The Bengal motor sports club (BMSC) is hosting a car rally to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bhutan and India.
The sixth edition of the car rally will be held on March 11.
Gautam Deb, Tourism Minister of West Bengal will flag off the rally from Siliguri. The car rally will reach Thimpu, after three days covering 450 kilometers.
Secretary General of BMSC, Arun Bhatia said the club is expecting around 40 teams including 10 teams from Bhutan. He also said they are expecting around five women’s teams.
Registration for the rally is open until February 15. Anyone can register for the rally here
He said contestants from all over India are expected to participate in the rally. “For the event to be successful, it is critical to design the route,” he said.
Through the route study, the organizers find out places the drivers need caution, assess where mobile towers are not working and make sure the drivers do not get lost. “Safety is the main concern in motor sports,” he said.
Contestants are also provided with a route map before the rally. The teams will consist of two people, one driver and the other, a navigator.
The route is full of dense forest, riverbeds, hilly areas, highways and broken surface roads. They are accompanied by an ambulance and rescue teams.
“As the rally will be through riverbeds, the rescue team will help in case a car gets stuck,” Arun Bhatia said. A team of officials from BMSC completed the route study for the rally on January 22 in Thimphu.
The Bhutan India Friendship Association (BIFA) Thimphu, India Bhutan Friendship Association (IBFA) New Delhi and the Bhutan Sports Federation are also involved in the event. The rally ends in Thimphu with prize distribution on March 13.