Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), concluded the third edition of Thar Fest held on March 10, 2019 in Kochi. Adding zest to the Thar Fest was the fourth edition of the Mahindra Adventure ‘Club Challenge’ where the top 11 off-roading clubs from across the country, competed for off-roading honours.
Thar Fest is aimed at celebrating the camaraderie between the off-roading community and 4 X 4 enthusiasts, while celebrating the iconic ‘Thar’ brand. Thrilling off-roading activities and Thar related contests kept the participants captivated throughout this day long festival. Spectators also indulged in other activities like the Thar Parade, 4*4 Experience Zone, Heritage Mahindra Display, Customized Vehicle Display and a Live Music performance.
Participants from 11 off-roading clubs from across India fought a ferocious battle at the ‘Club Challenge’ to win the coveted title of ‘Best Off-Roading Club’ in India. However, the obstacles here focused more on teamwork rather than on individual performances. The ‘Club Challenge’ was kicked off on March 9, 2019 with exciting night stages from 6:30 PM till midnight. The next day, March 10, 2019 witnessed the day stages between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
Some of the obstacles were the famous ‘Demolition Derby’, an event where the off-road vehicles had to negotiate a path over a pile of junk vehicles. Another long-standing obstacle was ‘Pass the Baton’ where all classes of vehicles run a relay format of driving and have to pass the baton from one vehicle to another and cross the finish line.
After an arduous battle, over two days and 8 obstacles, the overall winner trophy was presented to Kannur Riders and Off-Roaders Club (KROC). The first runner up title was won by Bangalore Off-Road Driver’s Association (BODA), while Northern India Off-Road Club (NIOC) bagged the second runner up title. Other than KROC, BODA and NIOC the other participating clubs this year included Team Ejamsa, Extreme Riders Motorsports Club of Meghalaya, Kerala Adventure Sports Club, R&T Autocatalyst, KTM Jeepers, Kannur Jeepers and Team Flywheel.
According to Veejay Nakra, Chief of Sales & Marketing, Auto Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., “The Mahindra Thar is an iconic brand, and holds a very special place in the hearts of auto enthusiasts and the off-roading community. It is an extension of the Mahindra legacy, and reflects the company’s tough & rugged, go-anywhere capabilities. With ‘Club Challenge and Thar Fest’, we are delighted to see the passion of off-roading enthusiasts. Like in previous years, this year too, the ‘Thar Fest’ saw scores of 4×4 enthusiasts come together to celebrate the tough & rugged DNA of Mahindra vehicles. Furthermore, in ‘Club Challenge’, diverse off-roading clubs fought for the title of “Best Off-Roading Club”, facing some of the toughest obstacles through challenging terrain.”
