The Red Centre to Gold Coast Trial (RCTGCT) was a National Non-Special Stage Rally and was conducted over 7000 kilometres on public and private roads, commencing in Alice Springs on Wednesday 10 September 2008, and finishing on the Gold Coast on Saturday 20 September 2008. The course passed through Mount Isa, Normanton, Cairns, Townsville, Longreach, Birdsville, Tibooburra, Bourke and Goondiwindi.

The Red Centre to Gold Coast Trial featured Historic, Classic and Production Rally Cars conforming to the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) eligibility and technical regulations, with an age cut-off no more than the end of 1985. Occupants of the cars were limited to the driver and navigator holding the appropriate CAMS competition licence.

66 started the event in Alice Springs and 51 finished it on the Gold Coast.

Competitors in the Red Centre to Gold Coast Trial, like other long-distance rallies and trials, were average men and women in average machines with an above average will to finish the event, and entered knowing their chances of a prominent outright and class placing were not overly high, but there was the challenge to do so, and to share in the camaraderie of such an endurance event was irresistible, together with the opportunity to experience the Australian Red Centre as well as the Queensland and New South Wales Outback.

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