By IANS
Shimla : The annual weeklong Raid de Himalaya rally, which boasts of a record 120 drivers including six foreign teams, was flagged off from here early Tuesday.
The rally, which has both four-wheeler and two-wheeler categories, has the reputation of being one of the toughest in the world, testing the drivers in some of the harshest terrains.
It has five women teams this year, organisers said. As many as 120 drivers were finally found fit to take part in the race, while 25 were rejected.
The rally will cover 1,715 km and pass through spectacular Himalayan mountain terrain touching Manali, Kaza, Leh and Kargil among other places before finishing at Srinagar.
It will cross several Himalayan passes, including two 17,000 feet above sea level, organisers said.
The rally will be supported by one air force team and six army teams.
Maruti Suzuki, Airtel and State Bank of India are the main sponsors of the event while the Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir governments are the co-sponsors of the ninth Raid de Himalaya rally.