Shillong, Oct 14: Making history for Meghalaya and the North East, Phoebe Dale Nongrum, along with her co-driver Venu, secured a remarkable third place finish in the prestigious T1 Xtreme category at the 5th Rally of Himalayas.
With this podium finish, Phoebe became the first female competitor ever to achieve a podium position in this challenging and high-altitude motorsport event.
The top honours in the T1 Xtreme category were clinched by Araya Rana as the winner,
followed by Lakhpa from Arunachal Pradesh in second, with Phoebe following in third.
Adding to the celebrations, Phoebe and Venu also received the coveted Best Team
Trophy, recognising their outstanding performance, teamwork and endurance throughout
the rally’s demanding stages.
The Rally of Himalayas is a premier motorsport event organised by the Himalayan Xtreme
Motorsports and sanctioned by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India. The
2025 edition covered some of the toughest terrains in the Indian Himalayas, starting
from Manali and traversing through Gramphu, Bathal, Jispa, Darcha and the Shinku La
Pass, extending into the breathtaking yet treacherous Ladakh and Zanskar regions.
Renowned for its rugged landscape, unpredictable weather and thin air at high altitudes,
the Rally of Himalayas is regarded as one of the most physically and mechanically
demanding rallies in India. This year’s inclusion of the remote Zanskar region pushed
competitors to new limits, testing their skill, courage and endurance to the fullest.
(Photo: Meghalaya Motorsports Society)
