Two classic Citroëns finish the 2013 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge

Robbie Sherrard & Peter Washington drove a 1974 DS23 and finished 3rd (with a time of 238 hrs, 9  minutes and 47 seconds) in the Classic Category for pre-1975 model cars.  You can see them in this video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a5RN7LAKmA

Mario Illien & Noele Illien, a father and daughter team from Switzerland, made 14th place in the same category in their 1955 Traction Avant 11B with a time of 241 hours, 24 minutes and 26 seconds.

Mario and Noele Illien  Mario Illien & Noele Illien

The Peking to Paris Motor Challenge is a grueling event covering 12,247 kms, negotiating harsh terrain and varied weather though 8 countries.  From camping in the Gobi dessert, to driving down the Champs-Elysées, it’s quite the adventure that pushes driving skills (and relationships) to the limit!

Paris to Peking Map

Starting at the Great Wall of China, the rally winds its way through Mongolia’s Gobi dessert before entering Siberia and heading West. After 11 days in Russia the route makes its way through Ukraine and Slovakia before making pitstops in Austria and Switzerland. 33 days after the journey begins the survivors make their way through the heart of Paris.

An impressive finish was also achieved by Nicky Bailey and Nadja Saralam from Perth Australia, who drove across the finish line at the Place Vendôme in a 1913 Ford Model T.  They came in 24th among the vintage class entries.

On a tragic note, one of the rally’s participants, Emma Wilkinson, was killed when her 1970 Chevrolet C10 pickup was involved in a head-on collision in Siberia.  Authorities reported that the driver of the other car, who also died in the crash, had fallen asleep at the wheel.

The overall winners of the vintage category, covering pre-1941 models, were Phil Garratt and Kieron Brown in a 1937 Chevrolet Fangio Coupe  The classic category championship, covering cars built before 1975, went to Gerry Crown and Matt Bryson, who drove a 1973 Leyland P76.

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