2017 Force Gurkha Rainforest Challenge — Here’s What’s In Store

For this year's challenge, Fairmont Group, the team from Mumbai has signed up veteran Malaysian driver Mervyn Lim, who was the runner-up for all three previous editions of RFC India. In the earlier editions, Lim was part of Team Force Motors, which will be the title sponsor for this year too.

Amongst RFC veterans, there are also first-timers participating this year, like 36-year old Sumanth Shenoy from Chikmagalur, Karnataka, who has been off-roading since he was in school. Sumanth says, "I used to travel to all the locations and watch the competitors performing in the Special Stages. Then, after the event got over, I would go to the same locations and practice on those tracks."

While competitors will have to battle it out among themselves to take the crown, the organisers also have some surprise changes planned for the competitors, to make the challenge tougher.

Ashish Gupta, the Director of Cougar Motorsports, which organises RFC in India said, "This year, the event will have a changed format for the Special Stages, with a variation in the running order and sequence of the SS. We also plan to have some part of the competition at new sites and will shortly start the recce process for the same."

Last year's winner, Gurmeet Virdi, from Gerrari Offroaders, Chandigarh will also take part this year, and will have to defend his title. Stay tuned for more updates from RFC India.

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