Dec. 4 – A unique car rally is currently underway, taking in eight of
ASEAN’s ten member states and journeying from its starting point in
Indonesia, making its way through Assam and finishing in Delhi. The
rally celebrates 20 years of partnerships between India and ASEAN and
has been designed to highlight the proximity of the Southeast Asian
region with India.
Sponsored by Mahindra & Mahindra,
India’s largest manufacturer of SUVs and off-road vehicles, some 124
participants set off from Yogjakarta and are taking in Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar before heading
across the border west to India. The teams reached Phuket on Sunday.
Within ASEAN, only Brunei and the Philippines have been left out of
the race due to logistical difficulties. Nonetheless, drivers from both
of these countries – and all other ASEAN nations – are taking part along
with 44 Indian drivers.The rally is intended to end in Delhi on December 20 – just in time for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit which is scheduled to be held that same day. During the rally, a number of Southeast Asian and Indian cultural events are taking place, including the tracking of the entire race by Indian patrol Samrat, who is hosting several onshore parties along the route as it cruises ASEAN waters in support of the event.
Full details of the rally, including driver blogs, photos and route maps can be found at www.aseanindia.com.