When going to a car rally there’s a sense of excitement from viewers and participants. It’s the chance to be a part of an exhilarating event that keeps you invested from start to finish. Yet there’s more to a rally than seeing cars try to out pace each other. Some rallies can only be described as unconventional, and here are some of the weirdest from around the world.
Plymouth-Banjul Challenge
The Plymouth-Banjul Challenge follows the route of the Dakar Rally, though it’s not a race or competition. Participants start off in England and must head through Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia. Entrants need to be driving a car worth £100 and they are given no assistance even if they become stranded. The goal of the challenge is to finish the course and the car is then donated to charity.
Blind Man Car Rally
This unique rally is designed to spread awareness about the visually impaired and their capabilities. The Blind Man Rally takes place in India and involves a driver being guided by a blind navigator who uses a Braille route chart. The navigator gives step-by-step directions to the driver through a series of checkpoints.
Baja 1000
The Baja 1000 is an off-road race that takes place in the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico. Various types of vehicles are allowed to enter, ranging from motorbikes to custom racing cars. There’s a free for all element about the course that makes it fast-paced and not for the faint-hearted. There have even been reports of spectators setting up ‘boobytraps’ in the area in order to get the best video opportunities.
Rickshaw Challenge
The Rickshaw Challenge is more like a road trip than a rally, as it’s a form of adventure tourism. The challenge takes place in India and you’ll be driving an auto rickshaw through miles of gorgeous scenery. Each rickshaw fits up to three people, with one driver in the front and two passengers in the back.
Mongol Rally
The Mongol Rally is perhaps the most challenging in the world, as it covers 10,000 miles and takes roughly a month to complete. Described as ‘the greatest adventure in the world’ the rally starts in London and ends in Ulan Ude in Russia. The rules of the challenge amount to driving a rubbish car, having no outside support and teams needing to raise at least £1000 for charity. Based on this, the goal of the challenge is to finish.