The Insane Mongol Rally Is Still Happening Despite The War In Ukraine

On the list of excuses for making big changes to a long-standing event, "war" is not often used. The nearly four-month-old conflict with Russia invading Ukraine has caused many hardships and delays, meaning the legendary 10,000-mile Mongol Rally has been greatly affected. The route of the Mongol Rally typically goes from the UK to faraway Russia through several countries as the 'first EV entry' Nissan Leafdid, but the rally has now changed dramatically for 2022.

While there are no plans to go through Russia or Ukraine for obvious reasons, organizers pivoted the original event details changing it substantially with new rules and checkpoints but drivers will still have to leave their GR Corolla Rally Car at home for the trek.

The Mongol Rally 2022 originally planned to follow the same formula of the UK to Ulan Ude, Russia rally but has since been rebranded as 'The Poles Of Inconvenience Rally' for 2022. The old 10,000-mile journey through some of the world's toughest unpaved terrain makes Gumball 3000 look like a cushy, casual 3000-mile drive with its multi-course meals and swanky hotels. And if you think participants get to drive powerful luxury Overlanding SUVs to deal with insane weather, sketchy roads and hostile local drivers then think again.

Teams running The Poles Of Inconvenience Rally still have a huge handicap since they can only select a 1.2-liter or less junker for the trip! A maximum of 1200ccs of fury will be unleashed in these pieces of crap and although they will get solid gas mileage, the rally car must go entirely unsupported.

So no separate crew, no friends flying in with parts, nothing. You break, you fix. Learn to deal.

Here in the US, we can barely name any 1200cc and under cars, yet teams have to somehow make them work and perform in a rally that is not timed and has no specific route.

Among the changes, The Poles Of Inconvenience Rally / Mongol Rally 2022 isn't 10,000 miles anymore, they had to shorten it to 5,000 miles. Starting from the Isle of Skye on the northern tip of the Scottish territory, they will travel across the English Channel to continental Europe and push through to Eastern Europe. But due to the war, the Rally that has only suggested routes and a finish line, now has to avoid several countries.

"Well the Mongol Rally 2022 is dead because Azerbaijan is closed to tourists and the Mongolian border is essentially locked down for now," said Paige Campbell half of the WildlyUnkoalafied Team. "Russia is also a no-go zone, so insane new checkpoint poles were added between Scotland and the finish in Georgia."

The Poles Of Inconvenience Rally will kick off this July 16 and wrap up on September 11. That might seem like a lot of time to complete the tour, but it isn't. The suggested route is some of the most insane driving roads in the world across extremely foreign countries while driving a <1.2-liter scrap heap or maximum 125cc bike. We have to admit, it sounds incredible.