Petra ChallengeEntry Fee: £150

The first  Petra run in Oct 2011 has just ended and despite negative reports on Syria, all teams had an experience of a lifetime and a good number of cars were left to Charity in Jordan while teams flew home on Easyjet.

For 2012 we should start on Sept 14th  and you will route via Romania to cross the epic Transfagarasan pass,then to Istanbul where there will be a rest day. Then on to Cappadocia for more free time before dropping down to the Levant. The only visa needed for EU residents is for Syria . Damascus will be a rest day before hitting the desert to see Palmyra. Petra is your final destination and Easyjet serve Sharm El Sheik and Tel Aviv.

Fuel will be your main cost but diesel is not a bonus as you pay a huge tax as you enter Syria. Lebanon will not let diesels enter their country but  most teams on the first run said the detour was not worth it.. We aim to donate cars in Jordan. Please note that cars cannot be left in Turkey under any circumstances. The temperature will be warm allowing camping most of the way,a useful money saver.

The day planner will look something like this. Day 1 evening launch party at a Formula 1 hotel in North France. Day 2 a hard day to Salzburg. Day 3 somewhere in Serbia or Romania(to avoid £80 Serbian transit fee) Day 4 Just into Turkey.Day 5 check into Istanbul hotel.Day 6 Istanbul. Day 7 Cappadocia/Nevsehir.Day 8 Cappadocia. Day 9 Cappadocia. Day 10 Final night in Turkey. Optional detour to Iraqi kurdistan and allow extra 3 days for this. Day 11 Baron Hotel Aleppo. Day 12 Late start for Hama/Homs. Day 13 Palmyra. Day 14 Baalbek and Crack De Chevallier Castle. Day 15 Damascus. Day 16 Amman. Day 17 Petra. Day 18 Petra.Day 19 Aqaba....or Jerusalem,take your pick. Er...thats it.

FOR THOSE WISHING TO DO THEIR OWN THING,WE CAN ARRANGE A FINISHING LINE IN TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTH CYPRUS OR IRAQI KURDISTAN.

For the £150 entry fee(per car,regardless of the number of people in it) you get:•One 'Dakar & Bust' DVD.
•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 countries en route.
•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.