Le Jog heads to John O'Groats 10 | 12 | 2011
JOHN O'GROATS IS THE sole objective over the next four days for drivers competing in what's been labelled as the UK’s toughest car rally – Le Jog.
The field of classic cars (our photo shows a Maserati during last year's snow-hit event) from Holland, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, as well as the UK, started off from Land's End this morning at the start of the epic winter battle.
The 17th annual running of the world acclaimed rally covers a 1400 mile route to John O'Groats, including the longest night navigation section ever.
Seventy cars — including classics ranging from a 1937 Riley Sport to a 1958 Jaguar XK 150 — will travel through Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wales, Shropshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Northumbria, Northumberland, East Lothian, West Lothian, North Lanarkshire, and across Scotland to John O’Groats over a four-day period.
“Le Jog is one of the toughest events of its kind in Europe, possibly the world," event director and Clerk of the Course, Peter Nedin, said today, "and we constantly strive to maintain this enviable reputation.
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"We have no idea what the weather will bring, but it certainly won’t stop the drivers of these cars who will do all they can to finish to course no matter what the conditions."
And Tomas de Vargas Machuca, managing director of the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation, HERO, welcomed the testing conditions.
"This will be one of the most testing events that we have ever run," he said. "The weather is already closing in, and we've all seen the horrific storms which roared across the North of England and Scotland earlier this week.
"But as in past editions, the event has attracted crews from all over Europe and beyond which is a testament to the event and all those who work so hard to make it happen.”
All sorts of cars will be taking part including a Riley Sports Special from 1937 driven by Richard Jeffcoate and James May from Surrey.
There's also a 1958 Jaguar XK 150 being driven by Charles Graves and Ron Palmer from Surrey and a 1960 Peugeot being driven by Pieter and Thijs Hennipman from Holland. Other cars include BMW’s, Triumphs and Porsche. Spectators are encouraged to turn out and see the cars go through their area.
BMW Park Lane Classic, who as part of a sponsorship deal with HERO has prepared a 1973 BMW 1602 saloon for the event.
If you want to keep up-to-date with all the action from Le Jog, click here.
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Jim McGill