Nine-time champion Suresh Rana out of Raid-de-Himalaya

Suresh Rana

Shimla, Oct 9 (IANS) Ace rallyist Suresh Rana, who captured the Raid-de-Himalaya -- one of the world's toughest off-road motor rallies -- nine times in the four-wheeler Xtreme category, went out of the rally Thursday, organisers said.

Rana, who was on the way to Nakee Pass which is situated at the height of 4,750 metres, failed to negotiate a turn and his vehicle went off the track. Likewise, another rallyist Abhishek Mishra was also out of the race on this route.

The rallyists who engaged in a close contest in Xtreme (4X4) were A.V.S. Gill, Harpreet Singh Bawa, Amartej Buwal, Shakti Bajaj, Gaurav Angra, Raj Singh Rathore and Karan Jung.

Raid Xtreme, which was suspended Wednesday owing to heavy snow at Kunzum Pass, took off from Sarchu Thursday for Nakee Pass.

Raid Adventure too had a normal run from Keylong to Baralacha Pass, forward to Nakee Pass and back to Keylong after taking a u-turn at Sarchu.

The 16th Raid-de-Himalaya, which started from Shimla Oct 5, will finish in Manali Oct 10 after traversing 2,200 km approximately.