Ashish Raorane aces world’s highest hill climb challenge on KTM 390 Adventure

- Completed the hill climb in 13 minutes and four seconds

- The 12.5km hill climb included 20 hairpin bends

- Hill climb started from Batal (4,000m) to Kunzum La (4,551m)

Pro Moto XC athlete and Dakar Rally (Malle Moto Class) participant, Ashish Raorane has set the fastest known time record from Batal to Kunzum La onboard a KTM 390 Adventure. Raorane went head-to-head with 11-time Raid de Himalaya winner, Suresh Rana, and his Rally-spec championship car.

The challenging hill climb is made of 12.5km treacherous mountain pass stretching from Batal (4,000m) to Kunzum La (4,551m) with 20 hairpin bends. Suresh Rana started the hill climb first but unfortunately had to forfeit due to an engine block damage on turn 18. Rana set a time of 11 minutes 49 seconds at turn 18. Ashish Raorane followed the hill climb and reached the Kunzum La finish line with 13 minutes and four seconds on the clock, thereby setting the fastest known time record.

Speaking on the occasion Narayan Sundararaman, Head of Marketing at Bajaj Auto Ltd, said that the World’s Highest Hill Climb Challenge has given the company an opportunity to demonstrate the off-road credentials of KTM 390 Adventure.