6th Montenegro Challenge

Article 1 – Subject of the Regulations

These Regulations govern the conditions for participation, competition classes, technical

requirements for vehicles, the manner in which the competition is conducted, the rights and

obligations of participants, scoring, disciplinary measures, the appeals procedure, as well as other

matters of importance for the organisation and running of the Montenegro Challenge competition.

Article 2 – Definitions of Terms

For the purposes of these Regulations, the following terms have the meanings set out below:

1. 2. Crew – the driver and co-driver entered to take part in the competition.

Stage – a part of the competition consisting of one or more competitive sections determined

by the organiser.

3. Roadbook – the official route book prepared by the organiser containing the route, the

sequence of instructions, direction of travel, checkpoints, time controls and other information

necessary for the conduct of the competition.

4. Special Stage (SS) – a competitive section on which the result is determined by time

measurement.

5. Checker – an official of the organiser (marshal) who records the passage of a crew at a

control point by stamping the time card or by any other method determined by the organiser.

6. Time Control (TC) – the finish of a stage or the finish of a competition day at which the arrival

time of the crew is recorded.

7. Bivouac – the area designated by the organiser for the accommodation of vehicles, crews and

service teams during the competition.

8. Service Zone – the area designated by the organiser in which vehicle servicing is permitted.

9. DNF (Did Not Finish) – designation for a crew that did not finish the stage.

10. DNS (Did Not Start) – designation for a crew that did not start the stage.

11. Stewards’ Panel – the body appointed by the organiser that decides on the application of

these Regulations, disciplinary measures, protests and any other matters not regulated by

these Regulations.

12. Supplementary Regulations – the specific rules published by the organiser for each edition

of the competition that further regulate matters not covered in detail by these Regulations.

Article 3 – Conditions for Participation

1. 2. 3. Only persons of legal age (having reached 18 years) may take part in the competition.

The driver must hold a valid driving licence of the appropriate category for the vehicle he/she

is driving.

The crew is obliged to complete the entry formalities and pay the entry fee in accordance with

the Supplementary Regulations of the competition before the start of the event.

Technical Requirements for Vehicles

Only vehicles that meet the requirements prescribed by these Regulations may take part in the

competition.

Administrative and Technical Scrutineering

1. All crews and vehicles must undergo administrative and technical scrutineering before the start

of the competition.

2. 3. 4. 5. Administrative scrutineering comprises the examination of the entry documentation.

Technical scrutineering comprises the inspection of the vehicle and the mandatory equipment

prescribed by these Regulations.

All mandatory equipment must be prepared for inspection before the start of technical

scrutineering.

Vehicles that do not meet the prescribed technical requirements will not be granted permission

to start.

Vehicles are classified into two classes:

• Adventure

• Challenge

Adventure Class

The vehicle must meet the following requirements:

1. A protective roll cage with a minimum of four mounting points is mandatory. The roll cage must

be firmly attached to the chassis or bodywork and constructed in such a way as to provide

protection for the crew in the event of a rollover. The cage must have at least one main hoop

behind the crew seats with a brace, two rear stays, and a minimum of four points firmly

secured to the vehicle.

2. The vehicle must retain the basic structure of the factory chassis. Vehicles that do not have at

least 50% of the original factory chassis are not permitted to compete in the Adventure class.

3. 4. 5. Portal axles are not permitted.

The maximum tyre diameter is 90 cm.

A front winch is mandatory (any type of electric winch is allowed) with a minimum rope or

cable length of 30 m.

6. The vehicle must be equipped with appropriate lighting for night stages.

7. Tyre chains are not permitted.

8. A tree-saver strap is mandatory.

9. A recovery strap with a minimum length of 9 m is mandatory.

10. Front and rear recovery points (hooks) are mandatory.

11. A first-aid kit is mandatory.

12. A fire extinguisher with a minimum mass of 2 kg, or two extinguishers of 1 kg each, with a valid

inspection certificate, is mandatory.

13. Safety harnesses with a minimum of three attachment points are mandatory.

14. The driver and co-driver must wear protective helmets.

15. The vehicle must not have any oil or other fluid leaks.

16. Anchors and auxiliary recovery equipment are permitted.

17. A tripmaster is mandatory.

Challenge Class

1. A protective roll cage with a minimum of six mounting points is mandatory. The roll cage must

be firmly attached to the chassis or bodywork and constructed in such a way as to provide

protection for the crew in the event of a rollover. The cage must have at least one main hoop

behind the crew seats with a brace, one front hoop or two front A-pillars, two rear stays, at

least one diagonal or cross brace of the main hoop, and a minimum of six points of firm

attachment to the vehicle.

2. Portal axles are permitted.

3. 4. Tyre dimensions are not restricted.

A front winch is mandatory (any type is allowed) with a minimum rope or cable length of 30 m

(plus additional recovery straps).

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. The vehicle must be equipped with appropriate lighting for night stages.

Tyre chains are not permitted.

