Rules and Regulations

• • A.     Definition
  • B.     Event Programme
  • C.     Rhino Charge Organising Committee
  • D.     Entry Process to the Competition
    • 1.     Agreement to Rules and Regulations
    • 2.     Right of Entry to the Event
    • 3.     Rhino Charge and Classic Charge
    • 4.     Sponsorship and Pledges
    • 5.     Donations Qualifying for Pledges
    • 6.     Ways to enter the Rhino Charge
    • 7.     Rhino Charge Competition Entry Windows
    • 8.     Rhino Charge Entry Requirements and Conditions
    • 9.     Ways to enter the Classic Charge
    • 10.   Classic Charge Competition Entry Windows
    • 11.   Classic Charge Entry Requirements and Conditions
    • 12.   Support for Greenhorns and the Under 28s entering the Classic Charge
    • 13.    Proof of Age
    • 14.    Withdrawal of Entries
  • E.      Camping Rules
    • 1.     Overall Principle
    • 2.     Team Leader’s Responsibilities
    • 3.     Camping Area
    • 4.     Rubbish
    • 5.     Noise
    • 6.     Respect of the Local Community
    • 7.     Vehicles on Venue
    • 8.     Pets
    • 9.     Motorbikes, Bicycles and Quad bikes
    • 10.   Good conduct
    • 11.   Fines and Penalties for Camping Rules Infringements
  • F.      Entry to the Venue
    • 1.     Rhino Charge Ticketing Portal
    • 2.     Entry Times to the Venue
  • G.     Eligible Competitors
    • 1.      Crew
    • 2.      MedicalCondition of Competitors
  • H.     Eligible Vehicles
  • I.      Advertising and Roof Numbers
  • J.      Insurance
  • K.     Safety Equipment on Competition Cars
    • 1.     Mandatory Safety Equipment
    • 2.     Recommended Safety Equipment
    • 3.     Other Permitted Equipment
  • L.      Vehicle Classes
    • 1.     Super Modified Class
    • 2.     Modified Class
    • 3.     Unmodified Class
  • M.    Electric or Hybrid Vehicles
  • N.     Running of the event
    • 1.     Communication with Competitors
    • 2.      Scrutineering, Registration & Parc Fermé
    • 3.      Competition Day Start Procedure
    • 4.      Competition Day – Full Charge
    • 5.      Competition Day – Classic Charge
    • 6.      Cancellation of Sections
    • 7.      Support Cars, their occupants and followers
    • 8.      Refuelling
    • 9.      Penalties
    • 10.   Speed limits & Penalties
    • 11.   Road use Penalty
    • 12.   No Go Zones
    • 13.   Additional Zone
    • 14.    Summary Table of Penalties
  • O.     Announcement of Results
  • P.     Protests
  • Q.     Prizes and Awards

A. Definition

The thirty-sixth Rhino Charge is a fund-raising off-road event. Competitors must visit several checkpoints while travelling the shortest possible distance across difficult, trackless terrain.
Speed is not a necessity.

The event is organised to raise funds to support the activities of the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust.

The event is organised with the knowledge of the area Office of the County Commissioner, Office of the County Governor, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service, Governing Body of Motorsport in Kenya and with the written agreement of the Landowner(s).

These Rules & Regulations apply not only to competitors but ALL persons that enter the Rhino Charge venue, whether they be an official, sponsor, service provider or spectator.

B. Event Programme

Monday 1st July 2024 Start of Automatic entry process for RC 2025

Monday 8^th July 2024 Start of Entry process for 2025 

Saturday 3^rd May 2025 – 10:00 – 13:00hrs

Pre-Event Briefing at Braeburn School Gitanga Road Nairobi (unless notified otherwise)

• • Issue of safety equipment
  • Submission of sponsorship pre-event down payment: (inclusive of the early sponsorship paid with the entry):
    • KES 500,000 (1.5m. pledge)
    • KES 400,000 (1.25m. pledge)
    • KES 300,000 (1m & 0.75m. pledges)
    • KES 300,000 (“New Charge Teams”)
  • Announcement of commencement of route notes

Monday 5 ^th – Friday 9^th May 2025

Mandatory GPS antennas / harness testing for all charge competitor vehicles
(all blue boxes and antennas must be mounted prior to testing).

Monday 19 ^th May 2025 – 17:00 hrs

Deadline for self-scrutineering forms to be complete (mandatory for all confirmed entries).
Deadline for submission of funds to qualify for entry to venue.

Friday 23^rd May 2025 – 23:59 hrs

Rhino Charge Ticketing Portal closes.
Deadline for teams to submit payment for full pledges.

Tuesday 27^th May 2025

06:00 hrs Route notes to venue will be released.

12:00 hrs Early Entry to the venue for qualifying teams only

Wednesday 28^th May 2025

08:00 – 18:00 hrs   Venue Check-in opens for Camp Operators, Competitors, Checkpoint Officers & Checkpoint Sponsors

Thursday 29^th May 2025

08:00 – 18:00 hrs   Venue Check-in opens for 3 Night Spectators

Friday 30^th May 2025

08:00 – 18:00 hrs    Venue Check-in opens for 2 Night Spectators

08:00 – 14:00 hrs   Registration of competitors and submission of finance

08:00 – 17:00 hrs   Scrutineering and sealing of the DMD units. Cars go into Parc Fermé at 16:00 hrs

17:00 hrs               Drivers’ Briefing at Event Bar and issuance of competition maps.

Saturday 31^st May 2025

Venue Check-in is SHUT all day. There are no exceptions to this rule.

05:45 hrs               Assemble at Collection Point for convoy to Start Checkpoints.

05:50 hrs onwards  Depart for Start Checkpoints.

07:30 hrs               START of the event.

15:00 hrs               Final Control opens until ALL vehicles & DMDs returned.

15:30 hrs SHARP    End of Classic Charge.

17:30 hrs SHARP    Checkpoints CLOSE.

19:00 hrs               Latest time by which ALL vehicles MUST be in FINAL CONTROL

Sunday 1st June 2025

09:00 hrs               Results for all apart from the top 3 positions, will be published in the bar area.

10:30 hrs               Prize-giving, announcement of funds raised and main competition awards.

Monday 2^nd June 2025

12:00 hrs               All Competitors, Spectators, Checkpoint Officers & Checkpoint Sponsors + Checkpoint Operators, must have left the venue.

Tuesday 3^rd June 2025

10:00 hrs               All camp operators must have left the venue.

Saturday 5 ^th July 2025

17:00 hrs               Spirit of the Charge Event in Nairobi; Prize-giving II, announcement of additional awards.

C. Rhino Charge Organising Committee

D. White                                   C. Lambrechts                            A. Shah
A. Desai                                    V. Gunputrav                              S. Grant
J. Andrade                                 P.N. Gethi                                  T. Joshi

Clerk of the Course                 D. White

Deputy Clerks of the Course   A. Desai/S. Grant

Event Stewards                       D. Lowe/A. Levitan

Rhino Charge Event Administrator

Leah Levitan
Mobile : 0701 376960 – Email: admin@rhinocharge.or.ke

D. Entry Process to the Competition

1. Agreement to Rules and Regulations

By applying to enter the 2025 Rhino Charge, Competitors agree to abide by the Rules and Regulations in place in full, including all additional supplementary regulations (ASR) and bulletins.

