Shillong, Meghalaya: Meghalaya motorsport athlete Phoebe Dale Nongrum is set to represent the state at the sixth edition of the Rally of the Himalaya from September 27 to 30. Her participation comes days after she secured a podium finish in the women’s category at the Rally of Coimbatore. Nongrum finished second runner-up in the second round of the 2026 Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) despite facing car-related problems on the opening day. She will now compete across the high-altitude terrain of Zanskar Valley and Ladakh. The upcoming rally will mark her second appearance in the event.
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Key Facts
- Athlete: Phoebe Dale Nongrum
- State: Meghalaya
- Upcoming event: Sixth Rally of the Himalaya
- Dates: September 27–30, 2026
- Terrain: Zanskar Valley and Ladakh
- Recent result: Second runner-up in the women’s category at Rally of Coimbatore
- Championship: 2026 Indian National Rally Championship
- Co-driver: Shahid Salman
- Team: Meghalaya Motorsports Society
- Previous Rally of the Himalaya: Podium finish in T1 Xtreme category and Best Team Trophy
Nongrum Heads to the Himalayas
Meghalaya’s Phoebe Dale Nongrum will compete in the sixth edition of the Rally of the Himalaya after producing a podium finish at the Rally of Coimbatore.
Nongrum finished second runner-up in the women’s category during the second round of the 2026 Indian National Rally Championship, held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, from September 18 to 20.
Her podium finish came despite car-related difficulties during the opening day. Nongrum and her team recovered in the later stages and completed the event with a podium result.
High-Altitude Challenge in Zanskar and Ladakh
The Rally of the Himalaya will take place from September 27 to 30 and will cover challenging high-altitude routes across the Zanskar Valley and Ladakh.
The cross-country event will test competitors across mountain terrain, changing road surfaces and long-distance stages.
For Nongrum, the rally will provide another opportunity to compete in a demanding cross-country format after her recent INRC appearance in Coimbatore.
Second Appearance in Rally of the Himalaya
This will be Nongrum’s second appearance in the Rally of the Himalaya.
During the fifth edition, she secured a podium finish in the T1 Xtreme category. She also became the first female competitor to finish on the podium in the event.
Her performance in the previous edition also helped her team win the Best Team Trophy.
Experience Across Motorsport Formats
Nongrum made her INRC debut in 2023 and has since recorded consecutive runner-up finishes in the championship’s women’s category.
She represents the Meghalaya Motorsports Society and competes in multiple motorsport disciplines, including rallying, circuit racing and cross-country events.
Her continued participation across different formats has given her experience in both competitive circuit events and long-distance off-road rallies.
Short Turnaround Before Himalayan Rally
The Rally of the Himalaya comes only a few days after the Coimbatore round, leaving Nongrum with limited time for recovery and preparation.
Ahead of the Himalayan event, she noted that the short turnaround would make recovery challenging. However, her previous experience in the Rally of the Himalaya has given her an understanding of the physical and technical demands of high-altitude cross-country competition.
Shahid Salman to Join as Co-Driver
Nongrum will be partnered by co-driver Shahid Salman, an experienced competitor in national rallying and cross-country motorsport.
Salman won the T2 category at the 2017 Rally of the Himalaya and later became the INRC 3 champion in 2023.
His experience in both rallying and cross-country competition will be an important part of Nongrum’s campaign in the Himalayan event.
Competing in Two Motorsport Formats
Nongrum’s current schedule highlights her involvement in two different forms of motorsport.
She is competing in the Indian National Rally Championship while also taking part in cross-country rallying. The two formats require drivers to adapt to different vehicle setups, road conditions, distances and competition styles.
Her participation in the Rally of the Himalaya follows closely after the Coimbatore INRC round, adding another demanding event to her 2026 racing calendar.
Questions and Answers
Who is representing Meghalaya at the Rally of the Himalaya?
Motorsport athlete Phoebe Dale Nongrum will represent Meghalaya.
When will the Rally of the Himalaya take place?
The event is scheduled from September 27 to 30, 2026.
Where will the rally be held?
The rally will cover high-altitude terrain in the Zanskar Valley and Ladakh.
Who will be Nongrum’s co-driver?
She will compete with experienced co-driver Shahid Salman.
What was Nongrum’s recent result?
She finished second runner-up in the women’s category at the Rally of Coimbatore.
Has Nongrum competed in the Rally of the Himalaya before?
Yes. She previously secured a podium in the T1 Xtreme category and won the Best Team Trophy.
Location Context
Meghalaya is one of India’s major motorsport-active states in the Northeast, with local competitors participating in national-level rallying and other racing disciplines. Nongrum’s participation provides representation for the state in a major cross-country motorsport event held across the Himalayan region.
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