'Expert drivers' struggle to overcome mud at Vietnam's biggest off-road car race

The slippery dirt terrain due to the incessant rain and deep mud caused many professional drivers to get stuck, struggling to find a way to escape their cars to complete the test at the Vietnam PVOIL Cup 2025 off-road car race.

70 off-road car teams, dramatic competition

The Vietnam PVOIL Cup (PVOIL VOC) Off-Road Racing Tournament is an annual event that attracts off-road enthusiasts from all three regions of the country. This year, the tournament brings together 70 racing teams with 140 athletes from all over the country.

From early morning, the sound of engines roared throughout a forest inside the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism (Hanoi). Racers will compete in 4 categories: Basic, Advanced Pickup, Advanced SUV and Professional.

Immediately after the referee's whistle, the athletes pressed the timer at the starting point, then quickly got in their cars, started the engines to begin the race.

Track 10 is considered one of the most difficult courses in this tournament with many combined terrains, including: sharp turns, deep water holes, swamps, steep slopes... requiring the main driver and co-driver to have flexible racing strategies and good coordination.

To complete the race, teams must reach the finish line within the allotted time, otherwise they will receive a DNF (did not finish) result.

In the photo, car 404 of Hung Jeep - Binh Phuoc team crosses a deep water hole before reaching the swampy section on race track number 10.

PHOTO: TUAN MINH

As soon as it passed, the car rushed to a large swamp, water flooded deep into the cockpit. Co-pilot Lai Hong Van quickly waded out of the car, pulled the anchor and winch to a solid ground to use as a fixed point to pull the car up.

PHOTO: TUAN MINH

The smooth coordination of the driver pair helped car 404 quickly pass this section to complete the test.

PHOTO: TUAN MINH

Taking the test the next day, car 405, driven by main driver Nong Anh Tuan and co-driver Hoang Van Thong, could not get through this muddy area even though they had fixed the anchor before pushing the car down. The team had to accept the DNF result and wait for the excavator to take the car out.

PHOTO: TUAN MINH

To complete the 10th track, the cars must overcome a steep slope before reaching the finish line. In this part, the co-driver's task requires both the strength to climb the slope and the quickness to find a solid anchor point to fix the winch. Meanwhile, the main driver at the front of the car continuously extends the winch.

PHOTO: TUAN MINH

Main driver of car 402 Nguyen Phuong Toan was happy with his teammates when he completed test number 10 in 6 minutes and 41 seconds. "This year's weather was rainy, so the terrain of the test was much more difficult than previous years. Although the results were not as good as other teams, we were still very happy because we had a great experience," Toan shared.

PHOTO: TUAN MINH

In addition to test number 10, routes number 17 and 18 also require cars to have upgrades to overcome deep swamps before reaching the finish line.

PHOTO: TUAN MINH

This year's PVOIL VOC tournament has 23 racing tracks and 1 special Adventure track, nearly double the number of 14 tracks of last season.

PHOTO: TUAN MINH

Mr. Nguyen Truc Sang (Ho Chi Minh City) said that this is the 5th year he has participated in the PVOIL Cup off-road tournament. "Every time I go to Hanoi to compete, it is a memorable memory for the whole team. This is truly an exciting playground for me to indulge my passion," said Mr. Sang.

PHOTO: TUAN MINH

The vehicle class competitions: basic, advanced pickup, advanced SUV and professional take place over the next two days, November 1 and 2, before finding the champion in this year's categories.

The 2025 Vietnam PVOIL Cup off-road racing tournament is divided into 4 categories:

- Basic Class: The racing car must be a complete commercial version sold on the market, with permission to remove, replace, upgrade some details such as tires, shock absorbers, front/rear bumpers,... but not change the engine, wheelbase, seats in the cabin, the car is not allowed to use a winch...

- Advanced Pickup Class: The competing vehicle must be a complete commercial pickup version sold on the market, with permission to remove, upgrade, and replace engine, tire, shock absorber, front/rear bumper, trunk, etc. items, but without changing the wheelbase or shortening the chassis...

- Advanced SUV Class: The racing vehicle must be a complete commercial SUV version sold on the market, with permission to remove, upgrade, and replace items such as engine, tires, shock absorbers, front/rear bumpers, etc., but without changing the wheelbase, shortening the chassis, etc. For convertibles and canvas-top vehicles (similar to Jeep, UAZ) must have a sturdy steel frame to protect the cabin and connect it to the chassis to protect the driver in case of a rollover.

- Professional Class: This is the most difficult professional class, so the racing car does not need to be a commercial version sold on the market. Racing cars are allowed to disassemble, upgrade, and replace items; except for items that are not allowed such as chains or using tool tires, tires with a diameter of over 42 inches.

Vehicles competing in this class can use a box-shaped chassis or a welded round tube chassis with a load-bearing cabin (buggy type). The vehicle must have a complete cabin shell: hood; roof; doors or protective bars (at least 40cm high from the floor); windshield, or steel mesh in the windshield area with mesh no larger than 2cm; front and rear bumpers; must be equipped with 4-point or more seat belts...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lai-cung-loay-hoay-vuot-lay-tai-giai-dua-o-to-dia-hinh-lon-nhat-viet-nam-185251101124214385.htm