2. Right of Entry to the Event

The Rhino Charge Committee reserves the right to accept or reject entries to the 2025 Rhino Charge, including for teams or entrants who would qualify by virtue of fundraising from a previous year’s event. Anyone deemed to be acting not in the spirit of the charge may be restricted from entry.

3. Rhino Charge and Classic Charge

In 2024, the “Classic Charge” was introduced to encourage new entrants into the event.

55 places are available for the Rhino Charge. 10 places are available for the Classic Charge.

The Rhino Charge and Classic Charge have different competition rules, fees, and pledges.

Participants in both events are subject to the same safety, camping and venue rules.

4. Sponsorship and Pledges

To participate in the Rhino Charge, Entrants are required to make a fundraising pledge. This is a core pillar of the competitive event.

The pledges are a commitment to Rhino Ark to raise funds to at least the level pledged. It has also become common practice for Rhino Charge entrants to raise above and beyond their pledges in support of the objectives of Rhino Ark.

Funds raised contribute towards various competitive prizes, including the Victor Ludorum and the Highest Cash Sponsorship.

• • a. Victor Ludorum Fundraising
    Funds submitted towards the Victor Ludorum total may include cash, online fundraising, current valid cheques, and bank transfers which must have been paid by the time deadline.The sponsorship time deadline for the Victor Ludorum Prize is extended to 17:00 hrs on the day of Scrutineering.
  • b. THE HIGHEST CASH SPONSORSHIP AWARD (THE DAVID SCHAEFFER TROPHY) Fundraising
    Suitable funds submitted towards the Highest Cash Sponsorship total may include cash, online fundraising, valid cheques, and bank transfers. Additionally, funds pledged by submission of a fully completed Donation Bond Form (please contact the Rhino Charge Event Administrator for a copy) and submitted to the Rhino Charge Committee in time may contribute to the Highest Cash Sponsorship Award.The Bond has a maximum due date of 60 days after the Rhino Charge event.The time deadline for submission of sponsorship or bond forms to be considered for the Highest Cash Sponsorship is extended to 17:00 hrs on the Competition Day.

All entrants must include the Rhino Charge and Rhino Ark logos in their fund-raising material, whether printed or in other media. High-resolution versions of the logos can be acquired from the Rhino Charge Event Administrator.

5.     Donations Qualifying for Pledges

Donations that qualify for the pledge are only those that are cash or cash equivalents that meet Rhino Ark’s core running budget needs. In-kind donations do not qualify unless they are a direct cash equivalent or substitute. Decisions on qualifying donations will be made by the Rhino Charge Committee.

6. Ways to enter the Rhino Charge

There are several ways to enter the Rhino Charge.

Automatic Entry.
Participants who have raised more than KES2 million in the previous year’s event, will be invited to enter the event.

Entry by Pledge Auction.
Entrants can enter at different pledge levels, starting with those willing to pledge the highest.

Notwithstanding the above, clause 8d below overrides these rights if invoked by the Rhino Charge Committee.

7. Rhino Charge Competition Entry Windows

8. Rhino Charge Entry Requirements and Conditions

a. Number of places

A total of 65 Entry places are available for the event. 10 places are available for the Classic Charge. A maximum of 55 places are available for the Rhino Charge, although competitors in the unmodified class, meeting the Rhino Charge pledge have the option to compete in either event.

b. Early sponsorship

All entries must be accompanied by “Early sponsorship” of KES 60,000 which is payable to Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust and non-refundable, even if a team withdraws.

c. Entry Documentation Required

1. 1. Payment of the Early Sponsorship.
   2. A completed entry and pledge form.
   3. Submission of team details using the online/in-person form.
   4. Copies of vehicle documents, or an undertaking to provide vehicle documents prior to the event including:
      • Vehicle Insurance
      • Vehicle Logbook

The entry is not complete until items 1-4 above have been completed and submitted either digitally via the Rhino Charge entry website or in person at Rhino Ark.

d. Restrictions to Entry

A competitor from a previous year who did not fulfil their pledge obligation, or any other fee payable is not eligible to enter. Anyone deemed to be acting not in the spirit of the charge may be restricted from entry at the sole discretion of the Rhino Charge Committee.

A competitor who did fulfil his pledge obligation made during his entry, but did not remit the total amount he raised (pledge obligation + funds raised above his pledge obligation), as confirmed at registration during Scrutineering Day and announced during the Prize-giving ceremony, will be required to remit the balance of his total fundraise before the Pre-event briefing of the next Charge event to retain his entry.

9. Ways to enter the Classic Charge

a. New Entrants (“Greenhorns”)

Limited Entry Window to Encourage New Rhino Charge Entrants who have done less than 3 charges.

b. The Classic Charge is also open to:

1. 1. (“Under 28”) Classic Charge entrants who exceed the experience threshold but whose average age is below 28 years.
   2. Experienced Classic Chargers. Experienced Rhino Chargers who exceed the average age and new entry criteria.

10.  Classic Charge Competition Entry Windows

11.  Classic Charge Entry Requirements and Conditions

a. Competition Class

The Classic Charge is Open to teams participating in The Unmodified Class Only.

b. Number of places

10 entry places are available for the Classic Charge.

c. Early sponsorship

All entries must be accompanied by an “Early sponsorship” of KES 60,000 which is payable to Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust and is non-refundable, even if a team withdraws.

d. Entry Documentation Required

1. 1. Payment of the Early Sponsorship.
   2. A completed entry and pledge form.
   3. Submission of team details using the online/in-person form.
   4. Copies of vehicle documents, or an undertaking to provide vehicle documents prior to the event including:
      • Vehicle Insurance
      • Vehicle Logbook

The entry is not complete until items 1-4 above have been completed and submitted either digitally via the Rhino Charge entry website or in person at Rhino Ark.

e. Participation in the Classic Charge by Rhino Charge Teams

Teams who have entered the Rhino Charge may voluntarily change to participate only in the Classic Charge by notifying the organisers at scrutineering. This does not change a team’s obligations to the fundraising pledge they have made.

12.  Support for Greenhorns and the Under 28s entering the Classic Charge

To encourage new entries the following additional measures will be taken.

a. Mentoring

A New team may be paired with an Experienced Team who volunteers to offer support and advice in the lead up to the event if the new team would like it. Mentor teams are, however, to be aware of clause N.9.b.v – they may not pair up with a new team on the competition day to give an unfair advantage.

b. Navigation

New Teams will be offered navigation and map reading support after the maps have been distributed at Driver’s briefing which will be offered at the HQ area.

13.  Proof of Age

Teams applying for the Under 28 Category must be under the average age of 28 years old on the day of the event. All team members must show a valid ID or Passport to verify their identity and date of birth.

14.  Withdrawal of Entries

All Entrants who wish to withdraw their entry must do so before 1st February 2025 . If they do so after this date, the full pledge remains valid and payable.

E. Camping Rules

1. Overall Principle

All participants in the Rhino Charge, whether an official, a sponsor, a competitor, or a spectator, undertake to abide by the same camping and behaviour rules.

2. Team Leader’s Responsibilities

Every group coming to the event will appoint a team leader.

The team leader, whether an official, a sponsor, a competitor, or a spectator, is responsible for ALL people who enter the Rhino Charge venue under their auspices. This is managed through the Ticketing Portal.

