Women to make mark in highest motorsport rally

Women are set to make their mark at the 15th edition of the highest motorsport rally in the world — the Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya — that will kick off on October 4. Among those on the cusp of history is Sheetal Bidaye of Mumbai,set to become the first Indian woman biker to compete in the Raid Xtreme – all-out speed category. Others who will join her are Maj Smitha of ASC and Capt Madhavi Singh of EME — an all women officer team from the Army — who will drive a Maruti Gypsy in the Raid Adventure category.

This year’s event will also see local talent Constable Richa of the Himachal Police,who will compete in a Maruti Gypsy in the Raid Adventure category. In another first,Kalyani Potekar,a 20-year-old student from Fergusson College in Pune,will compete in Raid Xtreme (Alpine) – the category for amateur bikers. Rally veteran Shuchi Thakur of Dharamshala will participate in her ninth raid.

The Raid will run from October 4 to 12 and,according to Manohar Bhat — vice-president of marketing at Maruti Suzuki — this year’s rally has the maximum number of competitors in each category. Raid 2013 will boast of 45 teams in Raid Xtreme (4×4) and over 45 competitors in Raid Xtreme (Motorcycles and Motoquads) while Raid Adventure will see 70 teams of speed lovers from all corners of the country.