During a press briefing on October 8, the event’s organizer, Nguyen Dai Hoang, shared that this year's event will once again be held at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Dong Mo, Son Tay, Hanoi.

Known as Vietnam’s premier off-road racing destination, Dong Mo offers a vast 200-hectare terrain, featuring diverse landscapes such as hills, lakes, forests, swamps, and shallow streams.

This year, VOC will see 70 teams participating with over 140 drivers, including 26 champions from previous seasons competing across all four race categories. The competition will push these top racers to their limits on a range of challenging courses.

"Since 2022, the event has been extended to three days. Each year, we aim to introduce new courses and terrains to add more challenges for the teams. This year, we've reduced the number of tracks to 14, but they are more difficult compared to last year. Additionally, we’ve replaced the Vietnam Pickup class with the Advanced Pickup class to better reflect the evolution of the off-road racing scene in Vietnam," Hoang explained.

Alongside VOC 2024, the Vietnam Gymkhana Championship (VGC 2024) will take place from November 2 to 3 at the same venue, with 22 drivers competing in two categories: Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) and Rear/All-Wheel Drive (RWD/AWD). The total prize pool for this event is VND 96 million, not including additional prizes.

Gymkhana is a motorsport where drivers navigate short, narrow, and winding tracks filled with obstacles like cones and poles. The goal is to complete the course as quickly and accurately as possible. This event marks a significant milestone in the development of motorsports in Vietnam.

The organizers shared that VOC and VGC 2024 are not only for professional off-road racers and clubs but also for motorsport enthusiasts.

Attendees will have the chance to experience new vehicle models firsthand and participate in various activities such as test drives, drift shows, paramotor demonstrations, and remote-control off-road racing.

The Vietnam Offroad PVOIL Cup 2024 will feature four competition categories:

1. Basic Category: Vehicles must be commercially available models and can only be modified with components like tires, shock absorbers, and bumpers. However, the engine and chassis length must remain unchanged, and the use of winches is not allowed.

2. Advanced Pickup Category: Vehicles must be commercially available pickup models, with allowed modifications to components like the engine, tires, shock absorbers, and bumpers. However, changes to the chassis length or cutting of the frame are prohibited.

3. Advanced SUV Category: Vehicles must be commercially available SUV models, with similar modification rules as the pickup category. Convertible or canvas-top vehicles (like Jeeps or UAZ models) must have a robust steel frame attached to the vehicle's chassis for driver protection.

4. Professional Category: The most challenging category, where vehicles do not need to be commercially available. Participants can modify or replace components extensively, except for specific limitations such as the use of chains or tires larger than 42 inches in diameter.

Vehicles in this category may use ladder frame or tubular chassis designs and must have essential body parts, including a hood, roof, doors, or protective bars, a windshield or steel mesh for the driver’s area, and front and rear fenders. Additionally, safety harnesses with at least four points are mandatory.

Hoang Hiep