The 14th edition of the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm will be flagged off on April 4, 2016 from New Delhi. The rally will pass through the sand dunes and rocky terrain of the Thar Desert, Rajasthan.
The six-day extreme event will cover more than 2,000 kilometres starting from New Delhi traversing through Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer to conclude in Jodhpur on April 10, 2016.
More than 200 participants are expected to compete in the rally, which will be held in four categories - XTreme, NDure, Xplore and Moto. The Xplore category is being introduced in an attempt to increase the number of participants. This part-participation / flexi-format category will run in two parts, and one can participate either for all six days or opt for a shorter duration (initial three days or last three days). The objective is to encourage the participants who find it challenging to participate across all six days.
Encouraged by the response received in the previous edition of the Desert Storm, the concept of "night stage" has been sustained for more than 160 kms in the rally.
Schedule:
- April 2-3 - Scrutiny - Great India Place, New Delhi
- April 3 - Ceremonial Flag Off -Great India Place, New Delhi
- April 4 - Leg 1 - Hanumangarh to Bikaner
- April 5 - Leg 2 - Bikaner to Jaisalmer
- April 6-8 - Leg 3-4 - Jaisalmer
- April 9 - Leg 5 - Jodhpur
- April 10 - Prize Distribution - Jodhpur
We were invited for the Scrutiny day at Great India Place, Noida.
Every vehicle participating in the Desert Storm has to clear the scrutiny process. Minor violations can be corrected and in the first half of the flag off day violators can go in for a re-scrutiny.
The scrutiny checklist
The Desert storm has three different race categories.
Extreme : The Proper rallying class
Xplore : 4x4 TSD class
Ndure : 4x2 TSD class(4x4 is recommended though due to sandy sections)
Though the checklist is common, the process is far more stringent for Extreme class competitors.
For the other two classes, its basically about having a fully road legal vehicle. As long you have the toolkit, medkit ready, lights and indicators working, and noise within permissible limits, its good to go.
However, for extreme, it involves having fireproof padding on your roll cage, racing seats and belts, Fire safety, Lamination on glass etc.,
A view of the assembly area. Here, the vehicles report for stickers before heading to scrutiny bay.
Last minute checks by competitors
When it comes to desert storm, Gypsy still is the king, esp in extreme class
This time, there is a new entrant however, the Polaris!
A scrutineer starts the grueling process
So you got a roll cage? And the padding too? Well now show the certificate for fire proof padding.
In Xtreme category, you are required to laminate your side windows
Even the under-body is checked for stuff like Exhaust heat shielf
And its not like you can go for a complete free flow and call it a day. Got to keep those dBs in check
And sometimes, when the scrutineer asks for something missing, frantic calls to your team-mate.
After its all done, paint is sprayed as a "seal" so nothing is changed later
But in the end, its all okay
This year saw a lot of female drivers, on quad's as well as bikes
With the event pushed out to April to avoid foggy nights, the extreme participants are going to have a tough time
No AC, full body armor and rally spec helmets
For the Ndure and Xplore classes, its a shorter process
But just because its not extreme, does not mean competitors are not serious. This Xplore runner had a rally computer. Beats pen paper or calculators any day
The participant list
I also checked out the assembly area to get a sense of the various machines participating.
The Army is here of course. Running seven gypsies
Among the Xplore and Ndure teams, the swift is conspicuous by its absence. What comes instead? The S-Cross!
A stroll around the area would make you think its an exclusive Maruti and Polaris event, with all the gypsies, GVs and S-Cross etc., But there are some other warriors too
The Media car is....
And what's a rally without a serious service setup?
The trusty Bolero
And the D-Max. Maybe with the V-cross she will be participating, rather than supporting
But that would be a story for the next year!
