Supercars scale Nathula and Cho La in historic Sikkim drive

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK,: In a first-of-its-kind achievement, 17 supercars successfully completed a high-altitude drive to Nathu La, Gnathang Valley and Cho La on December 13-14, under ‘The Supercar Route Sikkim Silk Route’, setting a new benchmark for luxury motoring in the Northeast.

The historic rally not only marked the first-ever entry of supercars into these strategic mountain passes but also highlighted Sikkim’s growing readiness for luxury tourism and premium road travel.

The Supercar Route, held from December 11-14, is produced by Mumbai-based Entertainment Bay Experiences and led by its founder Zain Rais. The event was supported by the Black Cat Division under the aegis of the Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army and the Government of Sikkim.

In an exclusive interview, The Supercar Route founder Zain Rais shares insights into the experience of the historic Sikkim drive and the vision behind it, while also hinting at Sikkim Silk Route 2.0.

What makes ‘The Supercar Route Sikkim Silk Route’ unique?

Zain: It’s the first time supercars of India have come to Sikkim. First time to Nathula, first time to Cho La Pass, and first time driving from Siliguri to Gangtok. It’s a record on its own.

A dream come true! I dreamt of driving in India on roads like these. We did Himachal, Ladakh and Atal Tunnel, but after Sikkim, there’s nothing better.

The Cho La route isn’t easy. What does reaching Cho La mean for The Supercar Route?

Zain: It’s a record. First Indians to visit Cho La Pass in supercars, all the way from Bombay. It’s a proud feeling. Seventeen supercars at 14,000 to 15,000 feet near a frozen lake.

Regular trips to Cho La started from December 15. Again, it’s a great achievement for us to be the first to drive supercars on Cho La Pass.

Meeting the Indian Army was emotional. We don’t realise what they go through daily. Civilian and army interaction like this brings out strong patriotism.

Doing 200 bends one way and 400 bends in total was unbelievable. The cars performed amazingly. BRO did a fantastic job. Visiting Baba Mandir had spiritual significance. One car had brake failure, but it stopped safely just in time.

What challenges tested the machines and drivers?

Zain: Acclimatisation. A couple of drivers faced issues, but all recovered within about 30 minutes and completed the circuit.

We are not used to hill driving. Almost all these cars are new, some just three to five months old. Bringing a brand-new supercar here takes courage. Convincing owners wasn’t easy.

We sent the cars on trailers. It took seven days to bring them and will take another week to send them back. We put in a lot of effort for safety. The Sikkim government and district administration helped cover bad patches. They told me, “Don’t worry, just come,” and they delivered.

This planning went on for three months, with two and a half months of execution. Everything was planned. We were driving with 17 cars and 10 convoy vehicles.

We had flatbeds in case any car failed. A mechanic trained in supercars travelled with us. We had hospitality staff, operations managers, and photo and drone teams, all trained professionals from Bombay.

We checked every pothole, geo-tagged them and sent them to the government. Additional Political Secretary Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha understood what this could mean for Sikkim and invited us. Along with Col Rajan from the Eastern Indian Army, everything fell into place.

Many believe supercars are meant only for smooth highways. What message does the Sikkim Silk Route send?

Zain: I agree. Supercars need smooth roads because they are low. But they are incredibly strong machines built for endurance.

My only request to the government was good roads. I geo-tagged and video-recorded every pothole and said I couldn’t bring 17 cars otherwise. They worked day and night.

Any special modifications to the cars?

Zain: No modifications. We planned support instead, such as flatbeds, mechanics, operations teams, hospitality teams, camera and drone teams, and paramedics from the Indian Army.

When The Supercar Route was announced, people were sceptical about road conditions. What do you want to tell them now?

Zain: When a good initiative is done, please support it instead of running it down. In every obstacle, there is an opportunity. Once you cross it, everyone feels good. Be part of goodness. Remove negativity.

How expensive is it to maintain a supercar?