A tree-saver strap is mandatory.

A recovery strap with a minimum length of 9 m is mandatory.

Front and rear recovery points (hooks) are mandatory.

10. A first-aid kit in accordance with the applicable standards is mandatory.

11. A fire extinguisher with a minimum mass of 2 kg, or two extinguishers of 1 kg each, with a valid

inspection certificate, is mandatory.

12. Safety harnesses with a minimum of four attachment points are mandatory.

13. The driver and co-driver must wear protective helmets.

14. The vehicle must not have any oil or other fluid leaks.

15. Anchors and auxiliary recovery equipment are permitted.

16. A tripmaster is mandatory.

Before the start of administrative and technical scrutineering, all mandatory equipment must be

prepared for inspection. Vehicles that do not meet the minimum technical requirements prescribed

by these Regulations will not be approved for participation in the competition.

Article 4 – Conduct of the Competition

1. 2. The competition consists of roadbook stages and special stages.

The starting order is determined by the organiser in accordance with the Supplementary

Regulations of the competition. A crew that fails to appear at the start at the designated time

loses the right to start in its allocated slot; the organiser may authorise a later start.

3. Crews start at time intervals determined by the organiser.

4. Every crew is obliged to report at all controls at the prescribed time.

5. During the competition, assistance is permitted only from another active competing crew.

6. Assistance from spectators, support teams or any other persons is not permitted.

7. During driving, the driver and co-driver must wear safety harnesses and protective helmets.

8. The vehicle must not tow a winch, cable, strap or any other equipment while driving.

9. The winch cable must be properly rewound at the start of the stage.

10. Start and finish are recognised only if both the driver and the co-driver are inside the vehicle.

11. Each stage has a prescribed maximum time and control points that the crew is obliged to

pass.

12. A missed control point is penalised in accordance with these Regulations.

13. A crew may re-drive the stage in order to record a missed control point or accept the

prescribed penalty.

14. The organiser may interrupt a stage if the safety of participants is endangered.

Article 5 – Special Provisions

1. The organiser shall ensure the recovery of a damaged vehicle to the nearest accessible public

road after the end of the stage.

2. 3. 4. Every crew competes under its own insurance.

During a stage, only equipment declared before the start is permitted.

A breakdown that cannot be repaired by the crew or by another active crew is considered

retirement from the stage (DNF).

5. 6. 7. Assistance by a service team on the course is not permitted.

Vehicle servicing is permitted only in the service zone or after the end of the stage.

The crew is obliged to remove a damaged vehicle from the route in order to allow free

passage for other competitors.

8. A crew that blocks the route without justified reason may be penalised or excluded from the

stage.

9. A crew is obliged to assist another crew when necessary to clear the route.

10. Assistance from spectators, support teams or any other persons who are not active

competitors is prohibited.

11. The crew that receives unauthorised assistance is responsible for it.

12. A protest may be lodged only by a competitor, upon payment of the prescribed deposit.

13. An incorrect start is penalised by a penalty determined by the Stewards’ Panel.

14. A spare vehicle may be used only if it has been previously declared to the organiser and has

passed technical scrutineering.

15. Replacement of the driver and co-driver is permitted during the competition, unless otherwise

stipulated in the Supplementary Regulations.

16. During the official part of the competition, the use of alcohol and intoxicating substances is

prohibited.

17. Advertising on the vehicle is permitted provided it does not cover registration plates,

competition numbers, official organiser stickers or impair the driver’s visibility.

18. Crews are obliged to display the official organiser stickers on the vehicle in the manner

determined by the organiser.

19. During the official part of the competition, only the driver and co-driver may be present in the

vehicle.

20. A crew that fails to finish a stage due to a technical failure or other justified reason is recorded

as DNF (Did Not Finish).

21. A crew that fails to start a stage is recorded as DNS (Did Not Start).

Article 6 – Traffic Rules

1. 2. 3. 4. All crews are obliged to comply with the applicable traffic regulations while driving on public

roads.

Participants are particularly obliged to observe speed limits, traffic signs and any special

instructions of the organiser given in the roadbook.

Violation of traffic regulations or of the organiser’s instructions is penalised in accordance with

these Regulations.

The provisions of this Article do not apply to special stages and other sections closed to public

traffic.

Article 7 – Disciplinary Measures and Penalties

Any breach of the provisions of these Regulations, the Supplementary Regulations of the

competition or the organiser’s instructions may be sanctioned in accordance with these

Regulations.

Disciplinary measures may be imposed for:

1. Failure to comply with the provisions of these Regulations or the Supplementary Regulations

of the competition.

2. Unsporting or inappropriate behaviour towards other participants, officials, the organiser or the

public.

3. Deliberate moving, removal or damage of route markers, stakes, tapes or any other signalling

placed by the organiser.

4. 5. 6. Obstructing or preventing overtaking by another crew.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating substances.

Providing false information or attempting to deceive regarding the technical condition of the

vehicle or fulfilment of the entry requirements.

