Bengaluru, India, November 13, 2026: The Uttarakhand Himalayan Rally 2026 is gearing up for three days of competitive action across the Himalayan terrain from December 3 to 6, with leading four-wheeler and motorcycle competitors preparing to take on one of India’s most challenging motorsport events. Organised by Team Firefox and Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC), the rally has received an encouraging response, with the early-bird registration window now closed.

The event is being held under an FMSCI permit and will feature competition across four-wheel-drive T1 and T2 classes, two-wheel-drive (2WD) vehicles and motorcycles. The rally will cover 220 km of competitive stages across eight special stages, spread over three legs through Uttarakhand.

The 2026 edition is also expected to play an important role in reviving the legendary Himalayan Rally, which attracted international attention between 1980 and 1990. It will serve as a precursor to a proposed international edition in November 2027, subject to planning and approvals, with the organisers and Uttarakhand Tourism looking to establish the region as a major destination for global adventure motorsport.

Three legs across challenging Himalayan terrain

The Uttarakhand Himalayan Rally 2026 will commence in Ramnagar on December 3, with mandatory vehicle scrutiny and documentation checks.

Competitive action begins on December 4, with the first leg starting in Ramnagar and taking competitors through challenging Himalayan terrain before concluding in Lansdowne. The second leg on December 5 will see participants tackle another demanding route featuring hill and river sections, starting from Lansdowne and finishing in Dehradun.

The final leg on December 6 will be a loop stage beginning and ending in Dehradun. The rally will conclude with the prize distribution ceremony at Punarnava Resort and Spa on the same day.

Adding an international dimension to the competition, Team Firefox has announced a special Dakar Experience Prize for the overall winner of the motorcycle category, offering the successful rider an opportunity to experience the environment of the iconic Dakar Rally.

Indian Army among notable four-wheeler entries

The four-wheeler category has attracted several experienced competitors, including Himanshu Arora, Sudhanshu Mishra, Ravinder Anand, Harvinder Bhola, Aaqid Iqbal, Lhakpa Tsering, Rajiv Yadav, Archit Jindal, Zakauddin Ahmad, Dhiraj Malik, Deepak Sachdeva, Col. B.D. Malik, Mohit Jamwal, Gaurav Handa, Jaibir Singh, Arvind Balan and Rajit Kadia, among others.

The Indian Army is also expected to be a significant presence, with its team fielding four cars. The organisers have capped the four-wheeler entry at 25 cars, with a limited number of places still available during the standard registration window.

The motorcycle category has also witnessed encouraging participation, with entries from Shlok Salecha, Steven Sheemar, Prem Kumar, Zeeshan Iqbal, Bhargav Negi, Akshay, G.S. Malwa, Gaurav Raj, Sahil Khan, Abhimanyu Guleria, A.S. Marwah, Rehan Khan, Shadab K. Chishti, Mohd Aarif, Anurag Rathor, Rahul Kumar, Aarif Billa, Vinit Sharma, Asif Gaur, Altaf Khalifa and S. Kumaresan.

Mahak Dixit is the only woman rider currently listed in the motorcycle field. With participation from established teams, including the Indian Army, Team T2 Racing and Team TR2 Racing, the organisers are optimistic of reaching the maximum entry capacity of 35 riders.

Uttarakhand targets international motorsport spotlight in 2027

The rally has received the support of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB), Government of Uttarakhand. The state sees adventure motorsport as another opportunity to strengthen its position as a destination for adventure tourism.

Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, Secretary Tourism and CEO of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, said the state has been steadily developing its identity as India’s adventure capital, with activities ranging from high-altitude ultramarathons and paragliding to cycling and rafting.

He added that reviving the iconic Himalayan Rally was a natural progression and that the 2026 event would lay the foundation for an international rally in 2027, potentially putting Uttarakhand’s mountains on the global motorsport map.

Rally Director Vicky Chandhok said the response to entries had been encouraging and described the 2026 event as an important step towards bringing competitive motorsport back to the Himalayan region.

He also highlighted the importance of support from Uttarakhand Tourism, sponsors and partners in making the revival possible.

The proposed November 2027 international edition is expected to attract leading drivers and teams from India, the UK, Europe, South Asia and the UAE, giving the Himalayan Rally an opportunity to reclaim its place on the international adventure motorsport calendar.