Beginners Guide to Formula Offroad

Welcome to the world of extreme offroading

Jun 12, 2024

Formula offroad is a simple concept. The organization's official definition is, “Formula Offroad is a form of motorsport where drivers compete in precision driving through steep hills and extreme terrain like mud or water with 4WD vehicles.”

Formula Offroad began in Iceland. The first competition was held in Iceland on May 2, 1965, and was hosted by Bifreiðaklúbbur Reykjavíkur. At this competition, Egill Gunnar was named the first Formula Offroad winner. By January of 1985, Landssamband íslenzkra akstursíþróttamanna, aka L.Í.S was founded. The group recognized a need for more organization within the Formula Offroad championship. Together, they formalized a calendar, rules/regulations, a point-scoring system, and safety protocols.

(Formula Offroad at Egilsstadir August 2023. Source: MotoRRacing via x.com)

Present-day Rules and Regulations:

Within the organization, there are three different categories:

Street Legal Class: Vehicles that are street legal. How they are raced is typically how they would be seen on the road.
Modified Class: This class must resemble a real vehicle. Its cars typically have lower horsepower than those in the Unlimited Class. The main difference will be the tires.
Unlimited Class: Very limited rules/regulations to this category. The goal is to have the best offroading vehicle that meets safety regulations.

Although there are 3 categories, the Modified and Unlimited Class are typically the only two used.

Gates and Point Zones

There are 5-point zones

0-100
100-200
200-250
250-300
300-350

Each one of these zones is marked by markers, also known as gates.

Point System

Drivers earn points by driving through the point zones. For example, if they pass the 100-point gate, they will have 100 points. However, points can also be deducted for the following penalties:

Stops (but then continues) = -10 points
Touches the marker/gate with 1 wheel = -20 points
Touches the marker/gate with 2 wheels = -40 points
Touches the marker/gate with 3 wheels = -80 points
Reversing and then continuing = -40 points
Driving away more than 90 degrees from the line and gate = -40 points
Destroys truck unnecessary (unsportsmanlike) = -50 points

The maximum amount of points one can earn for one track is 350 points. The maximum amount of penalty points one can earn for one zone/gate is -80 points. The minimum amount of points a person will earn is 0.

(Image Source: Doug Hartmann via Pinterest)

In the picture above, you will see two parallel markers. These are the gates that mark the entrance/exit of a point zone.

Times Points Stop Being Counted

Starting before the signal is given
Rolling
Reversing/driving away in a single racing zone more than once
Touching/crossing an absolute outer line with more than 1 wheel.
Getting stuck or stopping for longer than 1 minute
Releasing seatbelt or helmet
Signaling to an official, effectively stopping the attempt.

Types of Tracks

Timed Track
Regular
Time Bonus Courses

Typically, during one competition, there are six or more different tracks that a driver will compete on. A timed track is about how fast a driver can get through it. There are fewer penalties, and the point zones remain the same. For a timed track, the maximum amount of time a driver can take is 3 minutes. If a driver takes longer than 3 minutes, their time will be stopped, and whatever point zone they’re in will be the points they will earn. Most of the tracks will be on the regular course. It will implement all the rules and regulations that I have described above. A time bonus course is a point bonus that gets awarded to the driver who does the regular track the fastest. A time bonus does not apply to every regular course; it is discretionary for the race organizers. It must be announced before the race and can only apply to one track out of six or more (but cannot be applied to the Timed Course).

Timed Track Points:

350 points = Fastest time/driver
1 point is deducted for every 1/10th off of the fastest driver

Time Bonus Points:

25 points = Fastest time/driver
15 points
10 points
6 points
3 points

(Old video showing Formula Offroad in Norway via X.com)

How Results are Determined

The driver with the most points in their class is the winner. If two or more drivers have the same score, the driver who has driven more tracks wins. If they have driven the same amount of tracks, race officials then look at the last track driven. Whoever scored more points on the last track wins; if it is yet again the same score, officials will look at the second-to-last race, and so on and so forth.

(Formula Offroad in Iceland 2020. Image Souce: Motovision TV France)

Cheyenne Apex Motorsports

Discussion about this post