Rallying around the country

Often, a challenge accepted is half the battle won. Or so believes Aishwarya Pissay, this 20 year old Bengaluru lass – who recently bagged the first position at the ladies category at the eighth edition of Maruti Suzuki Dakshin Dare Rally’ 16.

Pitched against an odd 190 off roading participants from across the country, the six day event had rally riders traversing through a 2,200 km long terrain flagged off from namma city through the off-roads of Coorg, Shimoga and Goa challenging the grit of the fittest.

The young racer shares the inside track with us, just as she readies for ‘Raid De Himalaya’, an upcoming national level motorbiking competition slated to take place from October 7 to 15...

Sharing a rather interesting episode that egged her to pursue the ‘rugged’ trajectory, Aishwarya quips, “I was about sixteen when I took a close friend for a ride on my scooty. It was such a jam packed day, that I actually had to speed off at the right time to navigate my way through the congested and  dilapidated roads. My rash driving appalled her as much as she actually felt that I could quite make the cut as a professional off beat racer!”  

At 16, it was only early this year when she started to compete at national level competitions as a professional racer. 

“My love for new experiences and adventure has always persisted, and could  be one of the reasons I’ve wanted to pursue motor sports professionally,”  states the youngster who secured the first place in Formula Junior Support Race’16 prior to the Dakshin Rally, where  she was adjudged the winner in the ladies category.  

While it takes confidence to pursue one’s true calling, Aishwarya elucidates  how it was her family that had her back and believed in her even before she did.

“ My parents have been extremely supportive. They enrolled me into an academy and offered me all the guidance and resources which were needed, to fuel my passion.”  

Although her aptitude for off roading activities is what brought her to the limelight, the Bengaluru based girl lets us in on her other interests.

 “Since I’ve been racing and giving most of my time to racing and participating in rally’s people think I’m quite the toughie! But no, if it weren’t for racing, I would have been a fashion designer as my love for clothes and trends is undying!”  

Despite rendering her undivided attention to rallying, the vivacious lass reiterates how it’s also about indulging in her other passions. “I’m a  travel buff and often end up spending my free time exploring lesser known destinations that fits my budget!”