Abhishek Mishra leads Xtreme category on Day 1 of Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm

After a grand flag-off from Noida, the 14^th edition of the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm began in earnest with the desolate yet scenic banks of the river Ghaggar in Hanumangarh district in Rajasthan playing host to Leg 1 of the rally. Leg 1 & 2 of the Xtreme category had two competitive stages of 57 Kms and 24 Kms length respectively, and both locals and spectators from afar turned out in substantial numbers to witness the grueling rally.

In the Xtreme Car category, Abhishek Mishra from Jaipur and his navigator PV Srinivas Murthi reigned supreme as they lead the category by clocking 1:17:27 Hrs in their Grand Vitara. Manali man Suresh Rana and his navigator Ashwin Naik, also in a Grand Vitara, moved up to the second position by clocking in 1:22:38 Hrs and Amanpreet Ahluwalia and Virender Kashyapare at the third position by clocking 1:26:35 Hrs in their Maruti Gypsy. All in all, the Xtreme Car category drivers traveled a total distance of approximately 330 kilometres today.

Talking about holding the first position at the end of Day 1, Abhishek Mishra said, “The heat in desert could sometimes be unforgiving. The only way to survive a motorsport as difficult as this is by becoming one with the machine. You have to know your vehicle like the back of your hand. It’s the true Darwinian philosophy of ‘Survival of the fittest’.”

India’s most accomplished motorcycle rallyist and first Dakar participant C.S. Santosh continues to lead the Xtreme Bike category at 1:24:28 Hrs, followed by Jess David clocking 1:26:12 Hrs to clinch the second position. Aravind KP, clocking 1:28:30 Hrs, rounded off the third place.

The third category in the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2016 is the NDure category, where motorists traveled the same distance as XTreme teams but in the Time Speed Distance format in the Leg 1 & 2 of the event. SK Ajgar Ali and his navigator MK Mohammed Musthafa held the lead in this event on Day 1 with a day end penalty of 00:00:05 Hrs followed by Suresh Kumar and his navigator Mendiratta V. Sekar with a day end penalty of 00:00:12 Hrs, and third position by Jagmeet Gill and Chandan Sen with day end penalty of 00:00:13 Hrs.

In the Xplore category, Sachin Singh with M Prakash held the first place on day 1, followed by Pratap and T. Nagarajan at the second and third position by Rajesh Chalana with Arindam Ghosh.

After Leg 1 and Leg 2, the 14^th Desert Storm will head to Bikaner where the participants will compete around Badrasar and Bhandarwala villages.

RESULTS AFTER LEG 1 & 2 -

XTreme Cars  -

1.            Abhishek Mishra and PV Srinivas Murthi - 1:17:27 Hrs

2.            Suresh Rana and Ashwin Naik - 1:22:38 Hrs

3.            Aanpreet Ahluwalia and Virender Kashyap -  1:26:35 Hr

NDure Cars – End of Leg X

1.            SK Ajgar Ali and MK Mohammed Musthafa  - 00:00:05 Hrs

2.            Suresh Kumar and Mendiratta V. Sekar - 00:00:12 Hrs

3.            Jagmeet Gill and Chandan Sen - 00:00:13 Hrs.

Xplore Cars- End of Leg X

1.            Sachin Singh & M Prakash

2.            Pratap and T. Nagarajan

3.            Rajesh Chalana with Arindam Ghosh.

Moto Quad- End of Leg X

1.            C.S Santosh - 1:24:28 Hrs

2.            Jesss David - 1:26:12 Hrs

3.            Aravind KP - 1:28:30 Hrs.