Dakshin Dare preview: Challenging new stages, intense competition

With a brand new route prepared for this year, it would be a case of heading into unchartered territories for the competitors.

The five-day rally will begin in Bangalore before traversing through scenic but challenging terrains of Chitradurga, Belgaum and Kolhapur. The rally will culminate on July 21st in Pune, where the prize distribution ceremony will be held.

In all competitors across Xtreme, Moto and Endurance categories will cover a distance of 2200 km - on par with Desert Storm and Raid de Himalaya.

Ten-time Raid de Himalaya winner and defending champion Suresh Rana will once again be the favourite to win the flagship Xtreme category, but is likely to face stiff competition from two-time Dakshin Dare winner Sandeep Sharma, among others.

The Manali-born driver, who drives a factory-prepared Grand Vitara, is planning to play it safe during the first part of the five-leg event.

“There is a high likelihood of rain and I expect the stages to be slushy,” Rana told Motorsport.com. “We’ll have to see how the weather is. It’s going to be quite challenging. There are going to be 5-6 Grand Vitaras.

“It’s a five day rally so the important thing is to keep the car safe. In the first 2-3 days, I need to see what others are doing as the competition.

“In the opening days the focus will be on keeping the car safe. If I have fallen down behind, then I will try to push and drive quickly. But if I’m ahead, then there wouldn’t be a need to take a risk.”

The bike category will be headlined by AW Tanveer, who made his international debut in Merzouga Rally debut this year.

Tanveer will be challenged to the finishing line by TVS stablemate Nataraj R and 29 other competitors who make up the Moto Category.

National ladies race winner Aishwarya Pissay will also return for a second assault at Dakshin Dare.