The Portuguese Ambassador to the UK, his Excellency Mr. João de Vallera flagged off over fifty classic cars in front of a large crowd on Saturday April 27th when they left Greenwich, London, on the 2386-mile London to Lisboa Reliability Trial & Classic Car Tour.
Patrick Burke, joint Managing Director of HERO, said: “We sent an advanced crew travelling 48 hours ahead of the event and they have hit snow in the Pyrenees with temperatures as low as two degrees. More snow is forecasted over the next two days so that will be both interesting and challenging.”
On Saturday, the crews left Greenwich at midday and carried out tests at Dunsfold Aerodrome, which is used as test track by Top Gear, before heading to the ferry terminal in Portsmouth from where they sailed overnight to Saint-Malo in France.
By the end of day two on Sunday, the cars had arrived in Poitiers, France, the lead was being held by Graham Walker and Sean Toohey in a 1973 Lotus Elan. Chas Colton and Guy Woodcock and Howard Warren and Paul Tomlinson in followhed them closely in two 1965 Porsche 911 2.0 SWB.
The drivers, many of them hardened rally veterans but also a number of first timers, will drive an average of 200/250 miles a day through England, France, Spain and Portugal before arriving in Lisbon on May 5th, where Her Excellency Mrs Jill Gallard, the British Ambassador to Portugal will receive the crews and officially stop the clocks alongside the Deputy Mayor of Lisbon, Mr Manuel Brito, on the famous Praca do Commercio.
Patrick Burke joint added: “The response has been amazing. This will be a real challenge for drivers but also a moving spectacle for people along the route, and we encourage them to come out and watch.”
The 2013 edition of the famous London-Lisboa rally has attracted entries from across the world, with participants from the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, the USA and Mexico.
The rally has also attracted a complete cross section of famous classics ranging from a 1930 Austin 7 Ulster to a 1930 Riley Brooklands 9HP, a 1962 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud and a 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, amongst others.
Organized by HERO, the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation, the event is a qualifying round of the 2013 HERO Cup, in association with EFG International.
Picture captions – Images are free to use but should be credited Ph. Julian Menendez
1) The Portuguese Ambassador to the UK, his Excellency Mr. João de Vallera flags off Car 1, a 1930 Austin 7 Ulster driven by Hagerty’s Angus Forsyth and Marcus Atkinson.
2) Two Austin Healeys battle it out in Dunsfold, England.
Note to editors
The route includes some of the best scenery in England, France, Spain and Portugal. High res pictures will be provided periodically. Route:
- Day 1: Saturday 27th April – Greenwich (London) to Portsmouth (United Kingdom)
- Day 2: Sunday 28th April – Saint Malo to Poitiers (France)
- Day 3: Monday 29th April – Poitiers to Pau (France)
- Day 4: Tuesday 30th April – Pau to Burgos (Spain)
- Day 5: Wednesday 1st May – Burgos to Leon (Spain)
- Day 6: Thursday 2nd May – Leon to Ourense (Spain)
- Day 7: Friday 3rd May – Ourense to Vila Real (Portugal)
- Day 8: Saturday 4th May – Vila Real to Caramulo (Portugal)
- Day 9: Sunday 5th May – Caramulo to Lisbon (Portugal)
- Total miles: 2,386 / Total regularities: 25 / Tests: 14
Event Partners
Octane Magazine, Museu Do Caramulo, Orianda, Arrive & Drive, Classicos ACP, LAPA Palace, Hagerty, Motors TV, Vodafone, Camara Municipal de Lisboa.
About H.E.R.O
The Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation (H.E.R.O.) is a classic car club recognised by the Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association (the MSA – the official governing body for motor sport in the UK, affiliated to the FIA) and, through its membership of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, is affiliated to FIVA – the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens. A classic car endurance rallying club that dates over eighteen years, HERO has organized more than 90 events (trials and tours) especially for classic cars. HERO also offers a wide range of services such as the Arrive & Drive classic/rally car hire program, corporate and bespoke event planning and organisation, storage and transport logistic, a Premier Membership that offers discounts throughout its network of Partners; making it a truly integrated one stop shop platform.
2013 HERO Cup in association with EFG International
The Poppy Rally is the first qualifying round of the much coveted 2013 HERO Cup, in association with EFG International. The club’s annual championship sees crews participating in a sufficient number of events organised by HERO and the CRA along 2013, competing to win a week on board the 95 ft. S/Y Orianda cruising in the Mediterranean .
The events counting towards this year’s cup include the CRA’s Poppy Regularity Rally, Classic Marathon and Rally of the Tests as well as HERO’s London-Lisboa Classic Reliability rally, Throckmorton Challenge, and the LeJog (Land’s End to John O’ Groats) reliability trial and tour.
