Four Wheel Drive Club of Sri Lanka

The Palar Challenge which was held 100km south of Chennai on 13-15^th August was won by the Lankans, among teams that represented Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan. The Lankan team Sean Hameed and Dharshan Maralanda drove a standard Maruti Gypsy lent to them by team Kerela, took the podium with the highest points. The event was held in the Palar dry river bed with 16 special stages and 3 techinical stages packed in 2 days under a 40 degree hot sun.

The Sri Lanka team was the only international team, for the Palar, and have managed to attract the Indians to come witness the Taprobana 4x4 Challenge in October this year. Further a Team from India will be put together to participate in Sri Lanka.

“It was a tough challenge, to contend with the heat and the under powered Gypsy which was not modified for the heat nor was equipped with any recovery gear.” “ However this win is special to me as we went out and competed in their turf in level playing ground, with a vehicle that has one third the power that I am used to”

The Lankan Team won 5 Maxxis 33x12.5 15 Tires for the first prize and donated to the Kerala team who lent them their vehicle. The Sri Lanka team was sponsored by Elephant Reach Hotel, Isotonic Lime Blast and Motor Magazine. The team was also endorsed by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Board.

P.S

While the Palar Challenge was tough, the ride on the bird of paradise to Chennai was equally tough. On return the flight boarded at 9:20 am and did not take off till 1:00 pm giving the true taste of Chennai with the heat and hospitality. During the 3 hour ordeal the in flight duty free ran out of stocks and orders were placed frantically, where mobs were swarming the aisles of the stuffy aircraft. The airline staff was ill equipped in their peacock clad outfits, where Jeans  T-shirt and a Mega Horn would have been the ideal dress code for the day.