WORLD CUP RALLY 2001 NEWS INDEX

15th September 2001: London-Sahara-London Count-down…

The works-supported MG ZR of Andy Dawe and Simon Sperey ready for the World Cup.

In the 70-strong line up, with entries from as far as New Zealand and America, there are no less than eight entries receiving support from Manufacturers.

The 20-day rally has 82 time-controls, and 28 competitive test-sections, with more than 6,000 miles of varied terrain placing a premium on reliability. The 10-days in Morocco form the heart of the rally, but the drive up through Portugal, using some of the classic stages of the old TAP Portugese Rally, provides a sting in the tail and is expected to provide a major final influence on the leaderboard.

Nicky Porter is an experienced competitor who is likely to go well in his Mitsubishi Spacestar.

The event, which revives the long-distance World Cup Rallies of the 1970s, will be televised on four TV programmes in the UK, in addition to Sky News, and regular reports in the Daily Telegraph's Motoring Section each Saturday.

Stirling Moss flags off cars from Brooklands at 10.0am, on Sunday, September 30th, drivers then head to Dover. The finish is a return to Brooklands, 6.30pm on October 19, (6.30pm). Spectators Welcome.

Dave Maryon starts the event at number 5 in his Peugeot 206.

What makes the London-Sahara-London World Cup Rally so different? Firstly, with everyone on much the same sort of power levels, plus the great distance, just about anyone has a chance of outright victory. And instead of discouraging the privateer clubman, as is the current fashion in major international rallies, this even is actually encouraging them - a clubman for once has as much chance of winning outright as one of the eight factory-supported entries.

Bendor Grosvenor and Grace Vanepercy are running the smallest car on the event - a Smart Pulse.

Drivers from as far as America and New Zealand are taking part. Manufacturers supporting entries include: Peugeot, Skoda, MG Rover, VW Racing, Suzuki, Honda, Ford and Proton. Come and cheer them on their way. Brooklands is 10 minutes from the north side of Junction 10 of the M25 at Weybridge (half an hour from Heathrow or Gatwick).

Last Minute Drama but Peugeot secure 2nd place

In an incredible finale to the World Cup Rally, Barbara Armstrong and Alyson Marlow took 2nd place, after a strong challenge for the lead over the entire duration of the rally, but only just, after negotiating the flash floods in Fez it appears that the Peugeot sucked water into the intake which bent a con rod, incredibly the car continued until reaching the port for the return ferry when it cried enough and the con rod broke and smashed through the side of the engine block, also wrecking the oil pump.

The plan was to find some parts at Portsmouth, get the car going on three cylinders, limp across the line at Brooklands and claim second place. It is all down to the legendary skills of Peter Banham.

The tension was incredible, amazingly the parts were located the engine was stripped down whilst on the boat and a replacement oil pump located, Peter and Betty Banham then filled the whole in the engine and in a feat of technical wizardry got it running on three cylinders for the run back to Brooklands.

The girls arrived in style, in what resembled a dry ice presentation with steam and smoke heralding their triumphant return.

Peugeot Motorsport Manager Mick Linford; "I cannot understate the achievement, to cross the Sahara and travel 6000 miles in a standard road car, enduring conditions only seen on the likes of the Safari Rally is a major accomplishment for Barbara, Alyson and of course the Peugeot 206 but this was matched by the ingenuity of Peter Banham in reviving the engine against all the odds."

In the 70-strong line up, were entries from as far as New Zealand and America, there were no fewer than eight entries receiving support from Manufacturers.

The 20-day rally had 82 time-controls, and 28 competitive test-sections, with more than 6,000 miles of varied terrain placing a premium on reliability. The 10-days in Morocco formed the heart of the rally, but the drive up through Portugal, using some of the classic stages of the old TAP Portugese Rally, provided a sting in the tail.