Jeep trial: more than a race

Jeep trial is a race, in which drivers are to cover a route with natural or artificially constructed obstacles. The routes are located in natural environments, in rough terrain. They are divided into several areas. The goal of each driver is to cover the distance within predetermined periods. Participants have to cross all the gates without losing any points. What peculiarities does jeep trial have and why is it so popular?

Classes

All vehicles that can be used for covering the distance are divided into five categories. What are they?

• This is the basic category, in which almost any vehicle can take part. The minimal size of the tires must stay within 824*275 mm limit. The greatest depth of the protector should not exceed 16 mm. Modification of the car is strictly prohibited.
• In this category, the vehicles can be modified a little bit. The body can be lifted up to 50 mm. The suspension can be modified as well. The tires can be up to 900*320 mm, with the width of the protector reaching 20 mm.
• The vehicles can be changed a lot, although some restrictions are present.
• The vehicles are completely changed. The only restriction is that it is not allowed to install a manageable rear axle.
• The vehicles are usually constructed on the base of existing models. The rear axle can be controlled by the driver, which makes it possible to perform various stunts and maneuvers.

Races

As it was mentioned previously, the races take place in natural environment. They are divided into several areas with the help of the gates. The number of them is up to five. All of them are marked with the numbers and are placed in a row. Each driver must cover the distance and pass through all the gates. The time they have for the race is predetermined and is usually not more than five minutes.

The sections of the track can be completely different. They can be covered with stones, limestone, wet clay or sand. Judging by the material covering the route, drivers choose their tactic and decide on how to cover a particular area. Drivers must feel their vehicle and be professionals.

Five minutes of being in the section are not too much, which is why it is crucial for each driver to perform at the top of his abilities. There is no time for making mistakes. According to the rules, it is not allowed to unstrap the seat belt or stop the car; otherwise, the race will be over. To pass through the gates, it is necessary to perform various maneuvers.

Principles

All competitions must fulfill the requirements, and drivers must follow the rules. For example, it is necessary to pass through the gates with their number on the left. The main principle is covering the distance as fast as possible without any mistakes. Each mistake leads to getting penalty points. Their amount can affect the results of the race. Drivers must follow the following rules:

• One can pass through the gates when moving forwards.
• If there are gates for different classes of vehicles, it is possible to pass though the gate that corresponds with the type of the vehicle one is driving.
• If the distance is not covered in time, the race will be considered incomplete.
• The time count starts the moment the vehicle crosses the starting line and finishes as soon as the finish line is crossed.
• It is not allowed to avoid passing through the gates.

The car

Drivers can participate in the competitions after turning 18. Usually there are two drivers in the car. It is important to place their names on the sides of the car. If both pilots are going to drive the car, it is necessary to make sure that each of them can be identified from the distance, otherwise they might be fined.

All cars have their own starting numbers that consists of three figures. The first number is determined by the type of the car the pilot is driving. Each category of jeep has its own color-coded number. Some competitions require placing advertisement on the sides of the car.

Competitions

Tournaments start after a toss that determines the start-up sequence. It means that the second round starts in the opposite order. If a driver is the first to start the race, next time he will be the last. If a vehicle does not cross the starting line in time, it will be excluded from the competition. While covering the distance, the driver cannot unstrap his seat belt, take off his helmet or open the doors.

To make sure that the judging system is fair, the judges must stay on both sides of the track and move in parallel with the competing vehicle. All penalty points received by the driver are summed in the end of the race. If a driver does not agree with the penalty points, he can write a report to the organizers of the competition. He who scores the least number of penalty points becomes the winner.

Since these competitions put drivers’ health at risk, some safety rules must be followed. For example, the track must be surrounded so that spectators cannot get there. There must be two or more fire extinguishers near the start and the finish. To prevent themselves from being injured, they must be wearing helmets. There should be at least one ambulance team for emergency cases.

As you can see, jeep trial is a sport for fearless drivers who are ready to put themselves at risk to win the competition. This discipline fascinates many people from all over the world.