The 15th edition of the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, also known as stepping stone to the Dakar rally, has concluded, with Suresh Rana and R Nataraj emerging as victorious in Xtreme and Moto category respectively.
Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2017 took place in four categories – Xtreme, Ndure, Xplore and Moto, enabling enthusiasts to use vehicles of their choice, suitable to the corresponding terrain and format.
Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2017
Over 200 participants took up this challenge across categories. The six-day extreme event covered over 2000 kms starting from Noida traversing through Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and concluding in Jodhpur.
Team Maruti Suzuki’s Suresh Rana with co-driver Ashwin Naik, Nikunj Toshniwal with co-driver Suvrajit Dutta, Karthick Maruthi with co-driver Sankar Anand and R Nataraj won the rally in Xtreme, Ndure, Xplore and Moto categories respectively.
Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2017
The #MSDesertStorm known for the extremely harsh and inhospitable conditions passes through the sand dunes and rocky terrain of the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. The six-day grueling rally passes through some of the toughest terrains in the country and scorching heat of the desert, the rally also has a night stage and drivers and riders faced the additional challenge of driving in the darkness.
In the Moto category, there was never any doubt about who would win. Biker CS Santosh was far ahead of the field and was in fact, a class apart. But, he was given a 35 minutes time penalty for missing a checkpoint. This handed over the victory to TVS Racing rider R Nataraj.
Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2017
Maruti Suzuki has been actively promoting motorsports in the country for over a decade now. To popularize action sport, the Maruti Suzuki motorsport calendar is packed with exciting motoring events.
Be it for a motorsport enthusiast, an amateur or a professional, there are events that offer the thrill and joy of motorsport to one and all. The events include Maruti Suzuki Autocross Championship and professional rallies including Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya, Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm and Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare. These events provide rallying thrills as well as promote safe driving habits.
Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2017
First and foremost, Autocross is fun. It is also an inexpensive way to get involved in motorsports and can be an activity for the whole family. It can also make you a better and safer driver. By discovering the limits of your car in a safe, controlled environment, Autocross will help improve your driving skills on the road as well as on a track.
Whereas Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya, Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm and Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare are professional rallies –they are glorious, lovely thing, all noise and violence and sliding sideways between trees at 100 mph. There is real, palpable risk and skill on display. You stand next to a closed-off rally road. These people are some of the most talented hotshots on the planet.
Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm 2017
Maruti Suzuki’s Desert Storm 2017 offered the participants a tough off-roading experience and a fiesta to the local community.
If you love driving and you love motorsport as much as I do – the ultimate endurance test of man and machine to the limit, stop by and check outmore here.
Tags: #MSDesertStorm, Adventure, Bikaner, Desert Storm, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Maruti Suzuki, Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, Motorsport, Motorsports
