Rusty Rally

The Rusty Rally is an adventure on four wheels. You will be taking on the challenge of driving through 6 countries in 3 days, navigating some of the world’s most scenic driving roads and spectacular high mountain passes. Doing this in a car worth no more than £1,000, makes this a Rusty escapade you will never forget.

Teams will be given a briefing each day of the route ahead, with suggested stops along the way. These include the most scenic roads, museums, restaurants, castles and even places to swim. Of course, you can decide your own route if you wish.

Each evening The Rusty Rally teams meet for dinner to swap stories of the people, places and culture you have encountered along the way. You will enjoy local cuisine and entertainment. Our intention is that every minute of your experience is an adventure, regardless of whether you are inside or outside of your vehicle.

4* accommodation is included for the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights (on a single or shared basis).

There will be a maximum of 10 cars on the event. The number is capped so that we keep the sense of team and camaraderie that the Rusty Rally has become known and loved for.

The Rusty Rally, though an exhilarating adventure, serves a core purpose. It’s a vital fundraiser for The Outward Bound Trust, enabling young people to attend life-changing adventures. We kindly ask each team to contribute or raise at least £10,000. Teams should have a minimum of 2 people, with an additional £1,000 per extra person, up to a maximum of 4 people per car.

Successful teams have reached and exceeded this amount through a combination of corporate sponsorship, holding fundraising events and using professional and personal contacts. With a few clever ideas and a bit of hard work, your goal of £10,000 per team is easier to reach than you may think. We are here to support you every step of the way.

The money raised will go towards funding our important bursary programme to enable disadvantaged young people to attend a life changing Outward Bound course in the outdoors. We focus on improving young people’s confidence, tenacity and resilience – key skills which young people need to thrive in education, employment and throughout their lives. With your help, we can make a positive and profound difference to huge numbers of young people from across the UK who would never get such an opportunity to realise there is more in them than they think.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Ask friends, family, clients and local businesses for support.

Approach clients, suppliers & local businesses to sponsor your team. Offer to brand your car with their logo.

Ask for a specific donation in exchange for a logo on your car (e.g. £500 or £1,000 per logo).

Incentivise companies to sponsor you by offering to mention them in any social media that you are doing to promote your participation before and during the event.

Host a fundraising event – a dinner, a quiz, a race night.

Plan an auction or raffle event. Ask suppliers and local businesses to donate a prize (items, services or experiences can be auctioned!).

As well as fundraising, or instead, you can also make a personal donation to The Outward Bound Trust directly to enable young people to attend life-changing adventures. You can do this via our website:

Make a donation

The fun starts with finding your car. The basic rule is that your car must cost no more than £1,000 (or hold this value) and be roadworthy.

Some great places to find your car are: AutoTrader, eBay or classified ads in your local paper.

There is no limit to what you can spend on your car once you have bought it, but any significant changes you make must be shared with your insurer.

Remember your team will be in this car for a minimum of three days. Think about your comfort. Can you open the back windows, fit your luggage in the boot, plug in a phone or sat-nav?

Included in the challenge will be dinner, bed and breakfast (single or shared room) for the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. We’ll also provide your first round of drinks and evening entertainment along with providing route guidance and full fundraising support too. Plus, two mechanics with a back-up vehicle, 24 hour emergency assistance and tour leaders from Outward Bound.

You will be responsible for all expenses related to your car, including insurance, breakdown cover and petrol.

Your car:
Your car should not cost more than £1,000 or hold that value. If you make any modification to it please discuss this with your insurers before the cover is placed or modifications made.

Your team:
You must have a minimum of 2 team members. The maximum number is 4. At least 2 of your team must share the driving. The minimum age for drivers is 25.

Documentation:
Your car must have a valid MOT certificate and be taxed for the duration of the event. All drivers must be covered by car insurance, including European cover. All drivers must have a valid driving license which covers them to drive in the countries shown on the route. All participants must have European travel insurance.

No racing:
The Rusty Rally is not a race. Racing and ramming is strictly forbidden. All participants are advised to drive safely and to obey the regulations for the country you are in. The organisers can take no responsibility for any accidents or damage caused by anyone taking part in the event.

Fundraising:
Each car must raise or donate a minimum of £10,000. Teams should have a minimum of 2 people, with an additional £1,000 per extra person, up to a maximum of 4 people per car.

It is recommended that you reach this target before the Rally takes place.

Cancellation:
The registration fee of £250 per person is non-refundable. However, you can make changes to your team up to 4 weeks prior to the event.

Please click here to read the event Terms and Conditions

We take safety very seriously and we have therefore put in place 24 hour back up for both you and your vehicle for the duration of the event.

Two dedicated mechanics in a recovery vehicle will follow the route, about an hour behind the group. They will be able to assist one vehicle at a time. If your car is not repairable on the roadside it will be transported to the next hotel (for free) or back to the UK (for a fee). If you find yourself with no vehicle you can either hire a car or join another team.

You are also strongly advised to take out European breakdown cover for the event. This could be the quickest way of getting your vehicle repaired.

In the event of a serious incident, there is a dedicated 24 hour helpline number that you may call. They will deal with accidents, emergencies, lost passports, repatriation or any other serious incident.

The Start Line for the Rusty Rally in June 2025 will be near Lake Annecy in Southeast France. Participants make their own way to this point, either with their car, or we can transport this for you. Speak to the team for more details at RustyRally@outwardbound.org.uk.

The event finishes on Saturday night with a celebratory dinner and overnight stay. You will make your way home on Sunday 22nd June after breakfast.

OPTION 1

Drive your car back to the UK from the finish point. Go at your own pace or perhaps extend your adventure by driving home by a different route.

OPTION 2

Fly home and have us deal with your car. For a fee, we can arrange for your car to be scrapped, or we can arrange to have your car transported back to the UK.

Rusty Rally T&Cs