The team leader is responsible for all aspects of their visitor’s behaviour within the Rhino Charge venue.

3. Camping Area

A designated camping area will be provided. Only camping within this area is permitted.

4. Rubbish

• • a. All campers MUST TIDY UP their camp before departing and leave the area perfectly clean.
  • b. All campers should pre-sort all their waste at camp before bringing it to the Waste Sorting Station by 17:00 hrs Monday 2^nd June 2025.
  • c. DO NOT LEAVE THE BAGS OF RUBBISH AT YOUR CAMPSITES. TAKE THEM WITH YOU, OR PRE-SORTED RUBBISH CAN BE TAKEN TO THE WASTE SORTING STATION BY 17:00 HRS MONDAY 2^ND JUNE 2025.
  • d. The organisers will hold TEAM LEADERS OF COMPETITORS, SPONSORS, OFFICIALS AND SPECTATORS responsible for the behaviour of their friends, camping providers, assistants and any other persons who have shared their campsite.
  • e. If in the opinion of the RC Organising Committee the behaviour of the people within a camp is unacceptable or if the campsite is not cleaned and left in a satisfactory state, the Rhino Charge Organising Committee shall be at liberty to take disciplinary measures against the entrant including, but not limited to, the payment of a penalty of up to KES 100,000/- for each offence and/or disallowing the entrant/team leader and his/her camping provider (if any) from participating in or attending future Rhino Charge events.
  • f. All participants agree to take any litter they generate away with them and leave the venue in the same or better condition than they found it. A Waste Sorting Station is provided on site. It is every participant’s responsibility to bring all their rubbish to the Waste Sorting Station by 17:00 hrs Monday 2^nd June 2025.
  • g. Plastic waste, particularly confetti or similar, which is difficult to collect, is not permitted.

5.Noise

Participants are requested to avoid loud noise or music that is inconsiderate to othe participants. There will be a noise curfew applied as detailed below. Music systems and generators must be switched off at these times in consideration of other campers:

6. Respect of the Local Community

The Rhino Charge is held at the invitation of the local community who often have traditional lifestyles that may differ substantially from modern lifestyles. Consideration, respect, and good manners are essential.

It is expected that participants will endeavour to support the local community during the Rhino Charge by employment and trade.

7. Vehicles on Venue

Only licensed and insured four-wheeled cars are permitted at the venue. Buggies, motorbikes, bicycles, quad bikes or similar are not permitted.

A 40km/h speed limit is in place across the entire venue for all vehicles.

8. Pets

Pets are not permitted unless they are licensed service animals.

9. Motorbikes, Bicycles and Quad bikes

Buggies, motorcycles, bikes, quad bikes, or anything similar are not permitted, except for those used by the organising committee. Any that arrive at the venue must be parked at Headquarters until the end of the event.

10.  Good conduct

Participants must always be considerate of other participants and the local community.

11.  Fines and Penalties for Camping Rules Infringements

Any participant may be fined, at the discretion of the Committee, for failure to adhere to the camping rules.

Additionally, participants may be asked to leave the venue if they do not adhere to the camping rules.

There will be Rhino Charge Officials who will be responsible for monitoring camp behaviour and cleanliness. Their instructions must be followed. Failure to take reasonable and prompt action to comply with the instructions of a Rhino Charge Official may result in the person(s) being asked to leave the event location.

F. Entry to the Venue

1. Rhino Charge Ticketing Portal

Entrance to the Rhino Charge will only be permitted using tickets generated through the official ticketing portal on http://www.rhino-charge.org/.

Other entry conditions may apply and will be communicated publicly in advance.

2. Entry Times to the Venue

• • a. Route notes to get to the venue will be sent out to all Competitors, Officials and Sponsors at 6am Tuesday 27^th May 2025 .
  • b. Early entry to the venue will be applied as below:
    • i. Competitors that raised more than KES 2.75 million for the 2024 Rhino Charge will qualify for early entry to the Rhino Charge venue.
    • ii. Competitors that raise more than KES 2.75 million for the 2025 event, providing their funds have cleared into the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust accounts by 19^th May 2025, will qualify for early entry to the Rhino Charge venue.
    • iii. Qualifying teams will be granted early entry to the venue at 12:00 hrs (midday) – 18:00 hrs Tuesday 27^th May 2025. This will be restricted to a maximum of 3 vehicles and 12 people per team, except for the Top Five fundraisers from the 2024 event who are permitted 5 vehicles and 20 people. Additional personnel or vehicles will not be allowed access until 08:00 hrs on Wednesday 28^th May 2025.
    • iv. Competitors that meet the criteria for early entry must provide the following details by 17:00 hrs Monday 26^th May 2025 via email to admin@rhinocharge.or.ke:-
      • 1. Registration number for the allowed vehicles.
      • 2. Name and ID number for the allowed people that must have completed their registration through the Rhino Charge ticketing portal.
    • v. All vehicles and personnel with a qualifying team for early entry must not reach the venue before 10:00 hrs Tuesday 27^th May 2025. All extra vehicles and personnel with a non-qualifying team must not reach the venue before Wednesday 28^th May 2025. Teams breaching this requirement may be fined or excluded from the event.

No person, other than those expressly authorised in writing, is permitted to arrive at the venue of the event prior to 08:00 hrs on the day of Venue Check-In.

G. Eligible Competitors

1. Crew

• • a. Any person licensed to drive on the roads of Kenya is eligible to be nominated as a DRIVER (you will be required to show your license at Scrutineering). The choice of the crew is entirely at the discretion of the Entrant (except that the minimum age of any crew member is 18).
  • b. If a team wish to have a crew member who is less than 18 but over 16 (on the day of the charge), an application in writing accompanied with the indemnity form as issued at Registration, signed by the crew member’s parent or legal guardian must be submitted to the Organisers before that entry is scrutineered for consideration. In no case can a crew member be less than 16.
  • c. A crew must consist of not less than 2 (TWO) and not more than 6 (SIX) persons including the driver.
  • d. All entries must be in the name of an individual and not a company. Commercial entries are not permitted.
  • e. Teams may not change team members after registration without the permission of the Clerk of Course. No team changes are permitted after the start of the event.
  • f. Teams may not seek advice from non-competitors including their own support crews and may be penalised if they do so.

2. Medical Condition of Competitors

• • a. The Rhino Charge Organising Committee engages a Medical Provider (ResponseMed) to provide professional medical care to all participants.
  • b. All Competitors MUST have valid Amref Maisha Cover or an approved alternative to participate.
  • c. The medical opinion offered by the Medical Provider on site is final and non-negotiable.
  • d. Forms detailing the medical condition of all competitors will be issued by the Medical Officer (MO), before the event. These MUST be completed in full for ALL competitors and either given to the MO in advance or handed into the medical desk at HQ during the Registration process. Only after the MO has signed and stamped the route card that he/she is satisfied that all competitors’ details have been provided may a competitor proceed to Scrutineering.
  • e. A Competitor who is not in a fit medical condition to participate may be excluded from the event,
    • i. Prior to the event, after a medical examination; or
    • ii. During the event, if, in the opinion of the Medical Provider, the competitor may be endangering himself/herself by continuing to participate.

