6 Awesome Car Rallies For Every Budget

Peking to Paris - £40,000+ per team

Back in 1907, a French newspaper asked if anyone dared prove that then-modern automobiles meant man could go anywhere by driving from Peking (Beijing) to Paris. About six months later five cars set off on the adventure with no assistance, across roads and countryside that had largely never been mapped. The winner arrived in Paris two months to the day after leaving, and received a bottle of champagne for their troubles.

Fast forward to 1997, and the event was resurrected, with the sixth classic car race now taking place this year. Entry is upwards of £40,000, and that’s not including the price of fuel, accommodation and supplies along the way. You’ll also have to buy a car if you don’t have one, but this is where the rally is really special. Cars have to be old - seriously old. The Vintageant category is for pre-1941 cars, while the Classics category accepts cars made between 1942 and 1975.

Gumball 3000 - £35,000 per team

It’s probably the most famous road rally in the world thanks to promoting outrageous behaviour from its star-studded entry list in its earlier days. As social media coverage increased, and after Gumball came under more scrutiny following a fatal crash involving a rally entrant, it’s worked to clean up its image - a bit.

You’ll still see huge crowds lining the route as expensive cars push the limits of legality, and the parties thrown at each checkpoint are an incredible insight into the lives of the rich and famous. Naturally, entry into this world doesn’t come cheap, but for your £35k you get a week like no other.

Modball Rally - £2500 per person

The Modball Rally is essentially a less expensive version of Gumball for modified cars. Entries are taken on a first come, first served basis, with the only prerequisite for cars being that they have at least two modifications. Entries this year include everything from an ABT-tuned Audi R8 V10 Plus to a Renaultsport Clio.

Mongol Rally - £650 per car

I participated in the Mongol Rally in 2013, and it was the most incredible experience. Travelling across Europe, through Russia and into central Asia exposes you to wildly different cultures and introduces you to friends you’ll keep for life.

To make things interesting, the rules state you must take a car that’s wholly inappropriate for the journey, so you’re supposed to take cars that are more than 10 years old with an engine under 1.0-litres. On top of that, there’s only a stated beginning and end, so you find your own route between the two taking as long as you like.

Including the price of entry, buying a car, paying for visas, and living costs during the trip, you won’t spend much over £2000. There aren’t many ways to better see the world for such a low price.

Much like Modball, Pure Rally takes the idea of Gumball and dilutes it into a package normal people can afford. There are events across the UK, Europe and America, with entry fees depending where you’re going.

You’ll be staying in four-star hotels with parties at each location, and an even wider array of cars taking part. This year there’s a Nurburgring road trip in October if you fancy braving the Eifel region late in the year!

Originally known as Scumball 3000, the Scumrun is near the very bottom of the budget rally ladder. Routes are kept secret until the actual event, and cars must have been purchased for less than £500. Participants also run with themes for their cars, often dressing up themselves to match it. There’s a great atmosphere at rallies like this, as all ego is taken out of the equation; everyone’s equal and there for a good laugh.