The Desert Storm rally is among the most difficult motorsport events in the country. The rally is a mix of adventure, thrill and fear for the participants as they tread through uncharted territory and experience the formidable Thar desert, the rocky and uncertain Aravalli range, and the slippery, white sands of Rann of Kutch.

The route will take the 170 rallyists through competitive and transport sections. The competitive section includes tough, off-road terrain that has gravel, sand and rocks, while the transport section is run on normal inter-city roads.

Following the ceremonial flag-off in New Delhi on the afternoon of February 17, the rallyists will assemble at Shahpura (outskirts of Manesar on the Delhi-Jaipur highway) where the first competitive section starts. The participants will be flagged off at midnight from Shahpura to Bikaner.

This section of the rally will have two firsts. One, this will be the first time when an Indian rally will be conducted at night and secondly, this is the maiden occasion when rallyists at the Desert Storm will be crossing semi-dry river beds on the Aravalli.

The rally will then halt at Bikaner before proceeding towards the sand dunes of Jaisalmer. As the desert sand of the mighty Thar greets the rallyists in the backdrop of the medieval fort, the four-wheel drive will come into play.