Inventor III
The Budapest-Bamako Rally is 18+ days, 6000 miles, and travels through 10 European and African countries.
I have secured a spot in the 2026 rally in the 4x4 Adventure category.
The rally is long, grueling, tiring, hot, cold, rainy, snowy, muddy, dusty, but also includes driving the Sahara and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
I’m looking for 2 additional team drivers for the rally.
Requirements:
Budapest-Bamako - Wikipedia
Budapest-Bamako – Offroad rally raid from Budapest to West Africa
Other information:
Our rally vehicle is a 2017 Toyota 4Runner especially prepped for and shipped to the rally.
Start date looks to be mid-to-late February and into March 2026; organizers have not announced 2026 dates yet.
2026 Route has not been released yet. But typically goes through Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, and Sierra Leonne.
Serious inquires only
If interested, please PM me. You’ll be asked to provide a copy of your 4x4/Overlanding resume (summary of major trips/expeditions, trail repairs, recoveries, and list of any completed trainings) and your professional resume. I will also provide additional information at that time such as estimated budget, rally details, tentative logistics, etc.
About Tom Cole, OB# 5311
Tom has been off-roading and overlanding for over 40 years. Tom’s travel has taken him all over the world including 48 out of 50 states, Scotland, UAE, Nepal, India, Singapore, Orkney Islands, New Zealand, Mexico, UK, Alberta, British Columbia, and Alaska (twice). For the last 12+ years, he has been guiding group expeditions all over the western US to some of the coolest places. Tom is a past Overland Expo Instructor, as well as certified in Wilderness First-aid. When not traveling all over the globe, he calls Texas home.
I have secured a spot in the 2026 rally in the 4x4 Adventure category.
The rally is long, grueling, tiring, hot, cold, rainy, snowy, muddy, dusty, but also includes driving the Sahara and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
I’m looking for 2 additional team drivers for the rally.
Requirements:
- Have a minimum of 10+ years off-roading experience.
- Must be humble and confident and not arrogant and reckless.
- Experience with trail-side repairs and various types of recoveries.
- Experienced navigating routes and terrain via GPS coordinates.
- Speak and read French and/or Arabic, or be willing to learn.
- Meet international travel requirements including passport, international driving permit, visas, vaccines, learn and respect for local customs, etc.
- Obtain CPR and Wilderness First-Aid or Wilderness First-Responder certifications.
- Willing to accept the Rally’s organizer’s list of “Risks and Dangers” found here -> https://www.budapestbamako.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2026_RISKS_20240305.pdf
- During rally, willingness to rotate among three team roles: Driver, Navigator, Domestique.
- Able to allocate 2.5-3 weeks away from work, home, and family for the Rally.
- Must be willing to financially participate in the team’s rally expenses (~$4k-$6k pp – can be paid in lump sum or monthly over 12 months). Corporate sponsors accepted.
- Must be willing to pay for various personal expenses associated with the Rally (~$3k-$4k pp).
- Committed to participating in multiple meetings and practice runs in western USA over the next 1.5 years.
- Non-smokers preferred.
Budapest-Bamako - Wikipedia
Budapest-Bamako – Offroad rally raid from Budapest to West Africa
Other information:
Our rally vehicle is a 2017 Toyota 4Runner especially prepped for and shipped to the rally.
Start date looks to be mid-to-late February and into March 2026; organizers have not announced 2026 dates yet.
2026 Route has not been released yet. But typically goes through Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, and Sierra Leonne.
Serious inquires only
If interested, please PM me. You’ll be asked to provide a copy of your 4x4/Overlanding resume (summary of major trips/expeditions, trail repairs, recoveries, and list of any completed trainings) and your professional resume. I will also provide additional information at that time such as estimated budget, rally details, tentative logistics, etc.
About Tom Cole, OB# 5311
Tom has been off-roading and overlanding for over 40 years. Tom’s travel has taken him all over the world including 48 out of 50 states, Scotland, UAE, Nepal, India, Singapore, Orkney Islands, New Zealand, Mexico, UK, Alberta, British Columbia, and Alaska (twice). For the last 12+ years, he has been guiding group expeditions all over the western US to some of the coolest places. Tom is a past Overland Expo Instructor, as well as certified in Wilderness First-aid. When not traveling all over the globe, he calls Texas home.
