Behind the wheel, the race is against time, not rivals

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Three-day motorsport event tests drivers and riders on timing, navigation and following the route

Chandigarh: The three-day SJOBA Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) Rally, which tests drivers and riders on speed, timing and navigation, is concluding in Chandigarh on Sunday, with competitors required to follow a prescribed route and reach designated points at specified times.

Organised by the St John’s Old Boys Association (SJOBA), the rally began on October 2 and includes separate events for four-wheelers and two-wheelers. It is listed on the official calendar of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI).

Unlike a conventional motor race, where the objective is to finish as quickly as possible, a TSD rally requires participants to maintain specified speeds and reach designated points at the right time. Driving faster does not necessarily give a competitor an advantage.

According to the official SJOBA rally regulations, where no government-prescribed speed limit applies, the maximum prescribed speed is 45 kmph on plain sections and 36 kmph on hill sections. In crowded areas such as educational institutions, hospitals, markets, towns and villages, the prescribed speed is 20 kmph.

Participants therefore have to keep track of their speed and timings while following the prescribed route. Errors in timing or failure to comply with rally regulations can attract penalties.

The FMSCI calendar lists the event as a 4W TSD Rally (Open) and a 2W Solo TSD Rally (Open).

The format makes the rally a test of concentration, accuracy and driving skills, with participants required to balance speed, timing and navigation throughout the event.