Ranchi: The city is all set to host the 8th Wild Adventure Rally 2026, a national-level time-speed-distance motor sport event that is expected to give a major boost to adventure tourism in Jharkhand. The three-day rally, organised by Jharkhand Tourism and Ranchi Adventure Wheelers (RAW), will be flagged off on Friday from Khelgaon by chief minister Hemant Soren.
Ahead of the ceremonial start, participants will undergo documentation, vehicle scrutiny and a detailed competitor’s briefing in Ranchi. Teams from different parts of the country have arrived, underlining the rally’s growing national profile. Unlike conventional racing events, the wild adventure rally focuses on precision driving, navigation skills, endurance and team coordination. Competitors will negotiate a mix of off-road tracks, forest trails, gravel sections and rural routes spread across Jharkhand and neighbouring regions.
Manoj Kumar, secretary of the tourism department said, “This rally will pass through forested trails and some important tourist places like Dalma.
With participants coming from other parts of the country, we want to highlight the tourism potential of Jharkhand,” he said.
The rally will conclude on Sunday with the announcement of final results and prize distribution.
Alongside motor sports, Jharkhand tourism is also promoting endurance sports to attract visitors. As part of this push, the Netarhat Marathon will be organised on Jan 25 to mark National Tourism Day. The event, to be held at Netarhat, will feature 21-km, 10-km and 5-km race categories and is expected to draw runners from within and outside the state.