Most women who sign up for DRIVEN have never rallied before. That is the point. DRIVEN, A Woman's Rally is built for first-timers, so if you have a licence and a car or a bike, you are already most of the way there. Here is exactly how to get ready, minus the nerves.

First, the good news: you don't need much

You do not need a fast car, a race suit, or any experience. DRIVEN is a TSD rally, Time, Speed, Distance, which means it rewards precision and teamwork, not horsepower. A brand-new driver in a small hatchback regularly beats a seasoned one in a sports car. What you actually need is a valid driving licence, a vehicle in ordinary working order, and one to three people you like sitting next to.

A simple pre-rally checklist

A day or two before, give your car or bike a five-minute once-over. Nothing technical:

• Tyres, correct pressure, decent tread, and check the spare.
• Fluids and fuel, top up fuel, coolant and washer fluid; a quick oil check.
• Lights and wipers, all working, because you will be out from morning to night.
• Brakes, a confident pedal or lever, no odd noises.
• Documents, licence, registration, insurance and PUC, kept handy.
• A phone mount, so your navigator can keep time and route without holding it.

If anything feels off, a basic service beforehand puts your mind fully at ease. That is it, no special equipment.

What to pack for the day

Pack light, but pack smart: your licence and vehicle papers, a fully charged phone plus a power bank, sunglasses and sunscreen, a cap, comfortable closed shoes, a refillable water bottle and a couple of snacks. Bikers, bring your helmet and riding gear. And bring your people, your navigators turn the arithmetic of a TSD rally into a laughing, shouting, brilliant team sport.

What the day actually feels like

DRIVEN 7.0 is a one-day, FMSCI-licensed rally. You flag off from Bengaluru in the morning with a route book, follow the course through the countryside, hit hidden checkpoints along the way, and are back the same night for a celebration and prize distribution. There is a full briefing before you roll, so you will know exactly what to do. Cars and bikes run in separate categories, and the whole thing feels less like a race and more like the best road trip of your year, with a scoreboard.

The one thing that actually wins it

Not speed, precision. Arrive at each checkpoint at exactly the right moment, not too early, not too late, and stay calm while your navigator keeps time. That is a skill you can learn in a single morning, which is exactly why women who have never raced anything routinely finish on the podium at DRIVEN.

Ready to do your first one?

DRIVEN 7.0 runs on 8 March 2027, International Women's Day, out of Bengaluru and back by night. Register your interest and we will send you route details, pricing and everything you need the moment entries open.

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