GANGTOK,: As part of the 50th Statehood celebration, JK Tyre 'Mountain Rush', a national-level TSD (Time-Speed-Distance) car rally competition, is being held for the first time in Sikkim from April 22 to 26.
With JK Tyre as the title sponsor, the rally is supported by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), Government of Sikkim, and MSAEI. ‘Mountain Rush’ is being organized by Summit Times and the NGO Service to Mankind, with Information & Public Relations department as the associate partner.
The event is also supported by the Contractors Association of Sikkim, Sikkim Adventure Motor Sports Association (SAMSA), Central Referral Hospital, Dainik Bhaskar, SKM Tourism Wing, among others.
“A Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) rally is a motorsport event where teams—typically a driver and a navigator—must navigate a course adhering to a specific route and average speed, rather than racing for speed,” informed Summit Times editor Puran Tamang at a press meet here on Saturday.
The rally will see participation from both professional and amateur TSD racers from across India. It will feature four categories: National, Open Expert, Open Amateur, and Sikkimese Local.
The top three winners in each category will receive the following prize money:
• National: Rs 2 lakhs, Rs 1 lakh, and Rs 50,000
• Open Expert: Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000, and Rs 20,000
• Open Amateur & Sikkimese Local: Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, and Rs 10,000
The rally will commence and conclude in Gangtok, covering all six districts and aiming to give participants a feel of Sikkim's former capitals.
IPR representative Dependra Sharma stated that the four-day ‘Mountain Rush’ rally is fully supported by the State government, with IPR department as an associate partner contributing in every aspect of the event.
SAMSA founders Zangyal Dorjee and Klip Barfungpa, who are serving as marshals for the rally, explained that marshals in TSD events act like referees. Local volunteers are also being trained to serve as marshals.
Motorsports Association of Eastern India (MSAEI) representative Ashis Bagchi stated that MSAEI is handling the technical aspects of the rally.
“The recce has already been completed, and the route remains undisclosed. TSD rallies are precision-based competitions, focused on reaching checkpoints at exact times based on a route book detailing distances and average speeds,” he added.
FMSCI council member Saurav Chatterjee remarked that the ‘Mountain Rush’ rally in Sikkim will be a landmark event in the history of TSD rallies in India, with top competitors participating from across the country. “FMSCI will oversee the regulations,” he added.
Chatterjee thanked JK Tyre, the Sikkim Government, and the entire organizing team for hosting the event in Sikkim.
“Sikkim is a beautiful State, and racers will pass through many of its prime locations. Participants from within Sikkim will also experience its natural beauty,” he said.
As the title sponsor, JK Tyre will also bring supercars and superbikes for an autoshow to be held during the rally. Professional stunt riders will also perform at the event. Two national-level participants are being sponsored by JK Tyre.
TSD rallies emphasize teamwork and communication between the driver and navigator to follow the route accurately and stay on time. These rallies can be conducted with various types of vehicles and often take place on public roads or trails.