The 4 x 4 Challenge from Dec. 15

The 4 x 4 Challenge 2005 jointly organised by the Four Wheel Drive Club of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Association for Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR) will take place in Habarana. The event will be flagged off from Colombo on December 15 and wade through trails from 16th and 17th. The prize-giving will be held in Habarana on December 18.

Named, 'Those who dare', the challenge will be worked out in three stages - testing the drivers' knowledge of navigation, trekking and camping skills.

Environmental rules will take the centre stage in this year's 4 x 4 challenge and the competitors who break these rules will see immediate disqualification from the competition.

Any working 4 x 4 jeep, SUV class vehicles can take part in the event provided that those vehicles are equipped with winches, raised air intakes (snorkel) and other off roading equipment while 4 x 4 cars, 4 x 4 vans, 4 x 4 commercial vehicles and farm vehicles will not be allowed in the challenge.

As the name suggests, the 4 x 4 challenge will test the competitors and their machines to the extremes.

There will be three tasks given to the Drivers/Co-drivers before the vehicles are flaged off on December 15. Each will test their skills, fitness and vehicle capability. These tasks will be timed and the overall individual timings will determine the running order of the competitors. In the navigation stage no rally competitors are allowed.

Likewise no GPSs are allowed for the trekking stage.