Looking to bring top level, international-style Rally Raid motorsports to North American soil, the National Off Road Racing Association (NORRA) has announced plans for a new three day “Cortez Rally” event for 2015 to be run in conjunction with next year’s General Tire NORRA Mexican 1000.

Competitors can run each race separately, or for enthusiasts seeking to take on a longer trans-Baja Rally Raid experience, the two events can be combined to comprise the aptly named seven-day “Cortez Challenge.”

The Cortez Challenge will start in Mexicali, Baja Mexico and is comprised of three days of competition at the Cortez Rally followed by a rest day that precedes another four days of Mexican 1000 competition.

To aid NORRA in making their expanded vision a world-class reality, the sanctioning body has partnered with Rally Raid veteran Darren Skilton, a two-time winner and former American envoy to the Dakar Rally.

While NORRA’s highly popular four-day Mexican 1000 run down Baja’s scenic peninsula from Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas is the sanctioning body’s main focus, the new Cortez Rally will follow an international style of rally raid competition that includes on-road transit stages, off-road “special sections” and overnight stops.

All motorcycle classes will race on separate starting dates and courses to greatly enhance the level of safety for the two-wheel crowd, and will run road book navigation for both the Mexican 1000 and Cortez Rally.

Motorcycle and car competitors who wish to take on the Cortez Rally in 2015 will start their adventure in Mexicali April 22nd and will tackle three Dakar-inspired stages that will see the bikes and cars finish in Ensenada April 24th.

This announcement comes in preparation of a new and truly unique motor sports event being planned for 2016, called the NORRA Cortez Rally, which will combine the traditional Mexican 1000 with the first-ever off-road competition that follows the Sea of Cortez north in Mainland Mexico before finishing back in Baja.

“It has always been in my mind that we need a real multi-day, cross-country rally for the off-road racing community,” said Skilton. “Every continent in the world puts on a first class Rally Raid except North America.

It’s time to change this. Aspiring Dakar teams from Canada, Mexico and the United States all need an event to fine-tune their cars and bikes, while Dakar dreamers need a cost-effective way to follow their passion. Together with NORRA and my partner Scott Whitney, my goal is to create North America’s premier Rally Raid.” Registration for the 2015 NORRA Mexican 1000 and Cortez Challenge will open online on New Year's Day at 12:00 noon pacific time. NORRA.com