After the first ever intercontinental rally - the London-Sydney in 1968 - there was widespread enthusiasm for an even more difficult test. With the Football World Cup being held in Mexico in 1970, it was the perfect opportunity to hold a parallel, much tougher challenge - the World Cup Rally. Organisers John Sprinzel and John Brown secured sponsorship from the Daily Mirror and planned a unique high-speed event, lasting six weeks and covering 16,000 miles from London to Mexico City via some of the most varying, tortuous and difficult terrain on three continents. Serious works teams such as Ford and British Leyland spent tremendous amounts choosing and developing new cars, completing months-long route surveys, and analysing every detail of diets, oxygen provision, and the number of crew members. Despite all this planning, out of an entry of more than 100, only 23 cars made it to the finish. It was then, and remains now, the toughest rally of all time. This book, now reprinted in paperback, tells the complete story.

About the Author
Graham Robson possesses a worldwide reputation as a motoring historian, and has been close to the sport of rallying for many years, as competitor, team manager, organiser, reporter, commentator and observer; in more than forty years he has never lost touch with the sport. Not only has Graham competed in many British and European events, he's also reported on marathons in South America, and acted as a travelling controller in the legendary London-Mexico World Cup Rally. As a recognised authority on many aspects of classic cars and motoring of that period, he is the most prolific of all authors, with more than 130 published books to his credit.

Reviews
It is the umpteenth wonderful book by publishing company Veloce Publishing, the publisher where every car enthusiast should be able to find something to his liking. Robson sketches a complete and detailed overview of the idea for the rally and the people being that idea. The participating cars and their drivers. The promising and hopeless participants and the hardships. And all that without being a dry summary of facts. The book is in fact a must-have for every lover of the (classic) rally sport. - Klassiekerrally.nl. Big story, big book. This is a great choice to be reprinted by Veloce - an excellent account of just how the Daily Mirroe World Cup Rally 1970 came about ... how it was planned and run is authoritatively written by the man who was on the ground throughout the entire six weeks that it took the event to cover 16,000 miles. Graham Robson makes the point that it was a once-in-a-generation event ... indeed, it was really once-in-a-lifetime as he explains just how incredible it was that it happened at all. No comparable event could ever be conceived today. Containing 237 colour and black and white photos it covers the planning, preparation, organisation and practice. There are full descriptions of the cars and crews, from the fully-profession works crews to the total amateurs... a truly engrossing read for any rally enthusiast. - Old Stager. Involved for 40 years in rally, as a competitor, team manager, organiser, reporter, commentator and observer, Graham Robson lived the test closely by collaborating with the organisation. In 2010, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the event, he had the idea of devoting a very complete bookto it. In about 200 pages, it tells the birth of the concept, its preparation and its development day by day, without forgetting at add many figures and crispy anecdotes. The illustration is rich and varied, with 237 photos, maps and diagrams, giving pride of place to the actors. - AUTOnews Redaction.



Book Information
ISBN 9781787112285
Author Graham Robson
Format Paperback
Page Count 208
Imprint Veloce
Publisher David & Charles