ITANAGAR/GUWAHATI, Dec 26: The ‘InCarNation Sports’ has come up with the 2nd edition of Gumball India 2021 drive connecting two extreme corners of India - from Koteshwar in Kutch district of Gujarat in the west to Kaho in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh to the east.
The event was flagged off from Koteshwar on December 24. The trans-India endurance driving competition will end at Kaho, Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday (Dec 28). Twenty participating teams would cover a tough 4,000 kms non-stop drive in order to be a finisher.
Speaking on behalf of the organisers Incarnation Sports, Sudev Barar informed that this driving competition is toughest and most challenging. Apart from the requirement of non-stop driving the teams will have to navigate through 20 secret checkpoints along the way. These points are released to competitors only at the start and the teams have to find the best route to cover all points before reaching the finish. The participants drove through historic sites and cities along the way like Lakhpat, Dholavira, Abu, Udaipur, Jhansi, Khajuraho, Chunar, Varanasi to reach Guwahati.
The event will culminate with the Indian flag hoisting at the border with China in Kaho village. The teams also include specially abled drivers who not only take up this dare but have created a record of coming fastest in the last year's event. The competition will have all women teams competing. Drivers from Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, Jammu, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kochi are joining the event.
To encourage more inclusiveness the organisers have tied up with Padma Shri awardee Deepa Malik's NGO Wheeling Happiness to give free entry to two teams of specially abled drivers.
Participants were drawn to the event from all corners of India. The team of Digvijay and Prashat, both physically handicapped, were the second team to reach Guwahati today afternoon while the first team to reach was Harman Kang and Manu Sharma from Delhi.
The teams will stay for a regroup halt at Dichang Resort, Sonapur before continuing for mountainous territory on the eastern edge of Arunachal Pradesh.
The objective is to reach the finish point using the shortest route and not by going fast. In fact, all cars are monitored by the central tracking team and there is a penalty applied for exceeding speed limits.
The event is organized as part of ‘Aazadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (celebration of India’s 75 years of Independence) under initiative by Arunachal Pradesh Tourism to promote domestic tourism.