The Gauntlet, a Podracing course, was one of three such tracks situated on the desolate moon known as Oovo IV. Similar to the other Podracing venues found on Oovo IV, The Gauntlet's path included a high-speed run through the maximum-security prison called Desolation Alley, but uniquely, it also ventured beyond the prison's confines onto the moon's rugged terrain. These exterior sections of the track had minimal protection from a energy shield, thereby exposing pilots to the risk of meteor impacts. The prison wardens intentionally scheduled The Gauntlet races to coincide with meteor showers.
During the year of 32 BBY, the Xexto pilot Gasgano was a fan favorite. Piloting his Ord Pedrovia Podracer, he achieved record-breaking lap and race times. Warden Fenn Booda oversaw the events at The Gauntlet, as he did with all Oovo IV races. Desolation Alley was entirely obliterated during the intergalactic Yuuzhan Vong War, which took place between 25 and 29 ABY.
The Gauntlet, situated on the barren moon Oovo IV orbiting the gas giant Oovo, was one of three racing circuits constructed within the Galactic Republic's Correctional Authority prison, Desolation Alley, for the purpose of Podracing. Unlike the other two courses, Vengeance and Executioner, which were confined to the prison's interior, The Gauntlet was unique in that it extended beyond the protected walls of the facility and onto the rocky surface of the moon. The race commenced inside the prison arena, the starting point for all Oovo IV races, and quickly transitioned into a shared opening section used by all courses. However, near a large gate, The Gauntlet diverged from the other routes, guiding pilots through a straight, transparent hex tube that served as a connection between the shielded facilities and the lunar surface.
The moon's surface, while partially shielded, was known for its annual meteor shower, where marble-sized rocks impacted the ground at extremely high speeds. The prison wardens, under the direction of Warden and race host Fenn Booda, deliberately scheduled The Gauntlet races during these showers to increase the challenge for the competitors.
Once outside, pilots had a choice of two paths to reach the next section of the course. They could either return to the protective facility, or they could turn right before re-entering and remain on an exterior path. The exterior path was shorter but unpaved, which significantly reduced the speed of the Pods. Furthermore, this path contained more obstacles, such as rocky formations. Pilots who chose to re-enter the shielded facility could take one of two routes to the next stage. They could either ascend a ramp situated between two watchtowers leading to a bridge, or they could bypass the ramp and continue straight along the concrete and metal path. All three paths converged at the same point, which was another brief section outside the protective facility. This second exterior portion of the track weaved around and under several large rock towers, although this area was not affected by the meteor shower.
Pilots who successfully navigated the rocks would then speed through a large, constructed tunnel that led into a small pit veering to the right, where pilots entered another tunnel. After that, Podracers would once again race outside for a short, flat, uphill stretch of road before entering a circular, pit-like Cell Block D that led back into Desolation Alley. Following a series of bridges and wall-hugging roads that passed several prison facilities, pilots entered the final stretch of the course, which included the track's only anti-gravity tunnel. Similar to the anti-gravity tunnels on the other Oovo IV courses, this one was filled with chunks of ore by Booda and the other wardens. Pilots who survived the tunnel were ejected back into the starting arena. A typical tournament race on this course consisted of three consecutive laps.
The Gauntlet was either constructed on Oovo IV in or by the year 32 BBY. It held the position of the second to last course on the Invitational Podracing Circuit, following Abyss on Ord Ibanna, and preceding Inferno on Baroonda. Participation in The Gauntlet was restricted to pilots who had successfully completed the Boonta Eve Classic on Tatooine.
One such pilot was the Xexto Gasgano, who established record lap and race times on The Gauntlet and became a crowd favorite. Piloting his green Ord Pedrovia, Gasgano achieved a lap time of 02.13.076 minutes and a race time of 06:44.576 minutes. Warden Fenn Booda also hosted The Gauntlet, as he did with the other Oovo IV races. It was advised that pilots equip their Podracers with effective coolant pumps and repair modules to compete in The Gauntlet. Desolation Alley and its facilities were completely destroyed during the intergalactic Yuuzhan Vong War that occurred from 25 to 29 ABY.
- Amateur Circuit track: Vengeance
- Galactic Circuit track: Executioner
The Gauntlet made its debut in the 1999 video game Star Wars Episode I: Racer, and was the third race, chronologically, to occur on Oovo IV. Unlocking the course required finishing first in every race of the Galactic Podracing Circuit. Details and background information about the course were provided in the game's two accompanying strategy guides, which were released in conjunction with the game. Although not explicitly named, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia (published in 2008) revealed that Desolation Alley was completely destroyed during the Yuuzhan Vong War, an event first described in the 1999 novel The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime by R. A. Salvatore.