H. Eligible Vehicles

a. The event is only open to a vehicle with four (4) wheels which must be registered, and insured (no “KG” plates allowed)
to drive on the roads of Kenya, EXCEPT that the following are specifically excluded:

• • – Agricultural prime movers or similar vehicles.
  • – Earth moving machines and equipment.
  • – Plant and machinery for construction work.

b. The Organisers decision on the eligibility of any vehicle will be final.

• • – The minimum kerb weight of a vehicle is 1000kg.
  • – The maximum kerb weight of a vehicle is 3500kg.

c. Vehicles will be weighed at the venue during Scrutineering and the organisers may or may not decide to weigh certain vehicles on completion of the Rhino Charge at Final Control. Kerb weight for the purposes of Rhino Charge is defined as the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment (including but not limited to bull bars, winches, roll cages, sump guards, fuel tank guards, seats etc. i.e. items which cannot be removed). Spare parts, toolboxes, jacks, spare wheels, or any loose items in the vehicle which can be removed are not included in the kerb weight. BUT all necessary operating consumables e.g., all oils (engine/differential etc.) power steering fluid, coolants fuel etc. must be in the vehicle, i.e. the vehicle MUST be driveable. The fuel tank may be almost empty, but the car MUST be able to drive into and out of Scrutineering under its own drive. The vehicle should not be loaded with passengers or cargo but the kerb weight defined above includes the weight of a licensed driver.

I. Advertising and Roof Numbers

a. While entrants are encouraged to find and advertise their own sponsors, they MUST carry any advertising provided by the Organisers.

b. Entrants’ sponsors are prohibited from selling or promoting their products/services on the venue without being approved by the Organisers PRIOR to the event.

c. The entrants will be provided with two (2) official competition numbers in the form of adhesive stickers which must be attached as follows: One on each FRONT DOOR or the SIDE BODY clearly visible.

d. The ENTIRE roof of the car & any parts of the roll cage over the roof MUST be painted WHITE with NO stickers/roof racks/spare tyres or sand ladders obscuring it so as to aid with visibility to the patrol/safety aircraft; the competition number must be painted on the ROOF of the vehicle (not on the bonnet) in black paint using CALIBRI bold and underlined font with the scale proportions (Scale Height 205% and Scale Width 167%) – overall size 1m x 1m for double-digit numbers and 1m x 0.5m for single-digit numbers – see examples below – for single-digit numbers please DO NOT put a “0” in front of the number;

e. The stickers and painted roof number are mandatory and must be displayed, the roof number in the prescribed configuration below, even if additional backing boards/plates must be attached to the vehicle to conform and in the below orientation.

f. Apart from the advertising on the official numbers, which is compulsory, any Entrant who wishes to reserve exclusive advertising on his/her vehicle will be required to pay an additional lump sum advertising fee of KES 2,000,000 over and above the pledged amount.

J. Insurance

a. Competitors and any otherperson on the venue will take part/attend entirely at their own risk. Thearrangement of Personal Accident Insurance, Air Ambulance/evacuation,Comprehensive Vehicle Insurance and All Risks Insurance for personal belongingsetc. is the responsibility of every individual.

K. Safety Equipment on CompetitionCars

1. Mandatory Safety Equipment

It is MANDATORY that all vehicles are fitted with the following safety equipment which must be always carried while competing. These items will all be checked at Scrutineering. Failureto produce them may determine eligibility to start the Event or continueparticipating.

• • a. Full metal roll cage protecting all seats in the vehicle (recommended professionally specified & in compliance with motorsport regulations).
  • b. Each vehicle must carry the First Aid kits and emergency distress flags supplied by the Organisers & comply fully with the roof numbers regulation.
  • c. Each vehicle must carry its own (two in number) certified and tested dry powder fire extinguishers (each minimum size 2kg i.e., 2 x 2kg dry powder fire extinguishers).
  • d. Safety helmets for driver & navigator which MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING – the minimum accepted specification of these helmets is ECE 22.4 standard, which is the minimum UN Standard. T he recommended standard is full FIA certified motorsport rally helmets. The safety helmets should be labelled with the car number.
  • e. Functional 4-point full harness for the front two seats of the vehicle in use by the driver and navigator. These rally-type 4-point harnesses should be correctly mounted and have a functional locking/quick release buckle.
  • f. For any rear seats in the vehicle, of any type being a single seat or of a bench type design and mounted in any position (facing direction) shall be fitted with a functioning seat belt per seating position in accordance with the Kenya Traffic Act Caps. 403 section 22.A (revised 2015); Please take careful note that a “lap strap” type seat belt can only be used in very specific conditions as stipulated in the law and therefore most seats will require a “lap & diagonal” type seat belt as the minimum.
  • g. Easily accessible master electrical ignition “kill ”switch;
  • h. A seat belt cutter is Mandatory and should be within the vehicle mounted somewhere that is easily accessible/visible to anyone who may need to use it.
  • i. Window guards to all windows which should be openable from both internal and external in the event of an emergency/extraction (not fixed permanently to the vehicle door and can open independently).
  • j. Further to this, a vehicle may be held at any point by a nominated red-hat Checkpoint Officer and or an Official wearing a red “Official” shirt if they do not have required safety equipment on board during the event, and if the driver and navigator are not wearing seat belts and helmets. They may be held stationary until the team has satisfactorily proven they are carrying and wearing mandatory safety equipment.
  • k. A full bee suit is mandatory equipment and must be carried on board the car.

2. Recommended Safety Equipment

• • a. In-built fire suppression system be installed in the vehicle targeting potential fire hot spots – i.e., engine bay, fuel tanks/pumps etc.
  • b. Safety helmets for other team members are recommended.
  • c. Each vehicle must carry at least ten (10) litres of emergency drinking water. It is recommended to carry sufficient sustenance for the crew for 24 hours as well as warm clothing and blankets. A battery-powered flashing light is highly recommended to enable search parties to locate lost vehicles at night.
  • d. Power-driven winches are permitted as per the class regulations.

3. Other Permitted Equipment

• • a. Personal Global Positioning System units are permitted.
  • b. The use of VHF radio equipment is strictly prohibited. Competitors may however use UHF radios or Citizen Band radios with a maximum power output of no more than 4W. It is the responsibility of the entrants to ensure that any licensing required by the Kenyan authorities are fully complied with. Radios will need to be declared, presented, and inspected at Scrutineering.
  • c. Communication with other teams or support vehicles is prohibited. Mobile phone and satellite phone communication are only permitted for emergency use.

L. Vehicle Classes

1. Super Modified Class

a. For Super Modified vehicles, the design of running gear, winches and body work is all free BUT the car MUST be registered and insured.

b. Overall tyre size is restricted to 1016mm (40 inches) with a maximum of 2.5% allowable variation in physically measured overall diameter (OD), known as the “standing height” of the wheel and tyre when jacked off the floor, or measured horizontally if not jacked up. The OD will be measured with the scrutineer’s calliper, and this will be built to accommodate a physical maximum tyre size of 1041mm or 41 inches.

c. No vehicles with four-wheel steer, articulated chassis, hydraulic levelling, or pto -driven hydraulic winches are allowed to take part in the event.

d. Only two winch units are permitted per vehicle.

e. For any class studs, chains, spikes, and any contraption which is deemed to increase tyre traction are prohibited.

f. Any Entrant who intends to enter a custom built/modified vehicle for use at the Rhino Charge is advised to seek Rhino Charge Committee advice on its eligibility prior to purchase/modification to avoid exclusion from the event.

g. The Scrutineering Officials decision as to which class each vehicle belongs will be made at Scrutineering and will be final.

h. The Organisers may split the vehicle classes further in the interests of the event, at their sole discretion.

