The 16th edition of the gruelling rally begins from Noida today and ends in Jaisalmer on March 23. Competitors will tackle 11 special stages spread across five days of rallying.
18 Mar 2018 | 6467 Views | By Autocar Pro News Desk
ExxonMobil Lubricants, the wholly-owned affiliate of ExxonMobil Corporation, has reaffirmed its partnership with Maruti Suzuki India and associated itself as the carmaker's lubricant partner for its Maruti Desert Storm motorsport rally which begins today. Mobil is the official lubricant partner for the rally.
Speaking on the partnership, Deepankar Banerjee, CEO of ExxonMobil’s lubricants business in India, said, “Mobil’s name is synonymous with commitment to performance and leadership in technology. It is this legacy as a product technology leader that enables us to work side-by-side with leading OEMs around the world. Partnering with Maruti Suzuki Motorsport – five years in a row – has been an affirmation of this shared commitment to excellence. Extending this relationship for another season, has been a natural choice for both.”
The 16th edition of Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm flags off from Noida today and will culminate in Jaisalmer on March 23 with a prize distribution ceremony.
Desert Storm is amongst the toughest, yet most popular rallies in the country given the heady mix of adrenaline-surging driving conditions and spectacular terrain that the drive offers. The rally is divided into four categories: Xtreme, Moto, Ndure and Xplore. Competitors will tackle 11 special stages spread across five days of rallying.
The vast salt tracks, sand traps and dunes of Bikaner and Jaisalmer present a grueling set of conditions that test the endurance of both man and machine. ExxonMobil Lubricants says with Mobil engine oil under the hood, Desert Storm drivers can rely on the world’s leading synthetic engine oil to deliver exceptional engine performance and protection – even under these extreme conditions.
Commenting on the partnership, Kapil Mittal, director of Market Development for ExxonMobil’s lubricants business in India, said, “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Maruti Suzuki India as their official lubricant partner for this event for the fifth time in a row. Mobil has partnered with leading automakers and award-winning race teams across the world – motorsports excites us as much as any enthusiast.”
Mobil 1 full synthetic motor oil serves as the lubricant of choice for many of the world’s top race teams competing in highly demanding motorsports series. ExxonMobil also partners with Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series; Porsche, Bentley and Toyota Gazoo Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship; Corvette Racing and Porsche North America in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship; and numerous teams competing in the Pirelli World Challenge.
Along with its status as the official lubricant technology partner and official motor oil of NASCAR, Mobil 1 serves as the title sponsor of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and the official motor oil of the Sports Car Club of America.