Aston Martin DB5 and rare Kurtis Comet make history by winning new venture’s debut event
Rally the Globe’s debut event – last week’s Carrera Iberia – has been hailed as a massive, game-changing success by all those involved.
Established as a not-for-profit club by many of the sport’s top organisers and participants, the ambitious new group could not have hoped for a more positive introduction, nor for a more perfect launchpad for its forthcoming programme of peerless global competitive driving adventures.
Carrera Iberia attracted a sell-out entry of both vintage and classic cars with entrants unanimously agreeing that Rally the Globe has already set new standards, setting the bar by which future events will now be judged.
“I’ve done three rallies in six weeks all run by different companies and, without a shadow of doubt, this is head and shoulders above everything else,” enthused Stephen Hardwick who finished seventh overall in the Classic Category in his 1965 Ford Falcon.
“We’ve done lots of these events and this is as good as it gets,” concurred Jim Gately, the American claiming victory in the Vintage & Vintageant Category in his distinctive 1947 Kurtis Comet. “This really has been a fabulous rally: the route was the best we’ve ever done; the traffic free roads were a dream for classic cars and the hospitality throughout was second to none. It was just great to be part of it and we are definitely coming back for some more.”
Sharing similar thoughts, Ian Milne co-driver in an iconic 1974 Datsun 240Z added: “No other rally organisation will be able to hold a candle to Rally the Globe now. It is self-evident that the Rally the Globe team is the best in the business.”
“It’s hard to believe this was Rally the Globe’s inaugural event,” echoed Bentley pilot Clint Smith.
Indeed, Rally Director Fred Gallagher confirms the rally has received widespread acclaim; an incredible achievement for a new team – albeit of proven experts – which has conceived and delivered a totally new event all within 16 months. “We could not have had a better start,” admitted a delighted Gallagher. “Putting together this rally in such a short space of time was very demanding, but the end result has been well worth it. Now we are looking forward to the future.”
Carrera Iberia was a magical ten-day journey taking participants on an exhilarating voyage from the historical port of Santander in northern Spain to Vilamoura on the southern coast of Portugal – an epic 3,470kms route, packed with outstanding attractions as well as nine tests and 19 regularity sections.
The carefully planned route featured nine days of memorable driving on deserted asphalt roads far away from the beaten track. Crews drove through wine regions, rolling hills, dramatic canyons, twisting hillclimbs and atmospheric medieval citadels, while enjoying overnight stops at Paradors, Pousadas and five-star hotels.
In the Vintage & Vintageant section long distance rally winners Graham and Marina Goodwin jointly topped the early leaderboard with Gately and his navigator Tony Brooks after the opening day’s section between Santander and Rioja. It was a short-lived joint lead, though, for the Bentley pairing and the Goodwins eventually would have to be satisfied with third place in their Category.
From Day 2 onwards Gately’s distinctive Kurtis Comet was never headed although the Belgian duo Anton Gonnissen and Inge Willemen, in another of the Bentleys, kept the pressure on right to the end in the Category for earlier cars.
Meanwhile, the glorious Aston Martin DB5 of Alan and Tina Beardshaw never lost the lead in the Classics Category despite being under pressure for the entire rally from the Triumphs of Mike and Lorna Harrison in a TR3A and David and Jo Roberts in a TR4. David and Susan Danglard’s tremendous pace on the final day’s test saw the Americans grab a last gasp podium place in their blue Porsche 911.
At the finish Alan Beardshaw was ecstatic. “Having never won anything other than Tina’s hand in marriage, today is a very special day for me, we’re absolutely thrilled,” grinned the victorious Beardshaw. “I’m not sure it gets much better than this.”
As well as crowning the winners and welcoming all the finishers, Gallagher was quick to praise those who have played key roles in the creation of the already peerless Rally the Globe club.
“I must thank all those who have had faith in us: the founding members who shared our vision; the competitors who believed we would deliver a new level of driving and lifestyle experiences and our great team who nailed their colours to our mast and combined to produce such an utterly tremendous first event.”
Gallagher attributes much of the success to Rally the Globe’s unrivalled insight into what participants covet from such driving adventures, as well as meticulous attention to detail. “Whether it was the magical pre-start reception in Santander’s grand old Hotel Real, the Estoril Grand Prix track, the exclusive parking in Trujillo’s historic Plaza Mayor, the private ferry to the deserted Troia Peninsula, or even the event-themed and monogrammed M&Ms given out at the start, it all added up to a very, very special dawn for Rally the Globe,” verified Gallagher. “Now we have raised the bar and established new standards, the challenge is to keep on delivering such sublime motoring experiences.”
As Chairman and one of the founding members, Graham Goodwin has been highly involved in the setting up of Rally the Globe. He summed up Carrera Iberia by saying: “The team we have put together is fantastic and what they’ve delivered has been remarkable. We’re really looking forward to the future and it just goes to show that with the right planning, the right people and the proper team, you can achieve anything. I’m absolutely delighted and looking forward to many more such events.”