2. Modified Class

a. All criteria for the modified class are the same as the Super Modified except that:

• • i. Modified class vehicles may not have any form of reduction hub/portal axles.
  • ii. Tyre size is restricted with maximum tyre size of 939.8 mm (37 inches) with a maximum of 2.5% allowable variation in physically measured overall diameter (OD) known as the “standing height” of the wheel & tyre when jacked off the floor or measured horizontally if not jacked up. The OD will be measured with the scrutineer’s calliper, and this will be built to accommodate a physical maximum tyre size of 963.2 mm or 37.9 inches.

b. The Scrutineering Officials may order any or all the top 3 vehicles in this class to be scrutineered after the event to confirm eligibility.

3. Unmodified Class

An Unmodified vehicle will be one that: –

• • a. Has not had its chassis shortened.
  • b. Runs on the standard rims that are within the original vehicle’s rim diameter e.g., 15-inch, 16-inch tyres to fit the standard rim, with maximum tyre size of 863.6 mm (34 inches) with a maximum of 2.5% allowable variation in physically measured overall diameter (OD) known as the “standing height” of the wheel & tyre when jacked off the floor or measured horizontally if not jacked up. The OD will be measured with the scrutineer’s calliper, and this will be built to accommodate a physical maximum tyre size of 885.19 mm or 34.85 inches.
  • c. Wheel spacers of any kind that are fitted between the wheel rim and hub/axle that widen the vehicles axle/track width out of the vehicles original, are NOT PERMITTED on any wheel.
  • d. Does not use bead locks and is on standard rims, aftermarket rims are allowed if they meet the above category (b) requirement.
  • e. Diff locks/welded diffs and modified internal components are permitted, but the axle housing must remain as per the original vehicle and may not be permanently welded or strengthened. Removable diff guards are permitted.
  • f. Has original engine and power train and has no added power enhancing items like turbo chargers or superchargers, that the original vehicle’s OEM specifications did not come with/wasn’t manufactured with at the time of production.
  • g. Has original suspension system (all suspension mounting points between the axles and vehicle chassis, are in their ORIGINAL location: this could be the spring mountings/sitting points, shock absorber and suspension/axle articulation arms/rods, reinforcing of the ORIGINAL brackets/mounting points is permitted, if these reinforcements have NOT ALTERED the mounting point from its original point.
  • h. Has standard shock absorbers, use of rally/high spec external canister shock absorbers is not permitted.
  • i. Vehicle must have standard rubber bump stops; use of non-standard hydraulic/air bump stops/dampers is not permitted.
  • j. Has two single motor low profile low speed electrical winches only; Low speed winches are defined as having an off-load speed of not greater than 15 m/minute and a speed under 10,000 lbs load of not more than 8m/minute. Hydraulic winches are not permitted. Original manufacturer PTO-driven mechanical winches are permitted provided they do not exceed the line speed guidelines.
  • k. Body work free if it retains all body mountings to the chassis as standard and maintains the front-end look of the original vehicle design (bonnet, front end grill, headlights, windscreen, and front wings/skins left and right.
  • l. Does not have any form of reduction hubs/portal axles or independent suspension as standard equipment: such vehicles are not eligible for this class.
  • m. Any non-existing vehicle make which is intended to be entered in the Unmodified class must be approved by the Scrutineering Officials before entry is permitted.
  • n. Vehicles may only be classified as Unmodified at Scrutineering. A driver wishing to challenge the classification of their vehicle must do so prior to completion of Scrutineering and the classification may not be changed later.
  • o. The Scrutineering Officials may order any or all the top 3 vehicles in this class to be scrutineered after the event to confirm eligibility.

M.  Electric or Hybrid Vehicles

a. Electric and hybrid vehicles can compete in the event in one of the three existing classes as defined below.

• • i. Conventional vehicles that have been modified to electric or hybrid drive will be permitted to enter the Modified or Super Modified categories. Aside from the safety regulations, all other regulations remain the same.
  • ii. EV/H vehicles that are production manufactured and which are unmodified, except for body work, from the factory specification may be entered as an Unmodified vehicle, providing they meet all other Unmodified regulations.
  • iii. All rules are similar except that similar additional safety requirements will be mandated. While the organisers will insist on some safety measures, the overall obligation is on the participants to prove that the vehicle can safely participate without unnecessary risk to competitors or bystanders.

b. Specific mandatory safety requirements:

• • i. Double safety quick disconnect isolator system for the energy power pack that is accessible within the vehicle as well as outside the vehicle.
  • ii. Sufficient electrical protection to completely cut out the energy pack in case of an electrical fault.
  • iii. An in-built fire suppression system is mandatory, with at least six spray nozzles directed at the occupants / seating position of competitors, this system must be activatable from within the vehicle, or outside the vehicle in a well-marked location near the windshield.
  • iv. Additional external handheld fire extinguishers (2pcs) of an appropriate type will be required.
  • v. The EV must have suitable warning signs around the vehicle, alerting the public of where the fire suppression system is activated, where the power cut off isolator is mounted, as well as suitable warning signs to keep away in case of a fire on the vehicle.
  • vi. The energy power pack must be in a fully covered and contained box that is not flammable, is securely fastened and is well protected.
  • vii. At least one person on the team must have undergone a specific first aid and safety course related to electric or hybrid vehicles which provides understanding of all safety risks and mitigating actions.
  • viii. The EV/H vehicle must have highly designed and finished window guards that are big enough to allow all vehicle occupants escape with ease. These guards’ regulations are already within this document however for the EV class these will be scrutinised further including the type of locks used, and quick accessibility from both within and outside the vehicle, and the speed of persons ability to escape the vehicle within 20 – 30 seconds.
  • ix. The EV/H may have one pit stop for energy change, to be conducted in a designated area only. and will be done with additional health and safety processes and guidelines. The handling, removal, and replacement of the energy pack, done either on a trolley system or a lifting hoist system with a maximum of 3 additional qualified team member / personnel support. The energy pack shall not be fully handled, carried, moved by persons alone without the use of additional mechanical equipment to support the pack.
  • x. Any team willing to enter the event using an EV/H, must communicate to the organisers at least 6 months prior to the start date, and share with the organisers all safety measures, training, risk mitigation and insurance provisions to ensure absolute safety during participation. The obligation is on the participant to prove they have sufficient safety measures in place and that there is no risk to participants, bystanders, or officials in the conduct of participation to the event.

c. Any additional costs that may be incurred by the organisers to support the EV/H competitor may be passed on to the competitor at the sole discretion of the Rhino Charge Committee.

N. Running of the event

1. Communication with Competitors

• • a. The organisers shall communicate any and all communication through either the online Rules and Regulations, the driver’s Briefing, the driver’s Briefing notes, the Competition Map and the Team Leaders Whatsapp group as the official channels of communication.
  • b. Prior to the Friday 23^rd May 2025 , rules amendments will be communicated by means of an ASR (alternative supplementary regulation) which may be circulated electronically via the channels provided above. After this date, the Team Leaders Whatsapp group is the official bulletin board for the event. Any posts, communication or clarification from the RC Committee on this group will be deemed to have been communicated effectively.
  • c. Failure to read or understand any Communication from the organisers irrespective of the time the information was sent does not constitute grounds for the removal of that information from the events rules and regulations.
  • d. Any additional Communication channels may be added and will be communicated to the Competitors accordingly.

