George is all geared up to tackle rally race from London to Lisbon
A former Lanark man is flying the flag for Scotland in the tough London to Lisbon marathon car rally this week.
Ex-lanark and Carluke Advertiser reporter George Topp and his wife and navigator Rosalind are seeded in car 11, their speciallyprepared 1966 Volvo Amazon 132S, for the 10-day event.
The couple, who successfully completed the famous Monte Carlo Historique Rallye earlier this year, now live in south-west France, with rally passing close to their home town of Jonzac.
Fifty crews from as far away as Japan and the USA are tackling the 2800km 10-day rally, which sees them visit four different countries.
The event started today (Thursday) at the historic Brooklands race circuit in Weybridge, and runs until May 4.
The route takes competitors to Portsmouth for an overnight ferry to St Malo, and then down the western coast of France, before heading over the Pyrenees and into Spain and Portugal.
It eventually finishes at the Palacio Estoril on May 4.
Rally cars taking part are all classic or historic vehicles built before 1985.
A 1930 open top Bentley Le Mans from Germany is the oldest car, with the youngest a 1985 VW Golf driven by a UK crew.
The rally starts at the historic Brooklands race circuit, with its famous banked curves, which competitors have a chance to drive on in the first of eight speed tests.
Brooklands was chosen because it was the first purpose-built racing circuit in the world in 1907, and was the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation.
Apart from speed tests, the 10-day race also features 35 navigational regularities, the winners of which will receive their awards at a gala prize-giving dinner at the Palacio Estoril.