Murmansk ChallengeEntry Fee: £150

The  Murmansk Challenge starts at the end of July each year and is open to all crap cars especially Metros, Maestros, Montegos, Marinas, Maxis, and other filth, including Commie Crap such as Ladas. We take the ferry to Calais and then any route to Kirkennes, some will go  via the Norwegian fjords and Nordkap while others can take a faster route across Sweden.  It will be a 2 week run or 3 weeks for a full on Arctic experience.

There is 24 hour daylight and can be very hot as it was in 2010 as this was the period of the Arctic heatwave. We cross into Russia and will explore the coastline in detail via derelict settlements and while 4WD is not required, some good towropes will be. The highlight will be the Rybachi peninsular which is not mentioned in any guidebook and this wilderness is far more wild than any parts of Finland. There are even WW2 remnants rusting away and the abandoned USSR Navy base of Novaya Titovka to explore. The roadbook covers this in detail.

Then to the surprisingly happening city of Murmansk followed by a 2 day drive to St Petersburg. Those on a 2 week journey will cross to Helsinki and fly home donating their Rovers to the Finnish Rover Owners Club. Otherwise a drive through the Baltic States via Tallin,Riga,Vilnius and so forth.

For your £150 fee for a team of 2(simply add £75 per extra person)you get
•Exclusive PDC 'road-book' including guidance notes,
•Entry and camping at the Launch Party in Devon in July
•Official PDC car stickers and entry numbers.
•Visas support for Russia including the all important personal invitation.
•Behind the scenes administration to try and smooth passage (no guarantees of success, however!)
•Behind the scenes international liaison with partners and coordinators that allow this event to take place.
•Web site listing and Publicity.
•Inclusion within the formal lists of Participants that are issued to the Officials of some of the countries en route.
If you do not need the Russian visa,no problem, just end in Helsinki or cross the Baltic to Tallin. Entry may be free if you ask nicely!

Entries are now open for 2012. For a report of last years trip,please see the article in Practical Classics on the NEWS part of this website. 

It is expected that the 2012 run will leave on July 20th 2012