2. Scrutineering, Registration & Parc Fermé

• • a. All cars must complete scrutineering and registration. Scrutineering/Registration times will be nominated and adhered to. Any entrant that arrives at the “Scrutineering/Registration” control after 17:00 hrs on the day of Scrutineering may be excluded.
  • b. Competitors who complete self-scrutineering and have paid in their full pledge by the self-scrutineering deadline, will be given the opportunity to choose their scrutineering slot. All other times will be assigned by the scrutineer.
  • c. Each entrant’s starting Checkpoint (Control) will be determined by random draw, conducted upon Registration at HQ.
  • d. The organisers will scrutineer the vehicle and check and seal each competing vehicle’s DMD(s) in a place and manner to be notified later.
  • e. It is important that the DMD’S receive a good power supply and good batteries as per the guideline given by the DMD service provider, and the new GPS harness is Mandatory for all entries.
  • f. DMD’S (data monitoring devices) or GPS trackers that track each competitor’s tracks for the duration of the Rhino Charge event are an essential component for the safe and successful running of the event.They offer the ability to send a Panic /SOS alert to HQ in the event of an emergency, as well as providing the data to calculate the competition results.It is essential the trackers have good satellite connectivity, with a continuous line of sight to the sky while remaining protected on the Rhino Charge car.

    Poor positioning, interference with metal items and lack of sight to the sky can reduce GPS functionality substantially.

    MAIN GPS ROOF MOUNTED ANTENNA:
    

    This GPS antenna (white in colour) needs to be well mounted within the competition vehicle to be protected from possible damage and to have good connectivity with satellites.

    Any metal above or near the top part of the antenna will interfere with the signal. The hole in the vehicle roof and mounting location of this antenna is therefore critical for the unit to function seamlessly. It also needs spacing either side of the antenna to ensure no interference. The base can be mounted on a small bracket.

    It is therefore MANDATORY that the following be confirmed and if required, make the necessary adjustments in your fitting location, mounting position as well as the HOLE IN THE ROOF to measure a square of minimum @ 250 x 250mm, or best @300 x 300mm. with the antenna fixed below the roof line for protection. It is not recommended to mount the antenna outside the vehicle as it is likely to get damaged.

    Minimum Mandatory Allowance:	200mm*200mm
    Recommended Allowance:	250mm*250mm
    Best Setup:	>300mm*300mm

    The minimum requirement for you to meet the scrutineering pass is 250 x 250mm cut in any steel roof where the main GPS antenna is mounted.

    The following pictures provide information to support you on effecting this requirement. This will be checked and confirmed at scrutineering for the 2025 Rhino Charge. Any competitor that has not made this adjustment as per above (and below), will be asked to implement these changes at the venue, before being allowed to start the event.

    BACKUP GPS ANTENNA:
    
    There are two options for the backup GPS antenna. It should always be mounted SKY FACING:

    • If space is limiting, the backup GPS antenna may be mounted anywhere on the dashboard area within the interior of the vehicle.
    • However, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that the backup GPS antenna is mounted in the same way as the main antenna, as described above.

      Competitors should be aware that in the event of a GPS failure on the Main Device, the backup device may be used to calculate results. A dashboard mounted backup antenna is likely to give a lower quality of GPS signal than a properly mounted roof antenna. In the event a competitor mounts the backup GPS on the dashboard, the competitor accepts the possible lower quality of GPS data generated.
      
      
      

      Current competitor mounting: (Recommended Solution)
      400 x 400mm roof cut, with a thin fibreglass sheet above, a small aluminium bracket holding the GPS antenna in place below the roof line for protection (antenna isn’t in place in this photo and slides in from the side.)

      

  • g. From 16:00 hrs onwards, all cars must be in Parc Fermé until after the driver’s briefing.

3. Competition Day Start Procedure

• • a. Competitors’ must start as close as possible to their assigned start control, with the position at the direction of the “Red Hat” Checkpoint Officer. This is normally in a circle with the control point in the centre of the circle. Competitors must follow the instructions of the Checkpoint Officer.
    
  • b. Checkpoint Officers will be authorised to “Tag” each vehicle which is in its starting position PRIOR to the 07:30 hrs start time. This can take place between 07:15 hrs and 07:30 hrs.
  • c. The RFID tagging is a double check method to verify that a competitor’s vehicle has reached the control. The GPS track is always the primary method used for results, with the RFID being referred to in the case there is a query as to whether the competitor successfully reached the control.
  • d. No car may move away from the assigned starting position after the Checkpoint Officer has applied the RFID tag.
  • e. The event start is at 07:30 hrs but, providing a competitor has been tagged already, they may move immediately after the start is announced at 07:30 hrs.

4. Competition Day – Full Charge

• • a. On the competition day competitors will proceed to an assembly point and along a designated route. At the assembly point, competitors will gather in their respective starting groups. They will then proceed in convoy to their respective starting points by following an escort vehicle along a route laid down by the organisers. On arrival at the Checkpoint and before the official start of the event, team members are NOT permitted to leave the Checkpoint to survey the area. Vehicles at each start point will be mass started, and competitors will then choose their own route within the restrictions given elsewhere in the regulations, and may visit Checkpoints in any order, but may not visit the same Checkpoint twice. As a safety precaution only, competitors are required to declare their next intended Checkpoint at the start of each section. However, competitors may divert from this destination if they choose. This is to enable the Organisers to keep track of vehicles throughout the day and to monitor the progress of each vehicle in order that a search can be immediately called if any vehicle becomes unduly delayed in any section.
  • b. The overall winner will be the entrant who visits the most Checkpoints in the prescribed manner. Where the number of Checkpoints visited by two or more competitors is equal, the advantage will go to the entrant who has covered the shortest distance. If the distance covered is still equal, the overall time taken to cover the recorded distance will be the tie break.
  • c. Start, Finish, Last and Final Checkpoints (CP)
    • i. Start CP – This is the Checkpoint which an Entrant has drawn as the CP from which he/she will start.
    • ii. Finish CP – This is the same CP as the Start CP; an Entrant should not return to this Checkpoint until he/she has visited all the other CPs indicated on the briefing notes. If he/she does return to this CP before visiting all other CP it will be taken as the end of his/her competing vehicle’s route but will count towards his/her score. i.e., Once a competing vehicle returns to its Start CP it will be deemed to have completed its Charge, and cannot continue visiting subsequent CP’s, apart from the Final CP.
    • iii. Last CP – This is the last CP visited by a competitor before 17:30hrs or retirement, whichever is the earlier. Once you have cleared procedures at your Last CP, you must proceed directly to the Final CP as soon as possible.
    • iv. If an entrant arrives at his Last CP after 17:30hrs on the day of the event, it will not be included in the results, but he must still get the route card endorsed by the CP officer, so the Organizers are aware of his whereabouts.
    • v. The time at Last CP is recorded and determined using Satellite Time – i.e., the time on the official DMD. No other time measurement will be allowed.
    • vi. Final CP – All competing vehicles and teams MUST proceed to this CP after visiting their last respective CP at the end of the Charge.
    • vii. The coordinates of the Final CP will be given in the Driver’s Briefing notes. Once a competing vehicle has arrived at its last CP of the day, the vehicle and its crew must proceed to the Final CP along tracks and roads, and register with the Final CP. The distance recording will cease from the competitor’s last CP and therefore the distance between the last CP visited and the Final CP will not form part of that vehicle’s competitive distance. All vehicles must have checked into the Final CP by 19:00hrs on the day of the Charge. Failure to check into the Final CP will exclude that Entrant from the results. It will also trigger a search for that vehicle by the organisers if they do not already know of that vehicle’s location. It is therefore very important that Entrants register with the Final CP as soon as they can after completing the event, even in the case of early retirement during the day.
  • d. It is the Entrant’s responsibility to ensure that their Route Card is correctly completed and signed at each Checkpoint by the CP Official. The competitor must park their vehicle within the designated area at each Checkpoint and must comply with the instructions of the Officials in this regard. Competitors who do not comply will be judged not to have visited that control.
  • e. No section between any two Checkpoints may be attempted more than once.
  • f. Vehicles may be manhandled across the terrain by any means devised by the crew’s ingenuity, except that no outside assistance is permitted whether it is in verbal, mechanical, human, or animal form, except that given by another Competitor or Official with Clerk of the Course’s permission.
  • g. Competitors must have particular regard for the welfare of the ecological environment in which the event takes place.
  • h. The event stops at 17:30 hrs, but in the interests of safety, the Clerk of the Course may instruct a Checkpoint Officer to hold an Entrant who is intending to commence a section which could not possibly be completed before the end of the Charge. This decision will be made individually for each case by the Clerk of the Course, and his decision will be final.
  • i. There will be a Compulsory Gauntlet, which must be completed by all entrants. Co-ordinates given at Drivers’ Briefing will specify the Checkpoints which comprise the Gauntlet. At each of the Gauntlet Checkpoints, entrants will be required to pass through a “gate” where Officials will sign the Route Card and record the time. Entrants may traverse the Gauntlet by whichever route they choose but must complete the Gauntlet before proceeding to any other Checkpoint. The Gauntlet Checkpoints may be visited in any order. All competitors MUST attempt this section to be classified in the results. Failure to complete the gauntlet before proceeding on to the next Checkpoint will result in the exclusion of the Gauntlet Checkpoints from the results. The Organisers may aid with vehicles in difficulty within the Gauntlet, but the decision on any aspect of assistance provided will rest entirely with the Clerk of the Course and will be final.

