FAQ
You know you want to do it. But first a few questions…
- Who is eligible to participate?
- How many people will be involved?
- When do you close registration?
- What if all the spots are taken?
- Is it safe?
- How do I get to the starting line?
- What if I break down on the way?
- What do I do with my vehicle in Armenia?
- Where are we going to sleep?
- What vehicle papers will I need?
- Will I need Visas?
- What about the terrain?
- Can I make it with a 2WD vehicle?
- What kind of weather can I expect?
- How about health issues and vaccinations?
- What maps and navigation techniques do you recommend?
- Can we get our own sponsors?
Who is eligible to participate?
Anyone over 18 years of age with a valid driver’s license for the type of vehicle you’ll be using. Technically you should also be of sound mind and body… but that’s covered in the terms and conditions you sign before the start. top
How many people will be involved?
Maximum 100 teams can register. Thanks to our liberal definition of a team (1 to 4 people), that number can vary but we expect about 100 participants. top
When do you close registration?
When the 100th team has registered or August 15, 2008. We’d like to point out that the earlier you register the more cash you save for things like petrol and accommodations. top
What if all the spots are taken?
Now might be a good time to learn about common bribery practices… top
Is it safe?
Um, sort of. The more you obey the rules listen to advice and practice common sense; you’ll probably do just fine. But it’s not guaranteed, you won’t have a support or rescue team nudging you on plus you’ll be in extremely remote areas. This is real adventure. Read more about the threats and dangers. top
How do I get to the starting line?
That depends on where you come from. UK residents and those living in Europe can easily drive. It’s a lovely two-day journey from London to Budapest. Or you can fly in while arranging to have your vehicle shipped here, or pick one up locally. For more information on finding a vehicle in Budapest please contact us. top
What if I break down on the way?
We could say bad luck but it's rather good luck. You have a wonderful opportunity to test your sense to find a mechanic in the middle of the night pretty far from the next village, test your team mate's nerves and learn name of car parts in local languages. top
What do I do with my vehicle in Armenia?
You can turn around and drive home, sell the car and fly back or arrange to have it shipped back by a professional service or you can give it away for charity. All these options are your responsibility but we can help guide you with information about the average going rates for your type of vehicle in Yerevan. top
Where are we going to sleep?
If you prefer luxury accommodations we’ll do what we can to point you towards the nearest approximation. Sleeping accommodations are the responsibility of the participants, except for the last night in Yerevan. We give you a tailor-made road book, in advance, that lists a variety of local accommodations for each night. Each night a designated hotel becomes the Caucasian Challenge base camp. This is the place where you'll find the organizers, parties and a friendly place to hang out or get help. Most participants will spend 50% of the race in campsites or in the middle of nowhere under the stars. Otherwise an easy way to save money is to sleep in your car. top
What vehicle papers will I need?
The same standard papers required elsewhere: car insurance, registration, etc. We will notify you in advance if there are any special paper requirements. top
Will I need Visas?
Depending on your passport you will likely need a number of visas. The good news is that most are pretty easy to get and we’ve put together a table of all the information needed for the most common nationalities. If you’re from a country not covered, we can point you in a general direction but can’t assist you with the actual process. top
What about the terrain?
Covering 11 countries almost never seen by western eyes, you’ll marvel at the infrequent modern roadways in between the dirt, gravel and moon-like surfaces. You'll experience all kinds of roads to test your vehicle and yourself. From big flat dirty plains to incredibly steep mountain passes you get what you deserve. top
Having a fancy car won’t necessarily be an advantage as all participants must obey local laws and the emphasis in the racing category is on solving difficult geo-caching challenges at the checkpoints.
Can I make it with a 2WD vehicle?
Sure you can make it. There are some charming challenging roads specially for 4WD cars but we will always mark these sections in the road book and suggest alternative routes. top
What kind of weather can I expect?
Difficult to answer. It can be chilly and rainy in late August in Hungary as well as deadly 45 degrees. As we travel south we cross mountains right away where can be cold at night. Then In Turkey you have a good chance to sweat like hell again... then high mountain passes... then subtropical zone... then high altitude again with snow covered mountains for the change. There is no good answer for that. Expect everything between boiling hell and close-to-freeze temperatures. More info will come about the specific regions in the road book. top
How about health issues and vaccinations?
You have a pretty small chance to get the plague on the way but be well prepared. Our medical team is preparing a document for you right now covering all the issues and possible health related problems during this trip. We will publish that soon. top
What maps and navigation techniques do you recommend?
When you register we give you a series of maps and before starting out provide online maps for special areas. The really exciting part comes when resources are outdated, inaccurate or there are no maps at all. For this we set navigation waypoints according to GPS and recommend that you have a GPS device that you are comfortable with. The official Road Book also provides a list of recommended GPS models. top
Can we get our own sponsors?
All participants are required to have official Caucasian Challenge sponsor stickers on their racing vehicle. However some teams like to offset the cost of the Challenge or increase their charity donations by finding their own team sponsors. Go for it!
