Rajiv Yadav/Rohit Gowda win Xtreme category as Dhritimaan Singh tops Moto; Daksh Gill delivers standout performances across demanding Himalayan stages
Manali to Padum (Zanskar): The J&K Bank presents JK Tyre Rally of Himalayas 2026 concluded on September 30 after more than four days of intense rally-raid competition across the high-altitude landscapes of Lahaul-Spiti and Zanskar. The event brought together 50 cars and 80 riders, testing competitors on demanding mountain routes requiring speed, technical precision, endurance and careful navigation.
Flagged off from Manali on September 26, the rally took competitors through rugged stretches of Lahaul and Spiti, including the challenging crossing of Kunzum La. Steep climbs, unpredictable weather, rough terrain and high altitude placed considerable demands on both competitors and their machines.
Rajiv Yadav established an early lead after winning the opening day, with Aaryak Rana among the closely tracked competitors during the initial stages. As the rally progressed, maintaining consistency and protecting vehicles became increasingly important alongside outright speed.
A key feature of the rally was a 72-km competitive stage that was subsequently run in reverse, requiring competitors to adapt their braking points, cornering and pacing strategies. The demanding conditions also saw Lakhpa Tsering, winner of the 2015 Raid de Himalaya, withdraw his Toyota Hilux following a technical issue.
The competition subsequently saw Daksh Gill take centre stage, securing the next two stages, beginning with the reverse Losar to Gramphu stage. The route then advanced towards Shinku La, with elevations exceeding 16,500 feet, placing additional emphasis on vehicle control, traction and throttle management.
The rally later entered the Zanskar Valley, where competitors faced another demanding high-altitude stage. Gill once again delivered a strong performance, reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h during the Zanskar stretch.
The rally concluded at Padum, the headquarters of Zanskar district, where competitors, organisers and supporters gathered to mark the completion of the challenging Himalayan route.
Category Winners
Moto (2-Wheel)
- Winner: Dhritimaan Singh
- Runner-up: Happy Verma
- Second Runner-up: Nitish Bharadwaj
Xtreme (4-Wheel)
- Winner: Rajiv Yadav / Rohit Gowda
- Runner-up: Aaryak Rana / Aditya Sharma
- Second Runner-up: Daksh Gill / Virender Kashyap
Adventure (4-Wheel)
- Winner: Soham Hazra / Nirav Mehta
- Runner-up: Santosh HM / Prakash Muthusamy
- Second Runner-up: Chandra Mouli / Sri Sakthi Kumar N
- Third place: Sachin Mandhwani / Adhitya Anthony
The rally concluded with a prize distribution ceremony and cultural evening, featuring performances celebrating the region’s culture and hospitality.
The ceremony was attended by Arava Gopi Krishna, IAS, Administrative Secretary, Transport and Housing and Urban Development; Moses Kunzang, Staff Officer to Chief Secretary; Tsewang Dorjai, DGM-cum-Zonal Head, J&K Bank; Rigzin Sangdup, SP, Zanskar; Gulam Mohammed, CEO, Tourism Development Authority / ADDC Kargil; and Sarwar Shehzad, SDM, Zanskar, among other dignitaries.
