On a rather chilly Sunday in the deepest, darkest depths of Surrey, 33 brave teams set off for the more tropical climes of Cameroon at Bottom Gear, the launch of the 2009 Africa Rally.
Having been advised by the FCO's head of counter terrorism to cancel the Africa Rally in it's original format due to the escalating threat of terrorism in parts of north and West Africa, the teams will now no longer be travelling through areas advised against by the FCO. These include the whole of Mauritania and Algeria, plus large areas of Mali and Niger. Instead they will be shipping their rusty steeds from Tilbury docks and Casablanca to Dakar, Senegal, and driving them on to Cameroon from there.
Despite the last minute setback the teams were in fine spirits and the launch went off in cracking style, with entertainment from Buddy and a Cameroonian band, a rousing speech from Denis Nyuyudzirewa, the Deputy High Commissioner for Cameroon, and Prize Giving. The Saharan Accidentals won the charity award for currently leading the field in the amount raised for charity, with a fine £3,468 in their charities' coffers to date. No Regrets were awarded the 'You Big Fairy' prize for their choice of car, a far too functional Mercedes Benz. The other cars setting off were the usual medley of 4 x4 Pandas, VW Beetles, Renaults and the slightly more unusual 750 cc 1934 Austin Seven driven by Chocks Away. With a top speed of "55 mph downhill with the wind behind her" and not enough space to swing a small mouse in, theirs is set to be an interesting journey.
One team, the Family Ness, are going to be the first Africa Rally team to attempt the Rally without a car. Having decided not to ship their vehicle, they are going to get to Cameroon by foot, boat, bus, camel, donkey and wits. All dressed in kilts. Marvellous stuff.
Three Italian teams, Taurinorium Travel Team, No Brain and African Wave, were unable to attend the launch due to shipping their cars and motorbikes from Antwerp. One other Italian team, Est, came to the launch minus their vehicle, which was still in Estonia on it's way back from completing this year's Mongol Rally! Paolo, of Est, seemed utterly unperturbed by this lack of vehicle and will be leaving for Cameroon later this week.
Chocks Away led the parade lap of the famous Dunsfold Park before the teams dispersed to Tilbury docks, Dover, London, Spain....and finally Cameroon.
To watch a reprt of the launch on BBC South Today please see here, and to follow the teams as they trundle south to the tropics see here.