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Guinness World Records Sets the Ultimate Global Driving Challenge

20 April 1999

Guinness World Records Sets the Ultimate Global Driving Challenge; Round-the-World, Six-Continent Endurance Event for 80 'All-Comers'

    LONDON, April 20 -- Guinness World Records threw down the
gauntlet to drivers around the world with the announcement of the first ever
multi-vehicle circumnavigation of the globe across all six continents.
    The inaugural Guinness World Records Road Challenge will involve up to
80 international "all-comer" teams, professional and amateur, in an endurance
drive of about 37,000 kms in standard production vehicles.  It will start in
Greenwich, London, the "home of time," on October 15, 2000.
    Created as a test of teamwork, stamina and navigational skills rather than
speed, teams will chase the sunrise - and a new Guinness World Record -- in an
easterly direction across 24 time zones, six continents and approximately
25 countries.
    With no set route imposed on them, the entrants' only obligatory targets
will be a handful of check-in gates and the embarkation points for five
inter-continent airlifts in two Antonov aircraft.  The giant Russian planes,
the largest on earth, can each transport up to 40 vehicles at a time.
    "The event seeks to attract all comers, so it's quite literally open to
the man and woman in the street, driving standard production cars on publicly
accessible roads," said Chris Irwin, managing director of Guinness World
Records Ltd.
    Recognized world-wide as both champion and arbiter in man's amazing
endeavors to overcome the endless challenges posed by nature, Guinness World
Records Ltd. has been researching and developing the project for over a year
and is now in a position to call for entries.  The cost for a private entry
will be 100,000 British pounds sterling (pounds) ($160,670), with motor
manufacturer-entered teams paying 150,000 pounds ($241,005) per vehicle.  The
fee includes all vehicle airlifts and team member flights.
    Irwin added: "Our research has been exhaustive.  Wherever we have
presented the idea -- from potential motor manufacturer entrants to the
authorities in all the countries being traversed -- we have found nothing but
enthusiastic support for the event and the whole Corinthian spirit behind it."
    Event director Iain Chapman, who masterminded the world famous Camel
Trophy for a decade and has already driven around the world, said:  "As the
event has no set route, every vehicle will be extensively monitored using
global positioning satellite technology, tachographs and electronic timing.
    "All teams will have to abide by the individual road laws of the countries
they visit, so unlike many rally-style motoring events, speed and driving
skill will be of much less importance than stamina, planning and navigational
prowess," he added.
    The current individual circumnavigation record was set by Canadian, Garry
Sowerby in 1997, when he circled the earth in 21 days, 2 hours and 14 minutes,
under the "direct route" rules that simply require the vehicle to complete
more than 18,000 miles in a westerly or easterly direction without necessarily
visiting all six continents.
    This beat the 39 day mark set in 1991 by Saloo and Neena Choudhury of
Calcutta, the original inspiration behind the event who will present the
Choudhury Trophy to the team making the fastest circumnavigation.
    Guinness World Records Ltd. is a subsidiary of Diageo plc whose
world-wide businesses encompass food (Pilsbury), restaurants (Burger King),
alcoholic drinks (United Distillers and Vintners and Guinness Brewing).
Guinness World Records has four core areas of business -- print (including the
former Guinness Book of Records, re-named Guinness World Records for the 2000
edition), TV programming, merchandise and endurance events, of which the
Guinness Worlds Records Road Challenge is the first.