Zain: It depends on how you maintain it. My Porsche 911 is five years old and has done 42,000 km. You need regular servicing and oil changes. It is expensive, no doubt. But if you maintain it well, nothing happens. These are German cars, built to last.

How was your overall experience?

Zain: The message I wanted to deliver to the Sikkimese youth was “believe in your dreams and work hard.”

Sikkim is still young, so there is a lot of scope and opportunity for luxury tourism. If an Indian can spend a minimum of Rs 10 to 20 lakh by going abroad, why go all the way when you can come to Sikkim and experience similar or even better scenery?

If somebody can come here and experience this, it’s a boon for India and luxury tourism will grow. It’s a win-win situation. If the youth decide to build better resorts, better recreation opportunities, good roads and drivability, you will have the entire country coming here for weekends to enjoy scenic drives, sunsets, mighty Kanchenjunga, Cho La and Nathula.

Apart from the cars, what do you want the people of Sikkim to remember about this event?

Zain: I want them to remember one message, “work hard and manifest your dreams. Do something for your state.” Sikkim is clean. What we loved about Gangtok, especially MG Marg, is that I didn’t see even one wrapper on the road. In most hill stations in India, cleanliness is not maintained. In Sikkim, it is.

What response have you received from the government, army and public?

Zain: They opened their arms to us with hospitality, freedom and bonding. That mattered most. We pray that Sikkim enters the luxury tourism space. I’ve driven on the best roads in the world, and I felt nothing short here.

My advice is to have a rapid action road team. Encourage people to spend Rs 2 lakh in Sikkim instead of Rs 20 lakh abroad.

What was the best part of this journey?

Zain: The Sikkimese people, especially children. I met at least 20 kids who came with toy cars, Lego and Hot Wheels. They wanted to match their Hot Wheels with our real cars. Seeing a Hot Wheels Lamborghini next to a real Lamborghini is invaluable for a child. They’ll remember it for life.

Kids shouting “nice car,” petrol pump owners becoming Instagram-famous overnight, and videos going viral.

People came out of their homes, waved at us, smiled and said “welcome.” Nobody was angry. Everyone just said “wow.” They opened their hearts, and we came to Sikkim to give them belief that anything is possible.

The supercar drivers are all ordinary businessmen, and the warmth and love we received was full of humility.

How did your team cope with the Sikkim Silk Route?

Zain: I didn’t tell my team much. I wanted them to experience it. I’m thankful to all 17 participants for believing in me. When you believe in people, they can outperform anything.

We loved the weather. We come from Bombay, which is at sea level, with a humid climate and temperatures around 30 degrees. Coming from 30°C to 3°C in Sikkim is commendable.

Any future plans within Sikkim?

Zain: Yes. I will come back with another 20 cars whenever the Sikkim government calls me. We want to visit North Sikkim.

This drive was self-funded. If sponsors come forward, we can do much more. People from Bombay are already asking for Sikkim 2.0. Next time, it could be 30, maybe even 100 supercars.

What inspired you to start these supercar road trips?

Zain: I run an event company called Entertainment Day Experiences. We have specialised in luxury events across India for the last 12 years. Ever since I got my Porsche 911 in 2019, I was looking for people to drive with, people who wanted to take their own cars outside the city on road trips.

You can rent a car anywhere in the world, but it’s a different experience driving your own supercar with like-minded people. All these people are daring and courageous. They’ve worked hard for the last 20 years to become successful.

We want to motivate the youth and tell them that nothing just happens, it happens if you work hard. Tomorrow, you too can own sports cars and drive in Sikkim.

Many people message me asking to be part of the next drive. They saw my earlier drives to Himachal and Satara Kaas Valley. I didn’t know some drivers personally, but they wanted to be part of this journey.

Would you consider more high-altitude or heritage routes?

Zain: Yes. I want to take supercars to States that need that extra push. Sikkim is in a very good position.

My call to other States is, if you feel you have something different, be it infrastructure or good scenic roads, and if you can support us with fuel because our cars need XP95 or Speed petrol, please call us. We will come to your State and create an experience that can never be forgotten.