The first national car rally of the year will be run next weekend at the scenic and exotic Karnataka town of

Chikmagalur on the Western Ghats, with top drivers like Naren Kumar, Leela Krishnan and Arjun Bala fighting it out for honours.

The four-wheeler category rally, the title sponsor of which is 'Coffee Day', is one of the nine certified calendar events of the Motorsports Association of India.

Top drivers, including Karandeep Singh, Vikram Mathais and Jibby Malakal, will be seen in action in the two-day Coffee Day Championship, which will be flagged off on May 24.

The 330-km rally, organised by the Motorsports Club of Chikmagalur, will be run over 10 laps, spread over two days, along two tracks on the coffee estates.

As many as 22 teams have confirmed participation.