Rally all the way

Anil Abbas and his wife Sini became the first in the SUVs-Stock (Amateur) class in this year’s Raid de Himalaya, which is the world’s highest rally raid.
Anil Abbas and his wife Sini before the rallyAnil Abbas and his wife Sini before the rally
Anil Abbas and his wife Sini before the rallyAnil Abbas and his wife Sini before the rally

KOCHI: The temperature is 33-degree Celsius. The helmet-clad navigator in a suit appropriate for the weather checks off the points on her list. Everything looks just perfect. That is until the Isuzu MU-X turns around the corner to a narrow road overlooking the picturesque valleys of Himalayas. Even while clocking the distance travelled, it is impossible to not take in the reflection of the water down the valley and how the icy wind caresses the snow stuck to the sides of the road. 

Making effortless hair-pin turns and navigating the adverse terrains of Himalayas, Anil Abbas and his wife Sini became the first in the SUVs-Stock (Amateur) class in this year’s Raid de Himalaya, which is the world’s highest rally raid.

The rally raid, which was held from October 8 to 14, spanned 1,200 km covering the mountainous regions of three states: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Divided into four legs, each team had to cover 300 to 350 km in each leg. This didn’t shake the adventurous couple from Aluva. “Apart from being the first in the SUVs-Stock (Amateur) class, we were overall in the fourth position in the adventure trail category out of 41 teams,” says Anil. 

A quick info about Raid de Himalaya. Started by Himalayan Motorsport Association in 2018, the trail on all the legs of the rally is tough. Hence, it is dubbed as the toughest rally raid in the country. 
This is not the first time the couple has competed in a rally raid. In September, they participated in Dakshin Dare, a 2,000 km rally, held in Bengaluru. “We were the second in our category,” says Anil. In 2017, the duo reached third in the couple category in the Royal Rajasthan Rally. They achieved the overall seventh rank in the Desert Storm rally in the same year. In 2016, Anil and Sini reached second in the rally organised by Central Motor Sports Indore.

Though they have received accolades in major rally raids, Anil and Sini’s rally partnership began only a year ago. “I used to do rallies since the time I got my licence. I have gone on plenty such trails,” says Anil. On this, Sini chips in, “I have always supported him. I could barely drive. It was my husband who taught me everything I know. To be a navigator, you need to be in sync with the mindset of the driver.” Who other than the better half for the job!

Sini says it is not easy on the rally. “There are altitude issues always. We need to be prepared for all sorts of contingencies,” she says. For their rallies, Anil and Sini are being sponsored by Isuzu, Cooper Tires and Ironman. “For the Raid de Himalaya, we were supported by the Rotary Club of Cochin Uptown,” Anil says. 

Having participated in all major rallies of the year, the couple has set their goals for the national rallies scheduled in the next year. 

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