News

World Cup Rally arrival at Lisbon

Europe days 5/6/7 route card - Brian Englefield allowed us to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn't recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!
Europe days 5/6/7 route card – Brian Englefield allowed us to scan the whole set of route cards, as used on the rally. There are thick card and were issued to the crews. Brian doesn’t recall there being much else in the way of briefing. Remember in 1970 there was still an Iron Curtain and communism was firmly in place!

71 cars lined waiting to be loaded on to Derwent
71 cars lined waiting to be loaded on to Derwent
71 cars taking part in the Daily Mirror 1970 World Cup Rally made it to Lisbon ready for the South American leg.
Cars ready to go Rio de Janeiro
Cars ready to go Rio de Janeiro

Only the cars were loaded aboard the SS Derwent for the 12 day trip to Rio de Janeiro.  The crews and spares crossed the ocean going by Boeing 707.

Puff being shipped from Lison to Rio
Puff being shipped from Lison to Rio

After arriving in South America there were a few days rest before the restart on the evening of Friday 8th May 1970.

1 Rene Trautmann Jean-Pierre Hanrioud Citroen DS21
2 Hannu Mikkola Gunnar Palm Ford Escort 1850
3 Guy Verrier Francois Murac Citroen DS21
4 Timo Makinen Gilbert Staepelaere Ford Escort 1850
5 Patrick Vanson / Olivier Turcat Alain Leprince Citroen DS21
6 Brian Culcheth Johnstone Syer Triumph 2.5PI
7 Robert Neyret Jacques Terramorsi Citroen DS21
8 Paddy Hopkirk / Tony Nash  Neville Johnston Triumph 2.5PI
9 Rauno Aaltonen Henry Liddon Ford Escort 1850
10 Tony Fall Jimmy Geaves Ford Escort 1850
Top Ten in general classification
Above information taken from Graham Robson’s book World Cup Rally 40.

The “Daily Mirror” World Cup Rally 40: The World’s Toughest Rally in Retrospect
More information: www.amazon.co.uk

Perth to Sydney Marathon Rerun 2021

The 1968 London to Sydney Marathon Rally was a real marathon. A rerun of the Australian leg has been organised for 2021. Laurie Mason one of the organisers has set up a facebook group where you can read about the event and keep up to date with their news. Perth to Sydney Marathon Rerun 2021

If you want to know more about this event you can contact Laurie via the Perth to Sydney Marathon Rerun 2021 facebook group

An objective of the Organisers with this event is to provide participants with a real sense of what the 1968 Marathon was all about while following the route as precisely as we can. What is apparent is that what took less than 3 days in 1968 we cannot contemplate in 2021.

Distances between logical overnight locations is a major determining factor and this is resulting in variations in daily distances from 900kms on one day down to as little as 400kms on another, all the while averaging a little under 600kms per day.

The Organisers are very conscious of the changed expectation regarding road safety since 1968, and we are working hard to provide sensible daily distances with rest times, combined with the opportunity for time for social interaction, but trying not to diminish the excitement of the drive part of the event.

Morris 1100

Flash Back to 1968 – #41 Morris 1100 – Sydney Telegraph Car 4 – E Westley @ Brachina Control (16/12/68), Flinders Ranges, South Australia – Position 50

08 May 2020 update

We already have a full field of 72 Expressions Of Interest’s with now 11 on the reserves list.Pressure is being placed on Ford Australia to have them allow KAG-002 (Car 24) to run in the event with Ian Vaughan driving. If that happens we will have all ten 1968 Marathon cars in the event.


……..The event will be the only long distance event to be held in 2021 in Australia.

Best regards,

Laurie.

16 May 2020 update

From Laurie Mason

To all the confirmed Entrants on the P2SMR2021 event, the Organising Committee wish to extend a huge thank you.

You have booked your place on what could be, in all probability, the last event that is held that includes so many original 1968 Marathon contestants, participants, and vehicles, and travels the original route across Australia. This will be the last hoorah downunder for what many consider to be the greatest marathon of them all.

The Committee will do everything we can to make sure the event is enjoyable, interesting, surprising, and memorable. And we might just chuck in a liberal dose of excitement as well.

There is only one week to go before places not taken up in the first round of invitations will be offered to those on the Reserves List.

At this point in time it is very pleasing to advise that of the proposed limit of 72 entries there are only 14 invitations still to confirm their place. Two EOI’s signalled their withdrawal and those positions have been very quickly filled.

This demonstrates the depth of interest in this event.

The Organisers look forward to welcoming the full field of 72 Entrants by this time next week.

Once again, a huge thank you to all the confirmed Entrants for your vote of confidence in the Organisers and the event.

Kind regards,

Laurie Mason – Event Director.

If you want to know more about this event you can contact Laurie via the Perth to Sydney Marathon Rerun 2021 facebook group

World Cup Rally photos from Guido Devreker

After we knew that WCR50 would be postponed until 18 April 2021 we asked people to share photos with us. Guido generously shared two batches of photos with us. This collection was originally posted to our facebook group which you can now see here in this post.

Your can see the first batch of photos from the start of the 1970 World Cup Rally in an earlier post

Ready to load

25th April 1970 1800. Timeline:Lisbon.

Daily Mirror London-Mexico World Cup Rally

Car is prepped and ready on the quayside as the loading begins. Tish has done her prep and Tina and I helped as much as we could. Car tidied and cleaned out. Puff is ready to be lifted up into the ship to sail away at midnight … next stop Rio de Janeiro.

On 6th May the rally would restart in South America. We have made it on to the boat ….and on with the Rally ….hooray.


This post is a part of a series of posts in which Bron Burrell recalls her 1970 World Cup Rally. See all Brons posts in this series.

Citroen DS21 (Car # 87) interior photos wanted

Citroen DS21 that was car 87 in the 1970 World Cup Rally.

Would anybody have photographs of the inside of the Lucien Bianchi 1968 Citroen DS21 (Car # 87) please. Any photos of the car would be great.

This one by Bruce Thomas.

Originally posted by Laurie Mason on facebook 22 April 2020

Can you help Laurie Mason find some photos of the interior of the Citroen DS21 that was car 87 in the 1968 Marathon Rally.

Contact Us