5. Competition Day – Classic Charge

a. All competition criteria remain the same for the Classic Charge as the Full Charge except that:

• • i. Several checkpoints will be visited, limited to a list defined in the briefing notes. The checkpoints will vary in number according to the estimated difficulty of completion of the specific course and venue and will be calibrated to be completed within the allocated time limit.
  • ii. The time limit for the Classic Charge will be 15:30 hrs.

6. Cancellation of Sections

The Clerk of the Course may, if required, cancel, close or nullify a competitive section or sections on grounds of safety.

7. Support Cars, their occupants and followers.

A team may have a support car. In certain locations this will have access to restricted zones.

• • a. The support car may carry extra fuel, registered & marked spare tyres, tools and spare parts for the competition cars.
  • b. The support car, its occupants and followers, may not:
    • i. Drive offroad outside of roads marked on the map.
    • ii. Provide mechanical support for the competition car. The competitors alone are permitted to handle fuel, tyres, tools, and spare parts including lifting onto/off the support car.
    • iii. Provide advice to the competitors, whether this is mechanical, tactical or map reading etc.
    • iv. “Scout” routes for the competition car.
    • v. Provide any other external advice or support that gives an advantage to the competition car beyond carrying fuel, tyres, tools, or parts.
  • c. The penalty for any support car or individual found to be guilty of contravening the above may be penalised or disqualified at the sole discretion of the Clerk of the Course.

8. Refuelling

Teams may refuel during the event. This must be done outside of the close proximity of any Checkpoint area and away from other competitors and spectators.

9. Penalties

• • a. There will be Rangers (judges of fact) throughout the course and any entrant adjudged to have contravened the rules or the spirit of the event may be penalised or disqualified at the sole discretion of the Clerk of the Course.  Further any entrant adjudged to have contravened the rules or the spirit of the event from the time of arrival at the venue up to the time of departure from the revenue may be penalised or disqualified at the sole discretion of the Clerk of the Course.
  • b. The following are examples of what will constitute an infringement:-
    • i. External assistance of any sort, other than from another Competitor. An Official can help with prior approval from the Clerk of Course.
    • ii. Adjustment of team members during the day, without permission and/or use of or communication with support team members to scout the course or gain an unfair advantage.
    • iii. Tampering in any way with the proper operation of the DMD(s); or failure to return DMDs to final control in a timely manner.
    • iv. Deliberately blocking the passage of other competing cars or behaving in an unsporting manner.
    • v. The formation of teams of two or more vehicles as a means of enabling one vehicle to gain a competitive advantage will be considered against the spirit of the event and will be penalised by the organisers.
    • vi. Wanton destruction of the environment.
    • vii. Unsafe or reckless driving and/or failure to carry or use mandatory safety equipment.
  • c. If a vehicle is fitted with oversized tyres (including spares) determined by the Scrutineer’s calliper, the Competitor will be penalised through the deduction of one (1) checkpoint from his final score – i.e., he/she will never be able to be a finisher of the Rhino Charge.
  • d. If a vehicle is in contravention of the weight restrictions of the event, the competitor will be penalised through the deduction of one (1) checkpoint from his final score – i.e., he/she will never be able to be a finisher of the Rhino Charge.

10.  Speed limits & Penalties

• • a. The speed limit at any time on the course (or during the event, whether on “the course” or not) will be forty (40) kph (kilometres per hour), any competitor exceeding this limit will be penalised as follows – this speed limit applies to ALL:
    • i. An Entrant’s speed will be measured according to the same GPS DMD(s) as used to measure competitor distance and is the only device that will be accepted for this purpose.
    • ii. A single-speed violation is defined as follows: A vehicle that is measured as consistently travelling above 40kph over a period of twelve (12) seconds will be deemed to be speeding and to have committed a “Speed Violation”. Every violation as defined here will be subject to a penalty of 100m added to the entrant’s final distance.
    • iii. On the 10th penalty violation, in addition to the 100m penalty per violation, one Checkpoint will be deducted from that entrant’s total score. The Checkpoint penalty will be applied for every 10th violation thereafter. The violation count is accumulative over the course of the day and violations DO NOT have to be consecutive to be applied.
    • iv. This formula will repeat itself throughout the event.
  • b. In summary:
    • i. Each Violation = 100 metres added to the final overall distance.
    • ii. Every 10 Violations = 1 Checkpoint deducted from the final score, in addition to the 100m penalty per violation.

