The 2017 Indian Baja is in its second edition. Northern Motorsports, who inaugurated the Indian Baja challenge last year, has partnered with Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the promoters of the legendary Dakar Rally. This means that the Indian Baja receives a Dakar Challenge status, serving as one of the feeder races to the Dakar Rally, which is rated as the toughest race in the world.
The collaboration would elevate the Indian Baja to an international standard. The winner this year will get a free entry to the Merzouga Rally in Morocco and the Dakar Raid. It will run a total distance of 430km under gruelling conditions at the same venue as last year, with the temperatures soaring in the high 40degrees. The Dakar affiliation makes the competition even tougher with gruesome regulations, mandatory safety requirements and strict administrative and financial obligations. The participants will have to follow a demanding regime following specific instructions, regulations and time schedule laid out by international standards. It will be a test of mental and physical endurance for every participant. This event is focused on providing a challenging sporting platform to test the skills, vehicle, preparation, strategy, logistic and endurance level of the national participants as perglobal standards. At the same time, it also createsopportunities for tourism and economic growth at the venue where the event is held.
The India Baja was established in 2016 with the aim of providing the local talents with a cross country rallying platform of an international level. The purpose-built two and four wheelers were piloted by experienced drivers from India and overseas over a three days course, from morning to dusk, in the Thar Desert between Jaisalmer and Bikaner. The inaugural India Baja event received an overwhelming response and was won by rally-ace C.S. Santosh, the only Indian to complete the Dakar Raid twice.
