The 2026 edition of the
In the highly competitive Extreme category, the duo of Rajiv Yadav and Rohit Gowda emerged victorious. Their early pace proved to be the decisive factor in securing the top spot, as they successfully fended off intense pressure from rivals Daksh Gill and Virender Kashyap. The latter pair notably pushed their vehicle to speeds reaching 200 km/h during the challenging Zanskar stretch, but could not overcome the lead established by the eventual winners.
Dominance in the Moto and TSD Categories
While the four-wheeled competition saw a fierce battle for the podium, the two-wheeler category was defined by the performance of
The Time, Speed, Distance (TSD) category resulted in a rare stalemate at the summit. The pairs of Soham Hazra and Nirav Mehta, alongside Santosh H.M. and Prakash Muthusamy, finished tied for the top position after demonstrating exceptional control over both time and machine. The event also featured a technical 72-km stage that required participants to navigate the route in reverse, further complicating the tactical demands of the race.
A Test of Endurance and Technical Skill
The rally was not without its share of drama, as the field saw significant attrition due to the unforgiving nature of the Himalayan terrain. A major turning point occurred on the second day of competition when Lakhpa Tsering, a former 2015 Raid de Himalaya winner, was forced to retire from the race following a technical failure.
The final standings for the Extreme category saw Aaryak Rana and Aditya Sharma claim second place, followed by Daksh Gill and Virender Kashyap in third. In the Moto category, Happy Verma secured second place, with Nitish Bharadwaj rounding out the podium. The TSD category saw Chandra Mouli and N. Sri Sakthi Kumar take second, while Sachin Mandhwani and Adhitya Anthony finished third.
