Rally raid is a type of off-road motorsport event competed with different types of vehicles. Along with shorter baja rallies, rally raid constitutes cross-country rallying. Both the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) co-organise a common World Rally-Raid Championship featuring the same events and types of vehicles.
The length of a rally raid can be as short as 2–3 days to as long as 15 days with marathon rally raids like the Dakar Rally. With skill in navigation being key, the driving skill and endurance of riders, drivers, co-drivers, and machines are put to the test. The total distance covered can be between 600 km to over 5,000 km with terrain ranging from sandy dunes, forest roads, mountain roads, and dry river beds; among others.
Origin
The Peking–Paris of 1907 was the first long distance rally raid, the French term of "raid" for an expedition or collective endeavour whose promoters, the newspaper "Le Matin", rather optimistically expected participants to help each other; it was 'won' by Prince Scipione Borghese, Luigi Barzini, and Ettore Guizzardi in an Itala.Andrews, Allen. The Mad Motorists: The Great Peking–Paris Race of '07 (Harrap, 1964), p.16.
Characteristics
Rally raid Well known rally raids include the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Rallye du Maroc which are included in the world championships. Others include the TransAnatolia Rally Raid, Hellas Rally Raid, and Dinaric Rally Raid.
National cross-country rally championships are held in Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Brazil and South Africa, among others.
Marathon rally raid The most well known marathon rally raid is the Dakar Rally, which can last from 10 to 15 days. Other prominent marathon rallies include the Africa Eco Race, Rally dos Sertões and Silk Way Rally. For amateurs the Budapest-Bamako has been considered the world's largest amateur rally raid spanning two continents and 9,000 km.Race Dezert http://www.race-dezert.com/home/the-trans-saharan-budapest-bamako-rally-49536.html
The first African rally raid run was the Côte-Côte Rally, first held in December 1976.
Navigation Navigation is primarily accomplished using a paper or digital roadbook in conjunction with a digital odometer to measure distance. The use of GPS or GPS-enabled devices, in contrast with desert racing, is not allowed. Competitors have no knowledge of the course until they receive the roadbook and any sort of pre-running is prohibited; which highlights the adventure aspect of rally raid. This is in stark contrast to rallying and desert racing where pre-running or reconnaissance is required or recommended for optimal performance on the course. The roadbook that is used is not as precise as the pacenotes used in stage rally, making navigation just as important as the driving. Bike and quad riders also have to navigate on their own while riding their vehicle; making concentration key during a rally raid event.
Vehicles and classes Rally raid is made of various different categories and classes of vehicles. Regulations from the ASO, FIA, and FIM define the rules for each category.
Moto class The Moto class is divided between three groups: RallyGP, Rally2, and Rally3. RallyGP is the top moto class with riders and manufacturers eligible for the World Championship in FIM rankings. This class is only open to the most experienced competitors while Rally2 is available to any rider not considered RallyGP. Rally3 is for moto-enduro machines adapted for rally use. All three have a maximum capacity of 450cc. Rally2 and Rally3 are given World Cup status in the FIM-rankings.
Popular motorcycles include those made by KTM, Gas Gas, Honda and Husqvarna because many of their bikes have finished in top positions. BMW motorcycles, Yamaha and Triumph have also been successful in the Dakar.
Quad class The class for quads was originally a sub-class for the larger moto-class, but has been given more prominence in recent years. The class also has World Cup status within the FIM.
Car class—T1 and T2
The car class is made up of vehicles weighing less than and subdivided into several categories. The T1 Group is made up of Prototype Cross-Country Cars and is subdivided into four primary categories: T1.U, T1.1, T1.2, and T1.3. T1.U (T1 Ultimate) is a recent category built exclusively for vehicles running on renewable energies; such as the Audi RS Q e-tron. T1.1 (4x4) and T1.2 (4x2) are open to vehicles running on petrol and diesel fuels; including the Mini John Cooper Works Buggy, Toyota Hilux, and Peugeot 3008 DKR. Subclass T1.3 is open to vehicles conforming to SCORE regulations. This includes the Hummer H3 buggy and various other buggies.
The T2 category is open to Series Production Cross-Country Cars; primarily the Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol.
