The Great South American Challenge, organised by H&H Classic Rallies, crossed the finishing line in Ushuaia - the world's most southerly town - after 14,500 gruelling kilometres of action, triumph and adventure, stretching from Rio de Janeiro to the very tip of the world.

The start on 14 February was organised to coincide with the end of the greatest show on earth -  the 2013 Rio Carnival - when 29 cars, from Austin to Vauxhall, with participants from Australia to the USA, set out on the adventure of a lifetime.

The route included the Foz do Iguaccu Falls - some say the greatest on earth - in Brazil; the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia - also the greatest in the world; Lake Titicaca - the highest navigable lake in the world; Machu Picchu in Peru - the astonishing home of the Inca Kings; the Atacama desert - the driest place on earth; and the lake district of Chile; Patagonia; glaciers and the wine regions of Argentina; before the final dash to the end of the world.

The event was won by the father and son combination of Max and James Stephenson from Australia in their 1923 Vauxhall 23/60, followed by the Porsche 356 of Stephen Harris from the USA and co-driver Hayden Burvill from Australia. Third were Hans Geist and Herbert Pinzolits from Austria in their Mercedes 280SE.

Commenting on his success, Max Stephenson said: "This was a fantastic rally and to win it with my son is unbelievable. Congratulations to everyone who finished this event, which is one of the toughest in the world."

Of the 29 starters, seven failed to reach the finish - all through mechanical failure or lack of preparation.

The Great South American Challenge was the second endurance rally organised by H&H Classic Rallies (the first was the Tiger Rally in south east Asia) and was regarded as a resounding success by the participants. The second Great South American Challenge is scheduled for 2015.

The next event from H&H Classic Rallies is the Paris-Madrid Rally, which starts from Versailles on 24 May and finishes in Madrid three days later. The event commemorates the 110th running of the Paris-Madrid Race of 1903.

Results of the Great South American Challenge 2013:

1st Overall - Max and James Stephenson - 1923 Vauxhall 23/60

2nd Overall (and winners of Class C) - Stephen Harris and Hayden Burvill - 1964 Porsche 356

3rd Overall (and winners of Class D) - Hans Geist and Herbert Pinzolits - 1969 Mercedes 280SE

Winners of Class A: Bill and Biddy Bolsover - 1927 Bentley 3/8

Winners of Class B: Lloyd Dahmen and Chuck Schwager - 1949 Cadillac 62 Coupe