Maruti Suzuki flagged off the 8th edition of the Dakshin Dare, the annual Southern motorsport rally, from the Orion Mall in Bengaluru on Sunday.
This year the rally will traverse through the scenic yet challenging route of Coorg, Murdeshwar and Shimoga concluding in Goa on 6 August 2016.
With over 190 motorsport enthusiasts in 110 teams, the rally will cover approximately 2,200 kms over a span of 6 days. This year the rally will see 16 women compete for the coveted title.
The rally is divided into three categories - Endurance, Ultimate Car and Ultimate Bike.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Ram Suresh Akella, vice president, sales, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. said, "Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare was conceptualised to enhance the thrill of off-road rallying experience for motorsport enthusiasts in South India. The twists and turns in this area make it even more exciting for the participants especially with the slippery monsoon terrain.
"Pioneered in 2009, the rally aims to challenge motorsport enthusiasts to achieve greater milestones in their motorsport journey. The increasing participation each year encourages us to strengthen such motorsport events."
To ensure safety all participants undergo a strict scrutiny check one day prior to the flag off.
Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare 2016 will once again witness Suresh Rana, nine-timeswinner of Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya and three-time winner of Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm competing against Sandeep Sharma, the defending champion in the Extreme category.
In the Endurance Car category Jagmeet Gill and Chandan Sen will defend their title against strong competition from Karthik Maruti and Sankar Anand. Bani Yadav, known for winning titles at Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya, Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm and Autocross, will also participate this year.