Other prominent examples in the Car Class included the Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero, the Volkswagen Race Touareg, the Bowler Wildcat 200, the Mini All4 Racing and the Nissan Navara.
T3 (Challenger) and T4 (SSV)
While originally a sub-class under the car category and later a combined class; the T3 and T4 classes have been recently separated into their own respective categories.
The T3 (Challenger) class is officially described as Lightweight Prototype Cross-Country Vehicles, and can include purpose-built machines such as the Red Bull OT3 and PH-Sport Zephyr while also allowing modified variations of vehicles built and sold by Polaris, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Can-Am. The T4 (SSV) category is for Modified Production Cross-Country Side-by-Side (SSV) vehicles; such as those built by Polaris and Can-Am, but built closer to production standards.
Both categories must weigh no more than 3500 kg and are eligible for their own respective FIA World Cups.
Truck class—T5
The Truck class, also known as "Camions" or "Lorries", is made up of vehicles weighing more than . While originally designated as Group T4; they have recently been solely given the T5 category with the T4 group now referring to Side by Side (UTV) vehicles.
Made up of both Prototype and Production Cross-Country Trucks; the class has been dominated by trucks built by Russian manufacturer Kamaz. Other competitors include Iveco, Hino, MAZ, Tatra, LIAZ, Mercedes-Benz Unimog, Renault Kerax, and various others. A FIA World Cup is awarded to drivers and co-drivers in this class.
Notable events
+ Notable current rally raid and cross-country rally events Event Country / region Established Type Dakar Rally 1978 Marathon rally raid Africa Eco Race –– 2009 Marathon rally raid Silk Way Rally / Central Asia 2009 Marathon rally raid Budapest–Bamako Europe–Africa 2005 Amateur rally raid Rally dos Sertões 1993 Rally raid Desafío Ruta 40 2010 Rally raid South African Safari Rally 2025 Rally raid BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal / 2024 Rally raid Rallye du Maroc 1982 Rally raid Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 1991 Rally raid Morocco Desert Challenge 2008 Rally raid TransAnatolia Rally 2010 Rally raid Hellas Rally 2014 Rally raid Dinaric Rally / Balkans 2021 Rally raid Hispania Rally Rally raid Iberian Rally / Rally raid Sardegna Rally Raid Rally raid Rallye Breslau 1995 Cross-country rally Fenek Rally Rally raid Bosnia Rally Rally raid Monterra Adventure Raid Adventure rally raid Illyria Raid Balkans Adventure rally raid Albania Raid Rally raid Sunraysia Safari Cross-country rally Sandalion Rally Rally raid 1000 Dunas / Rally raid L'Oasis L'Original Rally Rally raid Fenix Rally Rally raid Addax Rally Rally raid Morocc'n Roll Rally Raid Rally raid Sandraiders Tunisia Rally raid Ouzina Challenge Rally raid Tuareg Rallye 2006 Rally raid Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles 1990 Navigation rally Rallye Roses des Sables Navigation rally Trans Italia Marathon Rally raid Sonora Rally 2015 Rally raid Baja Rally Baja rally Cataviña Rallye Baja rally Qatar International Baja Baja Dubai International Baja Baja Saudi Baja Baja Jordan Baja Baja Baja Greece Baja Italian Baja 1993 Baja Baja España Aragón 1983 Baja Baja TT Cuenca Baja Baja Poland 2009 Baja Baja TT Sharish Reguengos Mourão Baja HunGarian Baja 2006 Baja Baja de Portalegre 500 1987 Baja Rimba Raid 1989 Cross-country rally Rebelle Rally 2016 Navigation rally Rally Adventure Georgia Cross-country rally Udabno Rally Cross-country rally Swank Rally di Sardegna Motorcycle rally raid Sardegna Legend Rally Motorcycle rally raid XTREM 300 Rally raid Delta Adrenaline Rally Raid Rally raid RSB Rally Raid Trophy 2026 National rally raid Baja Borsec 2026 National rally raid Baja Satu Mare 2026 National rally raid Baja Șagu 2026 National rally raid Baja Dacus National rally raid Delta Rally Raid 2026 National rally raid Kalahari/Sarona 1000 1975 Marathon rally raid
References