Rally the Globe roars into Africa

Rally the Globe roars into Africa

• Southern Cross Safari full route details announced
• Epic 19-day adventure set in enthralling Kenya and Tanzania 
• 2250 miles of spectacular driving through game reserves and National Parks 
• The magic of Kilimanjaro, Treetops Lodge, the Serengeti and Masai Mara
• Entries now open for experienced and amateur crews in pre-1976 cars
 
When launched late last year, Rally the Globe promised to provide the growing number of likeminded and enthusiastic vintage and classic car owners with memorable motoring adventures right around the world – and the inaugural Southern Cross Safari (15 February to 5 March 2020) certainly lives up to its stellar billing.
 
The epic route for the exhilarating East African expedition has just been announced and, from a luxurious hotel base on the Indian Ocean, will take participants on an incredible 19-day journey through the spectacular landscapes and game reserves of Kenya and Tanzania.
 
The 2250 miles (3600 kilometres) of unforgettable driving travels roads through no fewer than nine wildlife-rich National Parks including the Serengeti, Masai Mara and Ngorongoro Crater and offers amazing views of the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya as well as the Ngong Hills made famous by the movie Out of Africa. 
 
A total of 21 tests and regularity sections – many staged exclusively on privately owned land such as the 45,000-acre estate of Lord and Lady Delamere – ensure a competitive edge. However, with the emphasis on adventure rather than endurance, the pace ensures there will be plenty of time for both amateur and experienced crews to savour incredible game drives and overnight halts at top class safari lodges, camps and luxury hotels.
 
Among the notable stops are the famous Treetops Lodge where Princess Elizabeth became Queen in 1953 plus a well-earned rest day at the Mount Kenya Safari Club founded by actor William Holden, where past members include Bing Crosby and Sir Winston Churchill.  
 
The extraordinary Southern Cross Safari route set largely on smooth gravel roads is the brainchild of Rally the Globe founder Fred Gallagher – himself a three-time winner of the original Safari Rally when the East African classic was a regular fixture on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar.
 
“I’ve always had a huge passion for the amazing wonders of East Africa and I’m thrilled that we have created an automotive adventure which really captures the all the magic of the region,” enthused Gallagher. “The route avoids the crowds and visits some of the more exclusive game reserves allowing crews to explore areas that few tourists will ever experience. Add in the challenge of competitive sections, luxury camps and some of the world’s most dramatic wildlife and scenery and it is easy to see why the Southern Cross Safari is going to be such a memorable experience for all involved.” 
 
Complete day-by-day details of the Southern Cross Safari are available on the www.rallytheglobe.com website. Entry is open to all abilities driving either vintage or classic cars built before the end of 1976. 
 
Rally the Globe’s debut event – the Carrera Iberia to be staged in rural Spain and Portugal this autumn – was fully subscribed within days of being launched and, with limited numbers, the Southern Cross Safari is expected to be another sell-out success. As a result participants eager to be part of the ultimate East African automotive adventure are strongly advised to register their interest swiftly.  
 
Founded by Gallagher with substantial backing from a number of influential endurance rally aficionados, Rally the Globe was established to deliver unrivalled levels of professionalism, experience, vision and voyage. 
 
Detailed planning for three initial events was announced when Rally the Globe was launched last November: the evocatively named ‘Carrera Iberia’ followed by the Southern Cross Safari in February 2020 and then the ultimate ‘Round the World’ split into three individual sections between May 2020 and June 2021.
 
The hugely positive response to these – exemplified by the sell-out Carrera Iberia – has encouraged Rally the Globe to reveal a full list of planned endurance and adventure style rallies for the next four years. These include equally appealing events in the Americas, Japan, Vietnam, Italy, Scandinavia and the British Isles. More details of these will be confirmed in the coming weeks and months.

RALLY THE GLOBE CALENDAR (2019-2023)

7 to 17 October 2019                          Carrera Iberia
15 February to 5 March 2020             Southern Cross Safari
21 to 26 April 2020                             Celtic Challenge 2000
23 May to 9 June 2020                      Round the World Part 1 (London to Casablanca)
19 September to 11 October 2020     Round the World Part 2 (Boston to Vancouver)
February 2021                                   Carrera Atlantica
April 2021                                          Celtic Challenge
May/June 2021                                  Rally 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)
*subject to change


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