The 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge is a driverless desert race with a $2 million dollar prize. It will be competed on October 8, 2005; the team that develops an autonomous ground vehicle that finishes the designated route most quickly within 10 hours will receive the prize. The route will be no more than 175 miles over desert terrain featuring natural and man-made obstacles. The exact route will not be revealed until two hours before the event begins. 40 participants will compete in a qualifier that will narrow the field to 20 race-day competitors.

The Red Team will compete with two entrants: Sandstorm and H1ghlander. Sandstorm is the veteran racer from the 2004 race season. H1ghlander is a contender that is being developed using latest technology.