Austrian Helmut Frauwallner leads Raid de Himalaya at end of Day 3

By: Ravinder Makhaik

Shimla: With dark clouds building up over the sky at Leh, day three of the Raid de Himalaya ended with Austrian Helmut Faruwallner on a motorcycle has established a lead in the over his rivals both in the two wheel and four wheel category, organizers said.

Speaking over phone, Raid spokesman RS Dhaliwal said that with the day having ended without any major accidents, Helmut Faruwallner on Husquarna TE 499 motorcycle had established his lead and was beating even the four wheelers in timings and penalties.

However the day was not without its share of mishaps. Everybody is safe, though, he said.

“Lt Col J Georgg in a Gypsy skid of the road on a down slope from Khardung La but escaped unscathed,” said Dhaliwal. Colonel Suhag has dropped out of the rally as the engine of his Gypsy gave way, he said.

The days route had to be cut short to 80 Kms from the planned 115 Km route because of a landslip on the road. The 13 Raid for the first time went into Nobra Valley after crossing Wari La, said the organizers.

With the weather getting cold and a snowfall forecast for Friday uncertainty has gripped about the 4th days Raid route as it head out from Leh for Kargil.

At start of the day Ashish Saurabh Moudhgil on a Yamaha WR 450 was second, Gottfried Lehner on a KTM 690 was third, Suresh Babu was fourth, and Johann Lehner was fifth.

At end of second day in the four wheel category, Manali lad Suresh Rana with navigator Ashwin Naik was in the lead followed by Harkaran Singh, with navigator Gurkirat Mann in second position.

Last year Raid winner Major Amarinder Brar with navigator Nilesh Kumar had moved into third position at end of Day two displacing Lt Col Subodh Verma and navigator Major Kaushalendra from the position in the X-treme category.