RTG Carrera Iberia The Daily Dispatch - all days - Flipbook - Page 1
7 to 17 October 2019
Pre Start
Santander, Spain
7 October 2019
Welcome to the first ever Rally the Globe (RtG) event, new company, but one steeped in the old ways and
traditions of endurance rallying. It was born out of a desire to, quite literally, go the extra mile and RtG
therefore, has an ambitious programme to break new ground, crack open some borders and to press on
where others may fear to tread.
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
This first event will follow the Carrera format - in that the
route is all tarmac - and will lead the crews North to South,
through the Iberian Peninsula to Portugal and the Algarve.
For ten days and 3445km, we’ve been promised plenty of
great competition, fine driving, fine wines and fine dining.
There’s a great mix of people and cars here with us in
Santander, the capital of Cantabria, and they’re all keen to
enjoy what looks to be a fantastic route crafted by former WRC
rally ace Fred Gallagher with the one time Rothmans Porsche
supremo, John Spiller, acting as the Clerk of the Course.
Despite its debutant status though, no one is a stranger
on this rally and Gallagher, the Rally Director, was very
pleased to see so many of his friends in all manner of old
cars. And, taking a stroll around the carpark, he noted
that it was WO Bentley who provided the biggest “factory
team” turnout for the Carrera, with no less then five prewar Cricklewood cruisers lined up under the palms of the
palatial Eurostars Real Hotel overlooking the Bay of Biscay.
Jim Gately meanwhile ploughed a very lonely furrow
indeed by bringing possibly the only Kurtis Comet in the
world, never mind on this rally.
The hotel and its grounds are indeed beautiful, but
despite this there was a sense of mounting anticipation and
enthusiasm to get on down the road. Today however was
given over to the all important signing on and scrutineering.
And, the unflappable events manager, Loren Price led the
assault on the mountain of paperwork, handing to each
crew their rally bag and paperwork along with a tube of
RtG branded sweets, whilst the legendary sweep crews
comprising Andy Inskip, Bob Harrod, Jamie Turner and
Jack Amies were set up in the car park and tasked with
checking the cars for safety and compliance. Gill Cotton
and Alan Smith also ran a couple of refresher tutorials for
anyone needing help with their navigation.
A drivers briefing late in the afternoon was led by John
Spiller who welcomed one and all, officially to the event
www.rallytheglobe.com
