For most rallyists, preparation for the extremely challenging Raid de Himalaya, considered among the top ten toughest rallies of the world, begins some months in advance. For Raid winner 2018 Arindam Saikia, the preparation to win the Raid started four years ago, when he turned 21, and booked a Polaris to fulfill his teenage dream.
Raid de Himalaya, the world’s foremost high-altitude motorsport battle, started from Kargil on October 10. It concluded at Leh on October 14, with Saikia as the undisputed winner in Raid Xtreme 4X4.
Saikia, who hails from Golaghat in Assam, says that since he was 16, he had dreamt of winning the Raid de Himalaya, India’s top off-road motorsport challenge. “I bought the Polaris to fulfill this dream,” said Saikia, who owns tea gardens in Assam.
Saikia first competed in the Raid in 2015. “I had an accident on Day Three of racing. I was heart-broken. I came back for Raid 2016 with hopes and expectations. That year, a biker lost his life racing at the Raid, and the event was called off,” recalls Saikia.
The motorsport champion, who is now 25, took a year off from rallying in 2017 to hone his skills. The practice stood him in good stead at Raid de Himalaya 2018, when he was first in start order for the race over snow. “The whole stage was snow and black ice. My vehicle was the first one to enter the stage, and it was the most dangerous stretch I have ever done. At a point my vehicle slipped, but I managed to save the vehicle and also myself. I got goosebumps that day,” remembers Saikia.
On the first day of Raid 2018, Saikia faced braking issues in his vehicle. “I lost 12 minutes to Amitrajit Ghosh of Team Mahindra. On Day Two on the race to Penzi La, I gave my 100 per cent and had a lead of 30 minutes. Thereafter, my lead stayed,” said Saikia.
2018 has been a great year for Saikia. He won the Raid de Himalaya, and also the Indian Baja.
Saikia’s first rally was the Arunachal Festival of Speed 2015. The high point of the rally, says Saikia, was that he beat India’s motorsport champion Gaurav Gill. He wants to go international now.
Raid de Himalaya is the flagship event of Himalayan Motorsport, India’s premier motorsport club. President Himalayan Motorsport Vijay Parmar said that for Saikia, the second day of Raid 2018 was the game changer. “Perhaps he got demoralized the first day because of the early exit of his teammate, Lakhpa Tsering. Day Two, on the complete snow run to Penzi La and back, he put it all behind him and decided to go for it. Leading the raid on last two days, Saikia wasn’t in awe of his position. He didn’t push beyond his limits, knowing that he had a 15-minute lead,” said Parmar.
Parmar added that Saikia has become a far more mature driver since his first Raid experience in 2015. “He handles the rally calmly, playing within his capabilities and not making mistakes. He can make a mark globally, but he needs a lot more experience and exposure in the international arena,” said Parmar.