To that end, Rally the Globe has already announced a full-programme of both endurance and adventure style rallies filling the next four years – many of these are already in advanced stages of preparation.
Next up is the East African-based ‘Southern Cross Safari’ in February 2020, followed quickly by the Celtic Challenge in the British Isles next April and then the seminal ‘Round the World’ split into three individual sections between May 2020 and June 2021. A few remaining places on those events are still available for those to take advantage of Rally the Globe’s now proven inspiration, vision and expertise.
2019 CARRERA IBERIA: RESULTS
Vintage & Vintageant Category
1. Jim Gately (USA)/Tony Brooks (GBR) 1947 Kurtis Comet 0:02:13
2. Anton Gonnissen (BEL)/Inge Willemen (BEL) 1948 Bentley Speed 8 0:02:59
3. Graham Goodwin (GBR)/Marina Goodwin (GBR) 1927 Bentley Speed 0:03:41
4. Keith Ashworth (GBR)/Norah Ashworth (GBR) 1927 Bentley 4 1⁄2 Le Mans 0:03:55*
5. Bertie Van Houtte (FRA)/Charlotte Van Houtte (GBR) 1925 Bentley 3-4 1⁄2 0:05:45
6. Andrew Long (GBR)/Gina Long (GBR) 1937 Bentley Derby VDP 0:06:59*
7. Anthony Strelzow (CAN)/Lee-Ann Strelzow (CAN) 1936 Bentley Derby Coupe 0:15:38
8. Clint Smith (GBR)/Dawn Smith (GBR) 1929 Bentley Speed Six 4:35:18
9. Gavin Henderson (GBR)/Diana Henderson (GBR) 1922 Bentley 3-4 1⁄2 5:27:51
Classics Category
1. Alan Beardshaw (GBR)/Tina Beardshaw (GBR) 1965 Aston Martin DB5 0:01:07
2. Mike Harrison (GBR)/Lorna Harrison (GBR) 1959 Triumph TR3A 0:02:10
3. David Danglard (USA)/Susan Danglard (USA) 1973 Porsche 911 0:02:33
4. David Roberts (GBR)/Jo Roberts (GBR) 1963 Triumph TR4 0:02:54*
5. Mick de Haas (NLD)/Grace de Haas (NLD) 1966 Mercedes-Benz 280SL 0:03:20
6. Manuel Dubs (SWI)/Irene Dubs (SWI) 1965 Ford Mustang V8 Convertible 0:03:31
7. Stephen Hardwick (GBR)/Samantha Hardwick (GBR) 1965 Ford Falcon 0:03:39*
8. Andrew Laing (GBR)/Ian Milne (GBR) 1974 Datsun 240Z 0:06:33*
9. Clemens Lansing (GER)/Emilia Lansing (GER) 1971 Porsche 911 Targa 0:06:43
10. Christof Ley (GER)/ Len Treeter (CAN) 1958 Mercedes-Benz Ponton 220S 0:07:16
11. Sholto Gilbertson (GBR)/Casper Killick (GBR) 1964 Jaguar E-Type 0:07:21
12. Neil Oatley (GBR)/Peta Oatley (GBR) 1967 Lancia Fulvia 1.3S Rallye 0:09:29
13. Rogier Quekel (NLD)/Marjan te Velde (NLD) 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 0:09:32
14. Jeremy Clayton (GBR)/Jenny Clayton (GBR) 1966 Ford Mustang 0:10:10
15. Anthony Verloop (NLD)/Sonja Verloop (NLD) 1973 MGB GT V8 0:10:11
16. Charles Stuart-Menteth (GBR)/Nicola Stuart-Menteth (GBR) 1962 MGA MK2 0:10:36
17. Otakar Chládek (CZE)/Jindřiška Žemličková (CZE) 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350SL 0:15:49
18. Roland Singer (AUT)/Bernhard Ziegler (AUT) 1966 Saab 96 V4 2:02:39
*Class winners (note top three overall ineligible for awards)
RALLY THE GLOBE CALENDAR (2019-2023)
15 February to 5 March 2020 Southern Cross Safari
21 to 26 April 2020 Celtic Challenge 2020
23 May to 9 June 2020 Round the World Part 1 (London to Casablanca)
19 September to 10 October 2020 Round the World Part 2 (Boston to Vancouver)
February/March 2021 Carrera Atlantica
April 2021 Celtic Challenge
8 May to 19 June 2021 Round the World Part 3 (Vladivostok to London)
October 2021 Carrera Italia
February 2022 Road to Hanoi
May 2022 Carrera Scandinavia
September 2022 Pan-American 1 (Anchorage to Cabo)
February 2023 Pan-American 2 (Mexico to Panama)
May/June 2023 Seoul to Sapporo
October 2023 Pan-American 3 (Cartagena to Cape Horn)
