Roof of the world rally

The Roof of The World Rally is an adventurous charity rally that begins in London, United Kingdom, and finishes in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. There has also been additional launch sites on the European continent for continental teams, although the official launch is from London and is usually shared with the Mongolia Charity Rally. The Roof of the World Rally has been called arguably the most eccentric rally, due to its 'droll mission of promoting the drinking of tea across the globe'.

Vehicle rules for taking part are limited to taking Left Hand Drive vehicles if they are to be donated at the end of the Rally. There is no vehicle age limit or car model restrictions, although the Rally does offer some guidelines as to recommended vehicles. The Roof of the World Rally fits into the categories of banger rallies and charity rallies. These type events are vehicle rallies but participants are not allowed to race - as a legal requirement. There is also no on the road support. Teams are self-reliant. The purpose of the rally is for adventure, travel and also to promote positive cultural interactions, hence the extra element of tea.

The Roof of The World Rally is organised by Go Help, a UK registered charity run primarily by volunteers. Go Help runs Charity Rallies, which include the Mongolia Rally and the Roof of the World Rally.

Currently the Roof of the World Rally is one of only a handful of long distance endurance 'every-man' type rallies. Similar long distance rallies can include the Mongol Rally, Mongolia charity rally, London Tashkent, Africa Rally and the original Rally Plymouth-Banjul Challenge. The Africa-based rallies, usually running around December have relatively limited route choices and were hit hard in Dec 2009 due to the terrorism incidents in Mauritania. One of the strengths of the Roof of the World Rally is its appeal to potential participants of the Mongolia rallies. The large number of vehicles of dubious quality going to Mongolia has resulted in tighter import restrictions and this has meant that with an overlapping route the Roof of the World Rally is a clear alternative to the Mongolian destination rallies.

Since the Roof of the World Rally was created there have been at least two profit making European rallies that have chosen to use Tajikistan as the finishing point for new rally events.

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Wikipedia