Crossing Italy....… Day 35 Viareggio to Aix les Bains

OCTOBER 14TH, 2010

Peking to Paris Motor Challenge update. More about the race here

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Clive Dunster and Cecilia Agger - Chevrolet Fangio Coupe

A glorious day in bright sunshine saw the Peking to Paris drive from Italy into France over the classic mountain roads of Italian Championship rallies.

There were four time trials held over some of finest tarmac roads in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean coast, organised with enthusiastic help of local motor clubs.

Narrow tarmac tracks threaded between trees all on the turn with sunlight dappling the yellows and golds up and down steep mountain climbs.

Clive Dunster in his blue Chevy Fangio Coupe was going great guns, keen to close the gap on David Park ahead and by the end of the day he achieved his goal, rising to 9th place in the Vintageant category.

The roads started off misty and damp but warm Autumn sunshine soon revealed a stunning landscape that saw the event thread it's way through numerous tiny villages out of Italy and into the French Alpes.

George Howitt and Monique Rombouts - Rolls Royce Phantom I

Aix les Bains, known in the 1950s as “Aches and Pains” by British rally crews, is just two stops from our finish in Paris. The excited buzz in the hotel bar this evening is a clear indication of a memorable day of rallying for the competitive crews and just how close we are to Paris for those whose primary aim is to cross the finish line.

Cars will enter Place Vendome on Saturday and drivers will turn off their engines for the last time at 1.00pm when they line up in front of the Ritz Hotel. As the Official Timekeeper of Peking to Paris, Frederique Constant will be welcoming the brave and passionate participants of this historic rally in the pop-up Frederique Constant VIP Area on Place Vendome.

Best performance on the time trials today was achieved by Rudi Friedrichs who blasted his Alvis round the tight mountain roads, more than 2 minutes quicker than the next best.