First-ever race: Jeep rally comes to Thal on November 3

Three-day event to feature 70 drivers from across country

LAHORE: The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) will hold the first Thal Jeep Rally in southern Punjab from November 3 where about 70 drivers will showcase their skills at the three-day event.

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, TDCP Managing Director Ahmer Mallick said after the success of Cholistan Jeep Rally, the corporation was introducing another motor sport event in the desert belt of Muzaffargarh and Layyah districts.

The corporation would register and conduct technical inspections of vehicles on Thursday. Later, a drivers and navigators conference would be organised in Faisal Stadium’s Gymnasium Hall in Muzaffargarh.



The qualifying round for the race would start from Changa Manga Teela on Friday while the winners of the qualifying round would showcase their driving skills on the race day on November 5.

Mallick said the corporation had developed a race track of over 180 kilometres from Changa Manga Teela to Kermanwala via Jhok Wazirwala, Kheriwala, Gudara, Mehmoodwala, Sultanwala, Cha Hariwala, Cha Wasava, Cha Ganji, Choubara (midpoint), Dera Zulfiqar Lail, Dr Khizerwala, Cha Budh, Dogarwala, Radhu, Rakh Shergarh, Kher Farm, Bagga Sher, Laad, OP Mini, RM Mud, Cha Palaywala, Cha Peeruwala and Nabewala.

The Layyah district government had also organised a series of events, including local cultural performances and sport competitions. A temporary food street would also be established near the race track.

Depending on fuel and engine capacity, vehicles would register in eight categories. A special category for women drivers has also been introduced.

The winner of the rally would bag Rs2.5 million cash prize, which is higher from the prize money of the famous Cholistan Jeep Rally.

Mallick said the corporation had established some 15 check points along the rally route, of which at eight places tractors and ambulances had been provided to deal with emergencies.

The rally, he said, was planned in under-developed and vulnerable districts of the province to generate economic activities. It would help promote the local culture of the Punjab and a soft image of the country in the world, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2016.