A veteran rally driver hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, Lhakpa Tsering, entered the international rally circuit impressively, teaming up with the experienced navigator Musa Sherif from Kerala, who boasts a remarkable record of 314 international and national rallies and has clinched the Indian National Rally Championship seven times.
His debut on the international stage at the Thailand Rally Raid Championship (TRRC) 2024, Round 2, held in Lobpuri Province, Thailand from May 18 to 19, 2024, was marked by his remarkable performance, securing the 6th position in the Extreme T1 category among 19 entries from Thailand, Japan, Australia, and India.
Spanning two gruelling days in Thailand’s Lopburi province, the event tested participants with its demanding terrain and severe weather conditions. The rally, featuring 19 entries, comprised over 200 kilometres of tough stages characterized by rugged terrain, creating a challenging competition filled with dips and ruts. Inside the car, temperatures soared to a scorching 50 degrees Celsius, while outside, it reached 42 degrees Celsius.
Despite hailing from the cold Himalayan region of India, Tsering and his co-driver Sherif demonstrated admirable performance under harsh conditions, securing the 6th place in Extreme T1 and the overall 12th position in the two-day competition.
The rally was won by a Thai team from Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand, completing the course in a cumulative time of 1.54.24 hours.
Tsering, also the President of the Motorsports Club of Arunachal, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting the novelty of participating in such an event in a foreign setting. He expressed hopes of organizing international events of similar stature in Arunachal Pradesh soon.
Additionally, Tsering held significant discussions with members of the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand (RAAT) and organizers of the Asia Cross Country Rally, exploring potential collaboration for the revival of the Himalayan Rally in India. Plans were discussed for relaunching the event in 2025.
