Having grown from six cars in 2004 to a massive 500 in 2009 it's quite possibly the greatest motoring adventure on our fair planet. 50 teams are leaving from Milan, 100 from Barcelona and 350 from Goodwood in the UK, the hub of the mighty Festival of Slow.
Organised by The Adventurists the festival will include a temporary declaration of The Independent Republic of Adventurism. It will serve up a spectacular celebration of slow with a heavy dash of the ridiculous and a measure of downright splendidness. Like nothing you've seen before, the festival will be a gargantuan day of adventurism.
The teams will have their tiny cars on show in proper motoring paddocks and start their rally with a parade lap of the circuit itself with thousands of spectators expected to see them off. Everybody at the festival will have to negotiate entry to the Independent Republic and pass the scrutiny of the border guards.
Those issued with an appropriate visa for the Republic will be awarded with marauding entertainers including cossack dancers, Russian strongmen, comedy spies lurking amongst the crowds, Mongolian wrestlers and more. Eastern European tunery will be performed live all over the site. Representatives from the Embassies en route will be in attendance and you'll be able to meet the official charities and find out more about their work.
Tasty organic food, traditional home made lemonade, Real Ales and splendid cakes will provide refreshment for all and the proceedings will be hosted by none other than Buddy, star of a forthcoming TV programme about the Mongol Rally.
The Festival doors swing open at 9am and the departure parade is from 13.30 until 15.30. For all the details check out the Festival of Slow website. Details about the Barcelona and Milan departments of the Festival will be online soon.