Regulations
Twenty-one sections covering eligibility, apparel, vehicle safety, minimum lap times, refuelling and penalties. New here? Start with How it works.
The Budget Enduro provides a fun, affordable and family-friendly motorsport activity in a safer environment than public roads. It is designed around inexpensive vehicles, teamwork, reliability and participation, and competitors are encouraged to involve family members, friends, work colleagues and fellow enthusiasts.
The event is open to participants from fourteen (14) years of age and is intended as an enjoyable introduction to recreational motorsport.
The Budget Enduro is a recreational endurance challenge conducted under regularity-style conditions. It is not a race and is not intended to determine the fastest vehicle or driver. The objective is for teams to safely complete as many laps as possible while remaining within the regulations, the minimum lap time requirements and the spirit of the event.
Results may be published, but the Budget Enduro does not recognise an official race winner. Awards and recognition may be presented for participation, team spirit, reliability, perseverance, ingenuity, sportsmanship and other achievements considered worthy by the organisers.
Each vehicle must be entered by a team of a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6) drivers. Teams without at least three nominated drivers may be refused participation. Additional drivers may not be added after the event has commenced without approval from Race Control.
Drivers must hold the licence required by the event organiser and sanctioning body. The minimum age is fourteen (14) on the day of the event. All drivers must attend any compulsory driver briefing.
Drivers are expected to behave safely and respectfully at all times. Dangerous driving, aggressive behaviour, deliberate contact, intimidation, bullying or conduct deemed unsafe by Race Control may result in penalties, exclusion from the event or suspension from future events. The decision of Race Control is final.
Drivers must wear clothing covering the body from neck to wrists and from waist to ankles while on track, manufactured from natural fibres or recognised fire-retardant materials.
Acceptable: motorsport race suits, fire-retardant overalls, cotton drill overalls, cotton workwear, cotton long sleeve shirts and long pants.
Not permitted: shorts, short sleeve shirts, singlets, clothing leaving skin exposed, nylon, polyester, acrylic, and other synthetics that may melt when exposed to heat or flame.
Fully enclosed footwear is required. Acceptable: leather work boots, leather safety boots, motorsport footwear, leather enclosed shoes. Not permitted: thongs, sandals, open footwear, nylon or synthetic mesh running shoes, or any footwear deemed unsuitable by the organisers.
All drivers must wear a helmet on track, complying with or exceeding AS/NZS 1698, Snell, FIA approved standards, or other standards approved by the organisers.
Open-face and full-face helmets are both permitted. Open-face helmets must provide full coverage of the ears and sides of the head. Drivers of open-top vehicles must wear a full-face helmet.
Not permitted: half helmets, skull caps, novelty helmets, bicycle helmets, construction helmets, or any helmet that does not adequately cover the ears and sides of the head. Any helmet considered damaged, modified or unsafe may be rejected.
Vehicles must be based on mass-produced, four-wheeled production vehicles originally manufactured for road use. Road registration is not required. Open-top vehicles are permitted provided suitable rollover protection is fitted and accepted by the organisers. The organisers reserve the right to accept or reject any vehicle entry.
As a guide, competitors should aim to keep the value of their vehicle to approximately $4,000 or less. Value is assessed on the overall vehicle and does not include safety equipment, maintenance, repairs, reliability improvements, tyres or fuel.
The intent is to encourage inexpensive everyday vehicles rather than high-value, specialist, prestige, exotic or purpose-built competition vehicles. Competitors with logbooked race cars are encouraged to compete in categories better suited to those vehicles.
An Eligibility Committee appointed by the organisers will assess any vehicle that may fall outside the spirit of the event. Competitors considering the purchase or entry of a borderline vehicle are strongly encouraged to contact the organisers before spending money. The Eligibility Committee’s decision is final.
Engine swaps, gearbox swaps, suspension upgrades, body modifications, custom fabrication and other creative engineering solutions are permitted and encouraged. There are very few prohibited modifications — if it is safe, affordable and within the spirit of the event, it will generally be considered.
If you have built something weird, wonderful or difficult to categorise, we would love to see it. Vehicles that are excessively expensive or highly developed may be referred to the Eligibility Committee.
Vehicles must be presented in a safe and trackworthy condition. The event is intentionally designed so competitors can buy an inexpensive vehicle and participate with minimal preparation, but it remains the entrant’s responsibility to ensure the vehicle is suitable for a race circuit. Participation confirms the entrant believes the vehicle is fit for track use. Unsafe vehicles may be refused entry or removed at any time.
Tyres must be road legal and intended primarily for road use. Semi-slick, R-spec, competition, track-focused and specialist motorsport tyres are not permitted. Examples generally not permitted include the Toyo R888R, Yokohama A050 and A052, Nankang AR-1 and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2. This list is not exhaustive.
All tyres must have at least 1.5mm tread depth across the tread surface, be free from exposed cords and free from significant cuts or sidewall damage, and comply with applicable roadworthiness requirements.
Only one set of tyres may be used per event without penalty unless approved by Race Control.
All vehicles must have a functioning race radio capable of receiving communications from Race Control. The approved frequency for each event will be advised by the organisers. Failure to maintain race radio communications may result in a vehicle being removed from the circuit.
The event generally consists of multiple driving sessions separated by scheduled breaks. Session lengths, break durations and schedules are advised by the organisers for each event. The organisers reserve the right to alter the format for safety, operational or venue requirements.
Driver participation requirements will be advised by the organisers. Teams are responsible for ensuring compliance.
Refuelling may only occur during designated session breaks unless otherwise approved by Race Control. No maintenance may be carried out while refuelling is taking place.
Teams must provide a fire marshal equipped with a minimum 4.5kg dry powder fire extinguisher. The vehicle must remain stationary throughout. Failure to comply may result in penalties or exclusion.
Repairs may be carried out during session breaks. Any person working underneath a vehicle must ensure it is adequately supported by approved safety stands. Unsafe repair practices may be prohibited. Pit crew must wear enclosed footwear and suitable clothing while working on vehicles.
Maximum speed in pit lane is 60 km/h unless otherwise advised by the organisers or venue management. Maximum speed in paddock, garage and competitor areas is walking pace. Unsafe driving in any non-track area may result in penalties or exclusion.
Competitors who record laps faster than the prescribed minimum may have laps deleted, receive penalties, be directed to modify their driving behaviour, or be excluded. The purpose is to reinforce the endurance challenge nature of the event and discourage outright racing.
| Circuit | Minimum lap time |
|---|---|
| Calder Park Raceway | 74 sec |
| Sandown Raceway | 95 sec |
| Broadford Motorsport Complex | 73 sec |
| Mallala Motorsport Park | To be advised |
| Carnell Raceway | 38 sec |
The Budget Enduro does not recognise an official race winner and there is no winner’s trophy. Awards may be presented for reliability, perseverance, team spirit, ingenuity, sportsmanship, vehicle presentation and other achievements recognised by the organisers, at the organisers’ discretion.
Penalties may be applied at the discretion of Race Control and event officials, and may include warnings, lap deletions, time penalties, sin bin penalties, exclusion from sessions or exclusion from the event. The more significant the breach, the greater the penalty may become.
The organisers reserve the right to inspect any vehicle, apparel or safety equipment at any time. Any vehicle or competitor deemed unsafe or inconsistent with the spirit of the event may be refused entry, black flagged, removed from the circuit or excluded. The decision of the organisers, scrutineers, Race Control and the Eligibility Committee is final.