Baja (cross-country rally)

For off-road automobile racing events including Baja 1000, Baja 500 and Baja 400 organised with no affiliation to international motorsport governing bodies, see SCORE International.

Nani Roma competing in Baja Aragón 2009

A Baja is an off-road motorsport event conducted by both automobiles and motorcycles. The international governing body for automobile sport, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), define baja as a type of cross-country rally shorter than the similar rally raid. In motorcycle sport, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) define baja as a form of off-road racing, meanwhile only rally raid is a form of cross-country rally.

Automobile baja

Unlike rally raids, which have origins in cross-continental expeditions organised by Europeans, bajas have origins in the off-road races held in the Baja California region of Mexico. These were first organised in the 1960s by National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA), and later SCORE International, both organisations based in the United States. These races held on open terrain do not align with the FIA's vision of motorsport, however since 2010, NORRA has been organising cross-country rally events within the FIA regulations, by using rally itineraries with competitive sections and liaisons.

The route of a typical baja has a competitive length of 200 to 600 kilometres and the event can last from one to four days. Whereas as a marathon rally raid was historically a point-to-point event, bajas are more likely to be a loop.

The Baja Aragón is an example of a cross-country baja with the Baja Russia Northern Forest taking place entirely in snow.

The FIA organise the World Baja Cup, European Baja Cup and Middle East Baja Cup. The regulations are similar to the FIA Rally Raid cups and championships, however Group T5 trucks cannot score in the FIA baja cups.

Vehicles

Similar to in rally raid, FIA baja cups permit vehicles from Groups T1 to T4, however individual events may permit more categories of vehicles, such as dune buggies, all terrain vehicles etc. Group T5 trucks that historically serviced other competing vehicles on marathon rally raids are not permitted.

Cars

Main articles: Group T1 and Group T2

Bowler Wildcat rally-raid vehicle

Cars are vehicles weighing less than 3,500 kg (7,716 lb) and subdivided into several classes. Group T1 is made up of Prototype Cross-Country Cars and is subdivided into four primary classes: T1.U, T1.1, T1.2, and T1.3. T1.U (T1 Ultimate) is a recent category built exclusively for vehicles running on renewable energies; such as the Audi RS Q e-tron. T1.1 (4x4) and T1.2 (4x2) are open to vehicles running on petrol and diesel fuels; including the Mini John Cooper Works Buggy, Toyota Hilux, and Peugeot 3008 DKR. Subclass T1.3 is open to vehicles conforming to SCORE regulations. This includes the Hummer H3 buggy and various other buggies.

Group T2 is open to Series Production Cross-Country Cars; primarily the Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol.

Other prominent examples in the Car Class included the Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero, the Volkswagen Race Touareg, the Bowler Wildcat 200, the Mini All4 Racing and the Nissan Navara.

Lightweight and SSV

Main articles: Group T3 and Group T4

While originally a sub-class under the car category and later a combined class; the T3 and T4 classes have been recently separated into their own respective categories.

Group T3 vehicles are officially described as Lightweight Prototype Cross-Country Vehicles and can include purpose-built machines such as the Red Bull OT3 and PH-Sport Zephyr while also allowing modified variations of vehicles built and sold by Polaris, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Can-Am. Group T4 is for Modified Production Cross-Country Side-by-Side (SSV) vehicles; such as those built by Polaris and Can-Am, but built closer to production standards.

Both categories must weigh no more than 3500 kg and are eligible for their own respective FIA World Cups.