Indo-Bhutan Friendship Car Rally to Begin Soon

By Karma Palden

Thimphu, Feb 18 : The 4th Indo-Bhutan Friendship Car Rally, 2011 – Eastern Himalayan Challenge with the theme ‘Connecting people of India and Bhutan’ is scheduled to begin from March 2.

The first leg of the rally will begin from Guwahati, India, to Samdrupjongkhar on March 2 and the second leg from Samdrupjongkhar to Mongar on March 3. The third leg will be between Mongar and Trongsa on March 4 and the final leg of the rally will be between Trongsa and Thimphu on March 5.

The event will have two categories, one for the experienced competitors called extreme

and the other called adventure for enthusiastic motor sport lovers with standard vehicles with general safety attachments.

Like every year, there will be a gala cultural event from both the

countries during the prize distribution ceremony at the clock tower square in Thimphu.

The only international event in the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) calendar, the rally promises to be more challenging by covering some of the most difficult terrains in the country.

The rally is promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Thimphu, Indian Consulate in Phuentsholing and Royal Consulate of Bhutan in Kolkata with the support from Bhutan-India Friendship Association, India Bhutan Foundation and Indo-Bhutan Friendship Association, Kolkata and North East India Chapters.

The rally is organized by Friendship Car Rally Association under the approval of FIA and FMSCI.

The rally was first started in 2007 with the objectives to spread motor sports in remote eastern Himalayan region and to build friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Since then, the annual event has become a success proclaiming its own place in the annual calendar of world car rallies.