British drivers close in on Cape Town to London driving record

10 February 2013

Invitation to media event at Marble Arch finish – Monday 11 February at 5pm (please call Matt Whitticase on 07515 788456 to arrange interviews with the drivers either at the finish or on their approach.)

10,300 mile drive across 13 countries and 2 continents – thousands raised for charity

Drivers first to use new Sudan-Egypt land crossing.

Drivers given special permission for Libya crossing

A daredevil British driving duo are now within an ace of two world records for driving between Cape Town and London.

Philip Young and Paul Brace drove their car on to European soil this morning at Palermo in Sicily, just nine days after leaving Cape Town in a one litre Fiat Panda.

Since then they have driven an average of 1,000 miles a day across South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Libya and Tunisia before crossing the Mediterranean this morning to land in Sicily.

Two driving world records set to fall

The world record time for a drive between Cape Town and London in either direction is 11 and a half days, set in 2010 by a three man team in a Land Rover Td5.

And the record for a Cape Town to London drive is 14 days, set 30 years ago in 1983 by British Army Brigadier John Hemsley and his wife Dr. Lucy Hemsley in a Range Rover V8.

The Fiat Panda pair are now just ahead of a schedule that would see them arrive in triumph under London’s Marble Arch tomorrow (Monday 11 February) at about 5pm. If they manage to keep to the schedule, both records will fall to the British drivers.

Lord David Steel helps drivers overcome potential political barriers

The veteran British parliamentarian Lord David Steel, who is also President of the British Endurance Rally Association, has backed the drivers’ by helping persuade the authorities in Sudan, Egypt and Libya to remove potential hurdles that could have held up the drivers or, worse still, prevent them from making further progress.

The authorities in Egypt and Sudan allowed the pair to become the first to use a new land crossing between the two countries that gained them a few precious hours. And the drivers were also granted special permission to drive right across Libya without hold ups at the border or refusal to grant them entry visas.

Major Fundraising effort – thousands raised for British charity, Farm Africa

As well as clocking up the miles, the drivers have also raised thousands of pounds for British charity Farm Africa which is tackling acute hunger in some of the countries the drivers have passed through on their journey. See notes to editor for more on Farm Africa.

Invitation to Marble Arch World Record Reception

A media reception for the car and drivers is planned for the evening of Monday 11 February.

***If you are planning to come to the event please contact Matt Whitticase (07515 788456) on Monday when we will have a more accurate idea of the drivers’ ETA at Marble Arch.***

More on driver Philip Young

Generally credited with having started off the historic rallying movement in the UK, closing Tower Bridge for the start of the first-ever international rally for classic cars, the Pirelli Classic Marathon.

Re-invented the Lombard Rally driving around the UK, exclusively for 1400cc cars with standard engines.

Organised the only timed event to lap the globe, the Around the World in 80 Days.

Opened up the border between Tibet and Nepal for the running of the Peking to Paris in 1997 and the border (Friendship Bridge), remains open to this day.

Started up the Monte Carlo Challenge - a regular winter event for classics that saw over 200 entries.

Currently runs the Flying Scotsman, Britains biggest event for vintage cars - three days from London to Edinburgh.Organised over 65 rallies.

Ends

Notes to Editor:

Further information is available via our earlier press releases: http://www.farmafrica.org/media/media-centre

Images of the drivers and car en route are available on request.

More information on the record attempt and how to follow Philip and Paul’s progress, as well as the history of Cape Town to London rallying, is available here: http://www.africarecordrun.com/

For more information, and to arrange interviews with the drivers:

Farm Africa press office: Matt Whitticase, 020 7067 1237 / mattheww@farmafrica.org / - please use mobile telephone number if calling over the weekend: 07515 788456

About Farm Africa

Farm Africa is a charity working with families in rural Africa, helping them to produce food more effectively. By providing training and support to help farmers improve the way they manage their crops, livestock, forests and access to water, we help families build a future free from hunger. For more information about Farm Africa please visit www.farmafrica.org