Derajat off-road jeep and motorcycle challenge race concludes

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The first Derajat off-road jeep and motorcycle challenge race concluded here on Sunday.

Besides federal and provincial ministers and lawmakers, including Ali Amin Gandapur, Taimur Salim Jhagra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Secretary Tourism Abid Majid, Commissioner Dera Ismail Khan Yahya Akhunzada and others, a large number of tourists and local people watched the spectacular jeep and motorcycle race.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), Frontier 4x4 Club and Dera Ismail Khan district administration had jointly organised the three-day event. Twenty-eight racers and others participated in the pre-peered category and covered 118 kilometres track from Yarak to Gloti. The racers performed well during the 118km race on the track from Yarak to Gloti after passing through Paniala, Rahmanikhel and Abdulkhel.

Around 29 drivers participated in the stock category while 22 racers performed in the professional pre-peered category. Gendhoot, Babar Baloch and Aqeel Ahmad stood first, second and third, respectively.

Similarly, Muhammad Rafiq, Sultan Bahadur and Rashid Goraya clinched first, second and third position in the B-category, respectively. In C-category, Hassan Jehangir, Malik Babar Ijaz and Syed Zahid Qayyum stood first, second and third, respectively.

Likewise, Shakil Ahmad, Shah Gul Mazari and Falak Sher Baloch won first, second and third position in the race, respectively. In the Women's category, Tushna Patel clinched first position while Maheem Sheraz stood second and Salma Marwat third.

Besides, motorcycle racers also took part in the competitions and received thunderous applause from the spectators. Earlier, qualifying rounds were held with a two kilometres track with dangerous turns.

The jeep rally was allowed with the standard operating procedures and on submission of the Covid-19 negative test reports by the participants as per the decision of Covid Task Force, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The track along one of the most stunning landscapes for the Derajat off-road challenge was specifically prepared for the racers. The venue for the event offered a diverse geography, dry alluvial plains commonly referred to as Damaan, sandy dunes in the foothills of Shaikh Badin and Indus River flowing along the desert.