Rajiv Yadav Secures Victory at 2026 JK Tyre Rally of Himalayas

The sixth running of the JK Tyre Rally of Himalayas concluded with Rajiv Yadav clinching the top spot in the Extreme division, Dhritimaan Singh securing victory in the Moto class, and Soham Hazra leading the TSD (Time, Speed and Distance) segment. Conducted by Himalayan Xtreme Motorsports alongside Adventure X Fusion Tribe, this cross-country rally raid brought together nearly 130 entrants across Moto, Extreme, and TSD categories to race through four days of difficult Himalayan terrain.

Participants and Route Details

The competition saw 80 entries in the two-wheeler Moto class, 29 participants in the four-wheeler Extreme division, and 20 in the TSD category. Women were represented across all three classes, featuring one female rider in Moto, two female drivers in Extreme, and four in TSD. The lineup included individuals of diverse age groups ranging from beginners to seasoned veterans, alongside private entries and Army squads. A significant milestone for the 2026 rally was venturing into the Zanskar area for the first time. Starting from Manali, the path traversed Kaza, Jispa, and Kunzum La, finishing up in Padum, Zanskar, on September 30.

As expected, rally-prepared Maruti Gypsys dominated the four-wheeler Extreme class, accompanied by a few Hiluxes, early-generation Suzuki Grand Vitaras, and a first-generation Duster. Despite the brutal Himalayan landscape, some competitors raced a Volkswagen Polo and a Honda Brio. Meanwhile, the Moto division featured machines like Kawasaki KLXs, Royal Enfield Himalayans, KTM 390 Enduros, and numerous Hero Xpulses.

Rally Progression and Winners

During the opening day, Extreme competitor Rajiv Yadav grabbed the early lead, though local racer Aaryak Rana stayed close during the initial phase. Day 1 featured a 72-km gravel stage that competitors ran in reverse on Day 2, forcing drivers and riders to adjust their braking markers, turn-in points, and pacing for a known route tackled backwards. By the conclusion of Day 2, more than ten Extreme participants had dropped out due to mechanical breakages, including 2015 Raid de Himalaya winner Lakhpa Tsering, highlighting the severe demands placed on physical endurance, driving skill, and split-second tactics.

After the reverse stage, momentum swung toward Daksh Gill, who posted rapid times over the next two sections, starting with the reverse Losar to Gramphu stage. The race then proceeded toward Shinku La, ascending past 16,500 feet of altitude before entering the Zanskar Valley. The desert terrain here enabled Daksh Gill to hit speeds reaching 200kph across the vast high-altitude flats. The competition wrapped up in Padum after four days of demanding racing.

Category Podiums

• Extreme (Four-wheel): Winner - Rajiv Yadav / Rohit Gowda; Runner-up - Aaryak Rana / Aditya Sharma; Second Runner-up - Daksh Gill / Virender Kashyap
• Moto (Two-wheel): Winner - Dhritimaan Singh; Runner-up - Happy Verma; Second Runner-up - Nitish Bharadwaj
• TSD (Four-wheel): Winner - Soham Hazra / Nirav Mehta; Runner-up - Santosh HM / Prakash Muthusamy; Second Runner-up - Chandra Mouli / Sri Sakthi Kumar N; Third place - Sachin Mandhwani / Adhitya Anthony