New rally company takes on the world

Co-driver and organiser Fred Gallagher launches Rally The Globe

A mAjor new plAyer has launched into the world of historic endurance rallying with a renowned expert heading up the team and an ambitious programme of events across the planet. The news comes hot on the heels of the HERO takeover of the ERA and has been created by Rally The Globe, a not-for-profit members’ club set-up by rally director Fred Gallagher and chairman Graham Goodwin. It plans to offer both endurance events – highly competitive and with ‘significant off-road sections’ – plus motoring adventures with far fewer off-road sections and a gentler pace.

Catering for all pre-1976 cars, the new organisation launched with the announcement of a major round-the-world rally to take place in two years’ time. Events already confirmed include the Carrera Iberia in October 2019 and the Southern Cross Safari the following February. The former will be the outfit’s inaugural event and will seek out the finest driving roads in Spain and Portugal as well as stops at race circuits.

The Southern Cross Safari will focus on East Africa and the route will take in both the Maasai Mara and Serengeti National Reserves before finishing on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

The epic round-the-world challenge will take place in three stages over a total of 70 days between May 2020 and June 2021. The sections will cover London to Casablanca, New York to Anchorage and then Vladivostok to London. People can opt to take part in the entire rally or just one or two stages.

Fred Gallagher, who co-drove for Juha Kankkunen, Ari Vatanen and Björn Waldegård among others, said: ‘It’s an ambitious and exceptional programme that really underlines our philosophy of providing those possessing a true spirit of adventure with memorable drives through parts of the world that they probably wouldn’t otherwise ever see or savour.

‘We pride ourselves not only in finding some of the greatest driving roads on Earth but also in seeking out both quirky and astonishing places along the route for our crews to relish inbetween their competitive tests.’

Further notables on the team include John Spiller, who oversaw the Subaru rally team in the Colin McRae era, as well as a host of other specialists. rallytheglobe.com