The edition would see many firsts, like thirteen novice riders, a woman participant - Loretta Mathew D'lomen - and a team entry from TVS Racing from Bangalore to be represented by former dirt track national champions - Pramod Joshua and R Nataraj.
The other team participating is 9T9 Racing team which will be represented by Pinkesh Thakker while Shamim Khan, riding a Mahindra Rodeo, is supported by Mahindra and Mahindra.
After the rally starts from Our Lady's Home in Parel at 8 am, the riders will proceed along Vikhroli to Navi Mumbai for a 25-km competitive sector, the main challenge, as some tracts are gravel-laden, slushy and water-logged following a vigorous monsoon.
While the main contenders are 2009/2012 winner Rustom Patel, Manjeet Bassan, Avtar Singh and Shamim Khan, a new champion could emerge from among the entries from Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Kholapur, Hyderabad, Indore and Bhopal.
27-year-old Bassan is looking for his fifth crown in the event, having won it in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2008, while the 31-year-old Khan, who hails from Nashik, has his eyes set on his fourth title, following victories in 2003, 2004, 2010.