7. 8. 9. Failure to use the prescribed safety equipment during the competition.

Failure to display the mandatory competition numbers or official organiser stickers.

Leaving the marked route with all four wheels on a special stage is penalised with the

maximum time for that special stage.

10. Failure to maintain the service area in accordance with the organiser’s rules, including spilling

oil, fuel or other fluids outside the protective ground sheet provided for vehicle servicing.

11. Dangerous or inappropriate driving in the bivouac, service zone or other areas under the

control of the organiser.

12. Dangerous behaviour by crew members or other persons associated with the crew that

endangers the safety of participants, officials or the public.

13. Failure to comply with the decisions, orders or instructions of officials and the organiser.

14. Any other act that impairs the regularity, safety or reputation of the competition.

Specific Offences

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. After the end of a special stage, the driver and co-driver must not continue driving until both

are correctly secured by their safety harnesses and both have their helmets on. An official has

the right to hold the crew at the start or exit of the special stage until satisfied that all safety

requirements have been met.

All work on the vehicle in the service zone must be carried out exclusively on a protective

ground sheet that prevents oil, fuel and other fluids from spilling into the environment.

Dangerous or inappropriate driving in the bivouac (the camp of all vehicles) constitutes a

serious offence.

Pushing, standing or riding by crew members or other persons on the exterior of the vehicle

during the competition is prohibited.

A crew whose vehicle does not meet the prescribed technical requirements or which refuses

technical inspection without justified reason will not be allowed to continue the competition.

Disqualification from one stage does not automatically mean exclusion from the entire

competition, unless the Stewards’ Panel decides otherwise due to the severity of the offence.

Every crew is obliged to keep the service area clean and to dispose of all waste, used parts,

packaging and fluids at the locations designated by the organiser. Failure to comply with this

obligation constitutes a disciplinary offence.

Penalties

The following penalties may be imposed for committed offences:

• warning;

• time penalty;

• cancellation of the stage result;

• disqualification from the stage;

• exclusion from the competition.

Article 8 – Scoring and Classification

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Article 8.1 – The classification on each stage is determined on the basis of the total time

achieved, increased by all time penalties imposed in accordance with these Regulations.

Article 8.2 – The overall classification of the competition is determined by the sum of the times

achieved on all stages and all time penalties imposed.

Article 8.3 – The winner in each class is the crew that achieves the lowest total time after the

completion of all stages.

Article 8.4 – In the event of equal total times, priority is given to the crew that achieved the

better time on the last stage, unless otherwise determined by the Supplementary Regulations

of the competition.

Article 8.5 – A crew that does not start a stage (DNS) is allocated the maximum time

prescribed for that stage. A crew that does not finish a stage (DNF) is credited with the time

achieved up to the last stamped checkpoint; from the last stamped checkpoint to the finish, the

maximum time prescribed for that part of the stage is allocated.

Article 8.6 – All time penalties, bonuses and time corrections are entered into the official stage

results and the overall classification.

Article 8.7 – Provisional results are published at the end of the competition day. After the

expiry of the protest period and the decisions of the Stewards’ Panel, the results become

official.

Article 9 – Protests

1. 2. The right to lodge a protest belongs exclusively to a competitor or the crew leader.

A protest must be submitted in writing to the Clerk of the Course or the Stewards’ Panel no

later than the end of the competition day to which the protest relates, or before the publication

of the provisional results.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. When lodging a protest, a deposit of EUR 100.00 must be paid, unless otherwise determined

by the Supplementary Regulations.

The protest must contain the details of the person submitting it, a description of the incident

and the reasons for which it is lodged.

The Stewards’ Panel examines the protest, gathers additional statements and evidence if

necessary, and reaches a decision.

If the protest is upheld, the deposit paid is returned to the person who lodged the protest.

If the protest is rejected as unfounded, the deposit paid is retained by the organiser (and

donated to charitable purposes).

The decision of the Stewards’ Panel is final.

Article 10 – Final Provisions

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. By entering the competition, participants confirm that they are familiar with the provisions of

these Regulations and the Supplementary Regulations of the competition and that they fully

accept them.

Every participant competes at their own responsibility and is liable for any damage caused by

their actions during the competition.

On all sections that take place on public roads, participants are obliged to comply with the

applicable traffic regulations.

The organiser reserves the right to modify the route, timetable, stage schedule or other

elements of the competition due to force majeure, safety reasons or other unforeseen

circumstances.

The organiser has the right to interrupt or cancel the competition if the conditions for its safe

and regular running are not met.

For all matters not regulated by these Regulations, the Stewards’ Panel decides in accordance

with the Supplementary Regulations of the competition and the principles of sporting fair play.

These Regulations enter into force on the day of their publication and apply to the 6th

Montenegro Challenge competition.

Every participant competes at their own responsibility and risk and has no right to claim

compensation from the organiser, stewards or officials for damage to the vehicle,

equipment, property or injuries sustained during the competition.