11.  Road use Penalty

• • a. Any road shown in RED on the competitor map will be subject to road use penalties as defined below.
  • b. Use of any officially designated road or track (hereafter called a “road”) by a competitor during the event will be measured and recorded by the official GPS DMD(s) results tracking equipment and analysed through the official results software respectively and the following penalties will be applied:
    • i. The road has been defined in the results software as a 10m wide geofence “corridor” centred on the centre line of the road.
    • ii. The road use penalty only applies from the official start (0730hrs) until the official end of the Charge. (1730hrs for the Full Charge, 1530 hrs for the Classic Charge)
    • iii. A competing vehicle will only begin to accumulate a “road use measurement” when the vehicle is consistently within the geofence for a period of twelve (12) seconds or more. This has the effect of.
      • 1. Allowing a vehicle to cross over the road/geofence, when travelling perpendicular to it, without penalty – provided the geofence is cleared within twelve (12) seconds.
      • 2. It does however mean that if a vehicle stops on the road for longer than twelve (12) seconds, even if the vehicle is travelling perpendicular to the road, there will be an accumulation of distance measured.
    • iv. The road use penalty is an accumulator throughout the entire day and road use penalties are applied as follows.
    • v. For all vehicles and all classes, super modified, modified, or unmodified:
      • 1. Between 0 – 4,999m of road use – NO distance penalty and NO Checkpoint (CP) Penalty – FREE.
      • 2. Between 5,000 – 9,999m of road use – a distance penalty is applied (100%) but NO CP Penalty.
      • 3. At 10,000m of road use – Checkpoint penalty is applied – deduction of one (1) CP.
      • 4. Between 10,000 – 14,999m of road use – a distance penalty is applied (100%) but NO CP Penalty.
      • 5. At 15,000m of road use – Checkpoint penalty is applied – deduction of one (1) further CP.
      • 6. Between 15,000 – 19,999m of road use – a distance penalty is applied (100%) but NO CP Penalty.
      • 7. At 20,000m of road use – Checkpoint penalty is applied – deduction of one (1) further CP.
      • 8. Between 20,000 – 24,999m of road use – a distance penalty is applied (100%) but NO CP Penalty.
      • 9. At 25,000m of road use – Checkpoint penalty is applied – deduction of one (1) further CP.
      • 10. Between 25,000 – 29,999m of road use – a distance penalty is applied (100%) but NO CP Penalty.
      • 11. At 30,000m of road use – Checkpoint penalty is applied – deduction of one (1) further CP.
      • 12. After 30,000m of road use – distance penalty is applied (100%) for the remainder of the distance.
    • vi. The maximum number of Checkpoints that a competitor can lose from this rule is capped at five (5).
  • c. A Competitor may however lose Checkpoints from other penalty rules in addition to this rule.

12.  No Go Zones

a. The organisers may designate no-go zones on the Map. Entry into the no-go zone will trigger a distance penalty of 1km.

13.  Additional Zone

a. The organisers may designate an additional zone on the Map. The additional zone is an optional zone for competitors to pass through. The centre of the zone will be a coordinate given to all competitors in the briefing notes. There is no checkpoint officer at the point, but a competition car that pass through a circle of 10m radius from the specified coordinate will have 500m distance removed from their total event distance.

14.  Summary Table of Penalties   

Below is a summary table of the penalties that could be applied to competition teams.

O. Announcement of Results

• • a. Results will be announced by 09:00 hrs on the morning of Prize-Giving. The Top 3 results in each category will not be announced until the Prize-Giving Event.
  • b. The results announced at Prize-Giving are Final.

P. Protests.

• • a. A Competitor may appeal if they believe there has been an error in the calculation of scores, application of rules, or any decision that directly affects the results prior to the prize-giving Ceremony.
  • b. Competitors wishing to protest results posted prior to the Prize-giving Ceremony may do so by:
    • i. Payment of a non-refundable supplementary donation of 500,000 Kenya Shillings to the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust via Cash, Cheque or Mpesa.
    • ii. Submission of a Protest in Writing to the Clerk of the Course within 30 minutes of the provisional results being posted.
  • c. The Protest will be adjudicated by the Event Stewards prior to prizegiving, and their decision will be final provided that a Competitor shall be allowed to seek judicial review in the court of competent jurisdiction.
  • d. If after the distribution of prizes and awards a decision is made pursuant to a court of competent jurisdiction which affects the results of a competition, any Competitor to whom a prize has been awarded but who is adjudged to be ineligible therefore shall return such prize or award to the Event Steward on demand.

Q. Prizes and Awards

a. All competition prizes and awards, where awarded, will be presented at the Rhino Charge venue except the Spirit of the Charge award (The Rob Combes Trophy (Perpetual)).

• • i. VICTOR LUDORUM                              Land Rover Trophy (Perpetual)This award will be made to the entrant who has achieved the shortest discounted distance calculated by discounting the actual corrected distance travelled at the rate of 2 centimetres per Kenya shilling of sponsorship raised.
  • ii. 2nd VICTOR LUDORUM                       Trophy
  • iii. 3rd VICTOR LUDORUM                        Trophy
  • iv. HIGHEST CASH SPONSORSHIP              David Schaefer Trophy (Perpetual)
  • v. 2nd HIGHEST CASH SPONSORSHIP       Diamond Trust Trophy (Perpetual)
  • vi. 3rd HIGHEST CASH SPONSORSHIP        Trophy
  • vii. OVERALL, WINNER                              Duncan Mitchell Trophy (Perpetual)
  • viii. 2nd OVERALL WINNER                        Trophy
  • ix. 3rd OVERALL WINNER                         Trophy
  • x. CLASS “M” – OVERALL WINNER            Trophy
  • xi. 2nd CLASS “M”                                   Trophy
  • xii. 3rd CLASS “M”                                    Trophy
  • xiii. CLASS “U” – OVERALL WINNER            Trophy
  • xiv. 2nd CLASS “U”                                    Trophy
  • xv. 3rd CLASS “U”                                     Trophy
  • xvi. Classic Charge – OVERALL WINNER      Trophy
  • xvii. 2nd – Classic Charge                             Trophy
  • xviii. 3rd – Classic Charge                            Trophy
  • xix. COUPES DES DAMES                            Tim Nicklin Trophy (Perpetual)
  • xx. HIGHEST PLACED 1st TIME ENTRANT    The Kijabe Award (Perpetual)
  • xxi. GAUNTLET WINNER                             Tim Samuels Gauntlet (Perpetual)
  • xxii. KAMRAN FAZAL MEMORIAL TROPHY   Perpetual Award
    This award will be made to the youngest registered crew member out of the vehicles which complete the Rhino Charge (13 Checkpoints). The maximum age of eligibility will be 25 (i.e., the crew member must not yet have had his/her 25th birthday by the day of the charge). If two people have their birthday on the same day, the award will be given to the crew member in the highest placed vehicle. If no member of any vehicle which completes the charge (13 Checkpoints) is under 25, the trophy will not be awarded. Only crew members who have registered their date of birth on the “detailed competitor information sheet”, which is filled in at HQ as part of documentation, will be eligible for consideration.
  • xxiii. NJIA YA NDUME AWARDS (Tiger Lines)
    To encourage “Tiger Lines” between Checkpoints, there will be awards for the shortest distance achieved between certain Checkpoints, which will be designated at the Drivers Briefing. These awards will be made to the vehicle that has achieved the shortest distance between the two designated Checkpoints irrespective of the number of Checkpoints visited by that vehicle.

b.       The Spirit of the Charge (The Rob Combes Trophy (Perpetual)) award will be awarded at the “Spirit of the Charge” event.

There may be other prizes at the discretion of the organisers.

Please note that none of the Perpetual Trophies may be taken out of Kenya.
All Perpetual Trophies must be returned to Rhino Ark Offices before the date of the Pre-Event Briefing as defined above.