Desert challenge: Rear view

Race is on rally enthusiast Nauman Khan’s mind as he speeds through the 2013 Jhal Magsi Desert Challenge.

Each time a car jumps over the bumpy terrain of Balochistan, the onlookers skip a heartbeat. The excitement is palpable and the competitive spirit almost contagious. At the Jhal Magsi Desert Challenge Rally each year, the speedsters of Pakistan get an unrestrained opportunity to show off their talent. They reshape the concept of car rallies in the country by competing at par with international standards.

The off-road event, which was started in 2005, is now in its ninth edition, and took a bigger spin this year with increased local participation and an even more aggressive terrain for the rally that covers over 200kms. Contrary to the previous challenges, in the absence of corporate-sponsored international racers such as Abdo Feghali from Lebanon and Burcu Cetinkaya from Turkey, many local champions including the likes of Nadir Magsi, Asad Khoro and Ronnie Patel stole the spotlight at the event. Even though it may not be the biggest 4x4 car challenge in the world, like the Dakar Rally in South America and the Baja 1000 in Mexico, it is certainly the country’s most challenging.



With a higher probability of claiming the trophy, many racers like myself revved up our car engines and speeding strategies to finish first at this year’s rally. Participants and vehicles need to prepare months in advance for the challenge, something veteran racers take very seriously. Every driver chooses his car carefully, and my Vigo 3.0 diesel met my need for speed this year. Rally cars require the right engine upgrade, ranging from a heavy 3501cc engine (and above) to a 1400cc, depending on the opted category ranging between A, for high performance engines, to D, for low performance engines. Most race enthusiasts go the extra mile to fit their cars with a turbo-charged intercooler and powerful shock absorbers to enhance performance. Excluding the actual cost of the car, it takes around Rs500,000 to Rs1,000,000 to get the car ready for the rally. While many professional racers happily bear the cost of modification, others pursue this passion on a lower budget. And to encourage increased participation this year, new categories, Stock 1 and Stock 2, were added for factory-fitted or minimally modified cars.

Once the vehicle and navigator have been carefully selected, the journey, to what I call every ‘driver’s paradise’, begins. While making my way to Balochistan from Karachi, I passed by some of the most visually captivating sights, including peaceful villages surrounded by green fields. Most racers believe in leaving nothing to chance and travel with their mechanics, navigators, guests and car equipment (that includes spare parts) to avoid any last-minute glitches. The wise reach the destination a couple of days in advance to practise and to familiarise themselves with the track, climate and most importantly, to prepare for the imminent challenges.

Ibrahim Khan Khoso (left) and Ronnie Patel (right) receiving awards at the prize distribution ceremony.

Upon reaching the venue, team meetings and pep talks are organised by the racers. The camp buzzes with excitement as they prepare for the qualifying round. All three meals are provided by the organisers to racers and co-drivers and full-proof security is ensured by the Magsi tribe. What follows next is three days of adrenaline-filled, action-packed adventure.

From sand dunes to salty plains and hard surfaces to loose gravel, the Jhal Magsi race track can cause great fear or nervousness in even the most senior racers. This year, fifty participants enrolled for the challenge despite the risk of accidents and injuries that accompany this extreme sport.

The challenge has two stages, the qualifying round, which determines the starting sequence for the rally drivers, followed by the actual race the next day. The start and finish point remains the same with the route comprising two legs and several checkpoints. Every vehicle has to pass through these checkpoints in order to get their official timing card stamped by the checkpoint marshal. All this is made clear during the driver’s meeting that takes place before the rally in which racers are briefed on the clear markings throughout the route and the exact number and location of checkpoints. The National Motorsports organisation takes charge of this by providing consultation and management services to the event’s hosting body and distributing roadmaps among drivers. It acts as a governing body for the rally each year.



While many make it to the finish line victorious, there are also those who return home disappointed. This year was no exception when a veteran racer wrecked his car during practice and was rushed in an ambulance to a hospital in Larkana having sustained serious injuries. But in the midst of all danger, Nadir Magsi, also known as the undisputed king of rallying, proves his mettle time and again by winning the rally from category A. Category B was won by Asad Khoro despite the strong fight I put up along with my navigator, Saad Tariq, and Mukesh Chawla and Gohar Sangi came out top in category C.

Once the race concludes so does all rivalry and the competitive atmosphere is replaced by a boyish camaraderie. All participants gather for the prize distribution ceremony with the first prize being an award of Rs100,000 followed by runner-up prizes of Rs75,000 and Rs50,000. Racers share a meal and laughs over the day’s race, ready to head back home in the morning.

The Jhal Magsi Desert Challenge is one of the few platforms available to motorsport enthusiasts in Pakistan and is anticipated eagerly by new and seasoned racers. And while we continue to live our passion, we also silently pray that the event will one day put Pakistan on the international motorsports map. 

Nauman Saranjam Khan is a professional driver who has participated in many car rallies including the Jhal Magsi Desert Challenge

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, January 5^th, 2015.