Off Road

2024 SCORE International schedule revealed

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Credit: Art Eugenio/Red Bull Content Pool

The SCORE International World Desert Championship will retain the same four races in 2024, but that and when they take place are basically the only certainties when the schedule was released Wednesday.

As has been the case since 2019, the season will begin with the San Felipe 250, followed by the Baja 500, Baja 400, and ending with the premier Baja 1000. However, only San Felipe has a confirmed location as the eponymous town will serve as both the start and finish on 23 March. The 250’s race day is a week earlier than in 2023, which took place in April and was won by reigning SCORE champion Luke McMillin.

The Baja 500 will run over two months after the season opener. The 2023 edition, claimed by Bryce Menzies, was a loop from and to Ensenada. This format will also stay for the Baja 400 in September, which sets the starting lineup for the Baja 1000. Like in previous years, the starting order for the 500 will be determined by the results from San Felipe; the latter has qualifying for Trophy Truck and its variations.

The 1000’s route has evolved throughout the years, existing in both loop and point-to-point formats along the Baja California peninsula. For 2023, the 1000 will go in reverse of its traditional direction, starting south in La Paz and heading north towards Ensenada. Conversely, the 2024 race will resume the loop configuration with Ensenada as the start and finish.

“Mexican races are the cornerstone of SCORE and to have all four races south of the border for the ninth consecutive season and ninth time in SCORE’s long history is a distinct honor and a wonderful privilege,” said SCORE president Jose Grijalva. “We welcome the challenge to continue to add to the illustrious SCORE Baja racing legacy. And to finish the season with the iconic SCORE Baja 1000 always attracts racing extremists from around the world and 2024 will be another one-of-a-kind experience with the Granddaddy of all Desert Races.”

All SCORE races have exclusively taken place in Mexico since 2016, with the last round outside the country being the 2015 Imperial Valley 250 in California, United States.

UPDATE (8 August): After negotiating with the governments of Baja California and Mexico, SCORE announced in August that the Bajas 500, 400, and 1000 will start in and finish in Ensenada. The story has been updated accordingly.

2024 SCORE International World Desert Championship

#RaceFormatLocationDate
137th San Felipe 250LoopSan Felipe20–24 March
256th Baja 500LoopEnsenada29 May – 2 June
35th Baja 400LoopEnsenada11–15 September
457th Baja 1000LoopEnsenada12–17 November
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Justin is not an off-road racer, but he writes about it for The Checkered Flag.
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