India Baja 2017 Winner To Get Free Entry Into Dakar Rally

The India Baja 2017, organised by Northern Motorsport from 7-9 April 2017 in Rajasthan, will be a Dakar Challenge event and the winner of the event will get free entry into the Merzouga Rally in Morocco, as well as the big one - the Dakar Rally. The Dakar Challenge along with the Dakar Series serve as feeder races to the Dakar Rally, considered the toughest rally in the world. In its second year edition, the India Baja 2017 will get Dakar Challenge status, thanks to a partnership between the organisers, Northern Motorsport and the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the promoters of the legendary Dakar Rally. The France-based sports management organisation also organises the Tour De France, the most followed cycling race in the world.

(A rider tackles the sand dunes at the India Baja 2016)

Over 70 competitors, including top riders - CS Santosh and Joaquim Rodrigues from the Hero Motorsports Team as well as Aravind KP and Adrien Metge from TVS Racing, have confirmed their participation in the 2017 India Baja. The event will be run in the Thar desert, on the outskirts of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, which has some of the biggest dunes in the country. With a competitive distance of 430 km spread out over three days, and demanding conditions in the desert with temperatures reaching the high 40s, the event promises to be a challenging one for participants.

"It is a matter of great pride and honour for Northern Motorsport to be associated with ASO, a pioneer in organising premium global sporting events including the Dakar rally, the numero uno in cross-country rallying in the world. We look forward to leveraging their experience and expertise to take motorsports to new heights in the country. Our dream of firmly establishing India on the global motorsport map takes a huge step forward with this association," said Raj Kapoor, Founder, Northern Motorsport.

(Participants at the India Baja 2016)

And Indian motorsport certainly will get plenty of opportunity - as the winner of the India Baja 2017 will get free entry into both the Merzouga and the Dakar. Although it's yet to be officially announced, sources close to the organisers say the top racers (who are backed by big teams and will be participating at Merzouga and the Dakar anyway) are considering giving this big opportunity to the next winner in line, ensuring yet another Indian finds an entry into the Dakar.