Guests flag off the 7th Indian Oil Femina Car Rally in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, March 6: Ten tough challengers, all women, set pulses racing at the 7th Indian Oil Femina Car Rally here today.

Of course, the event was not just for women — there were categories for couples and men too — but it was the women racers who stole the show with their driving skills.

The all-women category had women as both the driver and the navigator, in the couples’ category either of the two had to be a woman and in the all-men category, both the persons were men.

While some competed for winning glory, others were enthusiastic about taking part in what proved to be an exhilarating competition.

“It was just two days ago that I decided to take part in this event. It was a decision made on the spur of the moment,” said Dr Neelam, an infertility specialist, who took part in the event.

TPS College psychology teacher Dr Rupam was Neelam’s navigator. “Be it treating patients or driving cars, we are good at everything. We are confident that we will win,” said Rupam.

Dr Neelam at the car rally. Picture by Ranjeet Kmar Dey

Thirty-five teams took part in the rally organised on the theme of “Progress of the girl child”.

Indian Oil general manager B.B. Choudhary, JK Tyres area manager S.K. Paul and Bank of India zonal manager P.K. Bansal flagged off the rally at 7.30am from Boring Road. The rally ended at Pragbodhi. Among the celebrities who took part in the event was Maya Shankar, spouse of BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Brainy Chawla, winner of last year’s car rally, took part with his wife Bobby Chawla in the event.

Brainy, who has won 18 rallies across the country so far, said his wife was his lucky charm. “My wife is sitting next to me. That means this is my lucky day,” he said.

The names of the winners will be announced at a city hotel on March 8.