More Torque, More Action: How Indian Off-Roading Is Changing Gear

The surface is soggy. The route is more treacherous than ice in the dark slush. Uneven rocks and stones appear to be the only defense against dangerous dips and ferocious turns. A robust car suddenly appears around a sharp turn, its enormous tires quickly clearing the path. Despite the odds, two drivers in helmets easily navigate this hazardous, impassable highway.

More torque on the off-road

There is no movie set here. They are not computer-generated barriers. The kind of adrenaline rush experienced by off-roaders competing in monsoon-themed challenges while operating a 4×4 vehicle or a motorcycle across uneven ground and inherently difficult terrain is something that movies simply cannot replicate.

Indians are growing accustomed to it. Over the next five years, the ATV and UTV market in India is anticipated to increase by 6.8% of its present size to reach $536 million in revenue, according to industry analyst Research and Markets. The sport is no longer exclusive to the wealthy. Anyone prepared to get down, dirty, and risky for the sake of fun is now welcome to use it as a playground.

Arkaprava Datta said:

Off-roading, according to Arkaprava Datta of Chennai, co-founder of Terra Tigers and coordinator of the 17-year-old Palar Challenge, India’s oldest off-roading tournament, is essentially trekking with your vehicles. “It’s a mix of adventure and motorsports,” he continues.

There is also growing environmental concern. Driving through lovely countryside and kicking up all that dirt can be disastrous for a delicate area. Datta explains, “We avoid driving in still water, which is used for irrigation. We avoid driving in grassy or forested areas because cattle graze there.

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Datta caught the travel bug while attending boarding school in Dehradun. He, therefore, joined enthusiastically when a group of Jeep enthusiasts met together on a Yahoo group in 2005 to plan and discuss off-roading tasks. A year later, he founded the organization’s Chennai chapter and planned the nation’s first off-roading competition, which followed the perilous terrain along the Palar River.