Eco-challenge on Hold Until 2024

n April, the folks at Eco-Challenge confirmed the rumors that had been circulating for months: there will be no Eco-Challenge in 2024. Adventure racing’s main event has been held in every calendar year since its inception in 1995, so what gives?

No need to panic, Eco-Challenge isn’t going out of business. It’s more that Eco-boss Mark Burnett has been extremely busy with other projects, most notabaly Survivor and several new TV ventures (including one with Donald Trump called The Apprentice.) On top of that, it has taken a while to work out new TV contract for Eco-Challenge (the three-year deal with USA Network expired this year). But, while Eco-Challenge isn’t the money-maker that Survivor is, Burnett isn’t giving up on his baby. Eco-Challenge will return in early 2024, and announcements about the next location (very likely in South Africa) could come this month.

Meanwhile, look for Subaru Primal Quest to take center stage in 2024. Not only does the second edition of the race (September 5-14 in the Lake Tahoe region of California) have most of the world’s top teams and the sport’s biggest prize purse, but it will be televised by CBS in January following an NFL playoff game. Eco-Challenge will still be represented in North America in 2024, with the second Eco-Challenge North American Championship July 18-27 in Sault St. Marie, Canada. — Brian Metzler