Harith Noah, India’s finest rider from Kerala, gears up for world’s toughest rally
Harith Noah will compete in the Dakar Rally, the world’s toughest motorsport event, in Saudi Arabia, starting January 3.
Harith Noah will compete in the Dakar Rally, the world’s toughest motorsport event, in Saudi Arabia, starting January 3.
Harith Noah will compete in the Dakar Rally, the world’s toughest motorsport event, in Saudi Arabia, starting January 3.
India's finest rally rider, Harith Noah, returns to the famous Dakar Rally after a painful exit in the prologue last season. The 32-year-old bike racer from Shoranur in Kerala will be participating in his seventh Dakar Rally, which is widely regarded as the toughest motorsport event in the world.
"Mistakes will happen. It's about how you deal with them. It's extremely hard mentally to go to Dakar and have it end before it even begins due to injury. That's not a nice feeling," Noah told agencies about last season's early exit.
"But I can't change what has already happened. Going forward, my focus is always on giving my best rather than chasing results. Giving 100 per cent and learning from mistakes is what matters most."
The five-time National Supercross champion had crashed out with a wrist fracture that required surgery. Harith has had setbacks at Dakar in the past too. He suffered a spine injury in one of the editions, but made a remarkable comeback.
In 2024, Harith was placed in the top-11, achieving the best finish by an Indian. He created history in the same season by becoming the first Indian to win the Rally 2 category.
Dakar is held in the desert of Saudi Arabia, with the main race covering 8,000 kilometres across dunes and rocky terrain between January 3 and 17. Ahead of the main race, a short prologue will be held in Yanbu on January 3 to decide the start order.