Off-road contests are actually seen in many different parts of the world and they are being organized in all continents of the world. Depending on the organizer of the contest, a particular contest may come in its own format.

Say for example, an organizer of an off-road contest may just want to prove the skills and excellence of the drivers when it comes to driving in different terrains and environmental conditions.

On the other hand, there are also organizers that mainly test the technical abilities of the cars and vehicles rather than the skills of the driver.

Or organizers can test both: the drivers’ skills and the participating cars’ technical abilities.
Of the many different types of off-road contests taking place all over the world, the Paris Dakar Rally proves to be one of the most popular. Even when this kind of contest is known as a rally, it is actually a contest that entails endurance.

This kind of competition was first introduced in 1978 wherein participants are required to drive a very long distance from Paris to Dakar. In the turn of 2008, this off-road competition was moved to the southern Americas.

Basing from the name, you can easily distinguish the true nature of this contest. Basically, you will come to know that off-road contests depict a certain type of race or competition which is to be joined by specially tuned or modified vehicles. These vehicles are modified well so that they will be able to undergo different types of terrains and various conditions of the natural environment.

Joining vehicles have to travel on roads covered with rocks, stones, sand, mud, and snow. The truth is that any kind of terrain can be used by off-road contest organizers as the environment in which the competitors will go driving into.

Basically, the more difficult the terrain becomes the more the skills of the motorists and the car manufacturers are being tested. This will prove to everyone which among the lineup of manufacturers proves to be the best one that can stand the different conditions of the terrains where the participants need to pass through.

As a matter of fact, cars are not the only ones which are allowed to join off-road contests but other types of vehicles as well. Some of the most common types of vehicles which participate in an off-road contest are single motorcycles, buggies, and even trucks.