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As if 2011’s toughest-ever Safari wasn’t enough of a challenge for the rest of one’s life, Francis is currently gearing up to get going to Capetown on the London to Cape Town Rally, which starts in Parliament Square on New Year’s Day. He’s co-driving a Toyota HiLux, which is running as part of a 3-car team including Belgian Joost Van Cauwenberge driving a Tuthill 911.
London-Capetown promises to be an amazing event. There are 44 entrants, from 10 countries. Classes break down thus: “shopping cars” hatchback class, two classes for classics: up to two-litres and over two litres, and two classes for 4x4s, with Toyota Landcruisers and HiLux, a Land Rover Defender, two Jeeps, a Subaru and a Porsche 911.
The organisers say cars are coming from far and wide: one from Canada, one from America, and four from Australia, including the oldest car: a 1923 Vauxhall for a father-and-son crew, who probably have the toughest challenge of all.
The route takes in three continents and fourteen countries, covering 14,000 kilometres. Countries include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, and South Africa. The race begins in London on January 1st, and finishes on Cape Town’s Waterfront, 29 days later.
The cars leave town from 7.30pm on Jan 1st. We’ll be in London from 5pm-ish with Francis, our Belgian 911 friends, Joost Van Cauwenberge and Jacques Castelein (see pic), and fellow Classic Porsche fan, Hayden Burvill from WEVO in the USA, who will be co-driving a Porsche 912 on the event. If you’re in town and looking for something to do, then come and say hello!
(Photo by Enduro Rally/Gerard Brown)
