This is the fifth edition of the Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare. The rally targets to connect the company with the youth and motoring enthusiasts of the Southern States. The Cars have started arriving in Bangalore for scrutiny that begins next weekend.
Nicknamed as “The Dare” by motorsports enthusiasts, 4-wheelers have participation in two categories - ‘Extreme’ and ‘Endurance’. For Corporates, there is a corporate sub category to which companies can send their employees’ teams. This year, the winners of the Maruti Suzuki Corporate Treasure Hunt from 4 cities in Southern India have got free entry in the Corporate sub category.
Moto Quad will make its debut this year. Another first this year will be “Scooter” category in the two wheelers segment. Leading manufacturers, racing teams and drivers from around the country have confirmed participation.
Explaining the popularity of the rally in the region Mr. Manohar Bhat, Vice President (Marketing), Maruti Suzuki India said, “In recent years the popularity of the Dakshin Dare has grown manifold, making it one of the most sought event in the motorsports calendar. This year, over 100 participants have come forward to join the rally. Like our other rallying events Maruti Suzuki Raid-De-Himalaya and Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare also brings out the best of Man, Machine and Method in motorsports.”
Agrees Suresh Rana, eight time winner of Maruti Suzuki Raid-De-Himalaya, who is representing Team Maruti, “We were the runner up in the second edition, and totally loved the terrain and the experience. Coming at the height of monsoon, it puts to test the endurance of vehicles in multi-terrains and brings the ultimate joy of rallying to the owners “
After the ceremonial flag off in Bangalore, Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare 2013 will traverse a gruelling 2000 km through a multitude of dense forests, river beds, hill stations, wind mill farms, hair-pin bends, and tea & coffee plantations over 5 days and end in Bengaluru on August 9th. The Rally traverses through tourist hotspots like Mysore, Ooty, Coimbatore Chikmagalore, Waynad, Palani, Kodaikanal, Pollachi, Valparai among others. The relentless monsoon showers in the region will, without doubt, prove to be daunting as the rallyists battle the curving, narrow roads snaking along Western Ghat and Nilgiris.
The fact that it passes through some of the leading hubs of Motorsports in India – Bangalore, Coimbatore and Coorg, therefore, the Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare is definitely going to be action packed.
Past Winners
|
Year
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
|
4W Extreme Winner
|
NA
|
Niaz Ali/Kim Epton
|
Manoj Vaidya/ Uday Kumar
|
Gaurav Gill /Mousa Sheriff
|
|
4W Extreme Runner Up
|
NA
|
Suresh Rana/Ashwin Naik
|
Sunil Shette/ Darayash D
|
Lohith Urs /Chapong Chaiwan
|
|
2W Extreme Winner
|
NA
|
MS Ravindra
|
Pramod Joshua
|
R Nataraj
|
|
2W Extreme Runner Up
|
NA
|
Nataraj R
|
Venu Ramesh Kumar
|
Chetan Gapanathy
|
|
4W Endurance Winner
|
Girijashankar
Joshy/Srikanth Gowda
|
K Prasad
|
Satish Gopalkrishnan/ Savera D’Souza
|
Sanjay Takale /Mustafa
|
|
4W Endurance Runner Up
|
Manju Gowda/
Mustafa
|
Kartik Maruti/ ShankarAnand
|
Girijashankar Joshy/ Chandra Mouli
|
Kartik Maruti /Shankar Anand
|
