Iconic locations for start of World Cup Rally

By James Page

| 15 Dec 2011

The London to Cape Town World Cup Rally will start from the Houses of Parliament on the evening of New Year’s Day. Organisers are hoping that the rally will become the first timed event to successfully drive the length of Africa.

Scrutineering and a drivers' briefing for the 44 entrants will take place at Brooklands Museum, alongside the Surrey venue's traditional New Year's Day classic-car meeting. For pre-1973 vehicles (such as competitors Patrick and Christine Sommer's 1966 VW Karmann-Ghia, below), entry to Brooklands during the day is via the Campbell Gate, and if you turn up in a pre-’73 car, you will receive a £1 discount on admission.

Parking for classic cars is provided in and around the paddock, along the Finishing Straight and on the Members' Banking.

Competitors on the rally will then be flagged off from Brooklands at 4pm to travel up to London for the formal start. The first leg runs through the night for a total of 20 hours, and the 10,000 miles to Cape Town are expected to take 29 days. The route goes through France, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia and finally into South Africa. Not that there will be any local knowledge for Greg and Sam Newton (below) – they're shipping their Holden Commodore over from Australia!

There are several classes, including two specifically for classics: up to two litres; and over two litres. The oldest car taking part is a 1923 Vauxhall, which is being piloted by a father-and-son crew, but there will be plenty of younger classics, too, such as Dutch pair Mark and Ben Munne's nimble Peugeot 205 Rallye (below).

The rally is raising money for Water Aid and African Revival. You can keep up to date via the rally's website or the Twitter feed: @WorldCupRally12.

James Page

James Page is a regular contributor to – and former Editor of – Classic & Sports Car