it follows the Xtreme route.

From a two-day rally over a decade ago, the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm has evolved into a major motorsport event of massive proportions that now traverses the Thar desert and the entire span of the dune country.