This year’s event is very much different, though. For one, there will be no points for numbers of countries entered in the first day – so, without that task to meet, there seemed little point in picking up a 140mph+ car to drive through the night in to rack up thirteen countries (and yes, that is what I was planning). No, the organizers are playing down any road race aspect of the event, leaving us with the appealing prospect of some serious orienteering in some of the most beautiful contryside Europe has to offer.
And without the need for a quick car underneath us, we can take a more relaxed and philosophical to the Staples2Naples challenge.
That left us with the task of finding a suitable car for the event. Now, going on last year’s showing, there would be no better chariot to take than another Rover 216… except for one thing. It’s so damned competent, and so likely to make it to the end, that much of the thrill of taking a £100 banger would be negated. After all, every morning, I woke up knowing we’d make it to the end of the day without missing a beat.
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