Cross Country events are the best reason for getting your four-wheel-drive vehicle out of town and doing what it was designed for! They combine elements of both rallying and trials, depending on the type of contest entered.
Top of the pile in the UK is the Britpart MSA British Cross-Country Championship. This sees some fabulous machinery, much of which is heavily modified in the style of the famous Dakar Rally to cope with rough terrain.
But this is also a discipline that’s accessible to motorsport newcomers, with Trials (many of which are for road machinery), Competitive Safaris and Hillrallies. There are even Team Recovery contests, for those who want to work together to complete a course in the shortest possible time.
Where do the events take place?
In any place where the terrain is rough and challenging, or through mud or water!
How do the events work?
The top-level events consist of a laid-out cross country course up to 10 miles long, which is completed between 10 and 15 times. As with rallying, the winner is the competitor with the least time penalties.
The National Hillrally Championship, which consists of three rounds, is more like conventional rallying, with different stages linked together by road sections.
Trials, around 700 of which are organised in the UK each year, consist of courses, called sections, marked out by canes. The further you get through each section without stopping or hitting the canes, the lower the number of penalties you collect.
Competitive Safaris are for more specialised machinery. A ‘bogey’ time (called the Penalty Free Time Allowance) is set for a course of up to 15 miles, which is completed several times. Each competitor is given penalties for exceeding the PFTA.
Team Recovery events allow teams of vehicles to traverse the course by means of self-recovery or team effort. The winners are the team who complete it in the shortest time.
So how do I start?
Because what comes under the umbrella of cross country is pretty wide ranging, it’s best to check out each particular discipline to find out what suits your particular interest or finances. The All Wheel Drive Club gives information on Trials, Competitive Safaris, Team Recovery and Hillrallies. The Association of Land Rover Clubs is dedicated to cross country events for Land Rovers. You can also look for your local cross country club GO FIND CLUBS.
But what can I compete in?
Depending on the type of event, any four-wheel-drive vehicle, or machine designed to cope with rough terrain. Even the Britpart series allows ‘Clubman’ entries, for those on a lower budget, while Trials are especially good for those using their road transport: you can compete in Family Vehicle Trials or RTV (Road-Taxed Vehicle) Trials.
Often, courses will be marked out depending on the vehicles entered - so if it’s predominantly vehicles that are used on the road, they’ll be easier than those on which the ‘Specials’ compete.
Equipment Required
You can use anything from your own beloved family 4x4 to a heavily modified Cross Country Special.
For Trials, you won’t need any safety equipment (such as helmet or racesuit) but because they tend to take place over the winter months, warm and waterproof clothing is strongly recommended.
If you’re going to compete in the top-line Cross Country events, before buying a vehicle check with the MSA on current standards to see if any are going to be updated. You don’t want to find that all your new kit is no longer acceptable next season!
Here’s a guide to the costs:
There are reputable racewear shops in most areas of the country, and some at motorsport venues.
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This page was last modified on Sunday 20 July 2008