ITINERARY - DAY BY DAY
Here's the day by day schedule. In round figures the total distance is 8,500 kms. There's a full day off in Istanbul, another in Petra in Jordan and a couple of half days and lots of time to linger and take in the sights and sounds of the ten countries you'll be driving through.
Published September 2001 after final route survey.
Distances are to the nearest kilometre. Route may be liable to last minute changes.
June 3rd - Day 1
Ostersund to Sunne (Sweden)
The event start is in the main square of the town; expect an impressive send-off from the locals.
Normally there will be two regularity sections each day. The first day's are within an hour of the Start and will be for practice so that first timers can get the hang of what they are meant to be doing and our regulars can refresh their memories. The score on these won't be counted in the final results.
The rest of the day is yours with good fast motoring and time for a lunch stop. Scenic Sweden at its best, forests and lakes and a night stop at a smart lakeside hotel in Sunne.
Day's total 583 kms
June 4th - Day 2
Sunne back to Sunne
A long half-day loop taking in three regularities and an opportunity to take in the wonderful scenic countryside. Then an afternoon stroll beside the lake or even a game of golf. A gentle but good fun day.
Day's total 160 kms
June 5th - Day 3
Sunne to Karlskrona (Sweden)
Today you do it for real. Out of the hotel and into the first Regularities within minutes. Through a forest on a military training ground.
From here it's more scenic motoring through this neat tidy country with lots of lakes and cute villages down to the port of Karlskrona. Time for a look around this interesting old town before taking the night ferry to Gdynia in Poland. A good ferryboat, small but comfortable cabins and with a decent restaurant and the opportunity for a bit of a party on board.
Day's total - 615 kms
June 6th - Day 4
Gdynia to Wroclaw (Poland)
First impressions of Poland are the famous shipyards of Gdansk, but do not be deceived.
Once out of the grey industrial areas, Poland will amuse and amaze you - rolling hills and farm land, small villages untouched for 40 years, charming traditional architecture mixed with huge monolithic blocks of flats, the landmarks of the former communist regime.
Look out for the horse drawn ploughs and the tiny slow moving smoky two-stroke Trabants.
Day's total 521 kms
June 7th - Day 5
Wroclaw to Zlin (Czech Republic)
This is the remote backwater of Poland that you would never normally see - and it's full of friendly people who will try to practice their English on you.
Across the border into the Czech Republic sweeping through mountain villages and early into Zlin.
The Merc dealer here has a million dollar 1937 SS Mercedes in his showroom, left in a barn after the German occupation and discovered only 15 years ago.
Day's total 382 kms
June 8th - Day 6
Zlin to Kosice (Slovakia)
Before you leave this morning there's an opportunity to be shown around a private motor museum which houses a remarkable collection of local and some exotic cars.
There's a fairy tale quality about Slovakia with 14th century castles on hilltops and tiny feudal villages, this is the Eastern Europe of a bygone era. Orchards, ducks and geese in the streets and traditional farmyards with everything done by hand and horse - no tractors.
Some twisty mountain and forest roads. Then there's time to stop and tour the 150-year old famous Slivovich (plum brandy) factory and pick up a few samples.
Wonderful views over open country as the day progresses. Friendly people will welcome the event into a wonderfully traditional town square at our overnight stop.
Day's total 429 kms
June 9th - Day 7
Kosice to Matrafured (Hungary)
Today's a short day with two Regularities in the mountains and some superb scenery. Then a fast cross country run over the border into Hungary and into the hotel for a late lunch which will be a barbecue and beers on the lawn of the hotel.
Day's total 307 kms
June 10th - Day 8
Matrafured to Sibiu (Romania)
Some great roads for the Regularities, rising and falling on narrow forest roads, the second one with barely 500 metres of straight line anywhere.
A super fast run through good looking country to the Romanian border. And now something totally different. For three hours you've got 3rd world Eastern Europe with poverty and lumpy roads.
It's a country of churches with superb spires and steeples - no two the same. When you see the Fragas mountains tomorrow you'll realise that the lumpy three hours was worth doing.
Day's total 646 kms
June 11th - Day 9
Sibiu to Veliko (Bulgaria)
Into a hidden secret mountain range, with some wonderful roads. They make the Stelvio in Italy look like a motorway! More hairpins than a hairdresser's salon! And we're over 2,000 metres up.
We hit the motorway to get some fast kms done before coping with half an hour of the beastly ring road around the capital, Bucharest.
Day's total 487 kms
June 12th - Day 10
Veliko to Istanbul (Turkey)
More Regularities in the mountains before dropping down onto the plains and crossing the border into Turkey and a 200 km blast down the motorway into the exciting and romantic ancient city of Istanbul.
To avoid the terrifying, stressful city traffic we've chosen a super hotel an easy loop off the motorway and on the sea beside a marina just a 20 minute cab ride from the city centre.
Day's total 625 kms
June 13th - Day 11
Istanbul - Rest day
You've earned it. A cab ride will take you into the Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque and all other sights that this marvellous city is famous for.
Or you can enjoy lunch in the dozens of busy restaurants around the marina. It's a posh hotel, you'll like it.
June 14th - Day 12
Istanbul to Kusadasi (Turkey)
Our good friend Iskender Aruoba who looked after us so well on the London-Sydney Marathon, has done it again. Two new days of superb route.
We start the day with an 8 km drive alongside the 3,000 year walls of the original Byzantine city and onto a 55 minute jet ferry ride which very smartly saves us 170 kms by road and takes us onto the Asian side of this fascinating country.
We're into that wonderfully remote and forgotten part of Turkey the tourist never sees with distant views to mountains and tiny villages untouched for 300 years.
Regularities in the mountains on gravel before dropping down through the biblical town of Ephesus and to our resort hotel on the sea front.
Day's total 599 kms
June 15th - Day 13
Kusadasi to Antalya (Turkey)
Today is one of those mind boggling days - 150 kms of amazing shaped volcanic rock formations, Roman ruins, tiny villages, roads devoid of traffic.
Typical Turkish road-side cafes where they will pull the trout out of their pool and cook it for you in ten minutes while you sit sipping a cool drink under the grapevine awning. Where else would you rather be ?
Into our hotel overlooking the Mediterranean with super sea views for dinner on the terrace.
The bad news is that you have to leave in the morning.
Day's total 573 kms
June 16th - Day 14
Antalya to Adana (Turkey)
We follow the coast road along the Mediterranean and then up into the hills before returning to the coast and the turquoise sea with lots of opportunities for coffee stops and even lunch at one of the many waterside cafes - the fresh grilled fish is to die for.
The last 140 kms is a fast blast on the motorway into our overnight stop.
Day's total 590 kms
June 17th - Day 15
Adana (Tukey) to Damascus (Syria)
Some great mountain roads, a bit slow going in places early on but spectacular distant views.
A tarmac stage in the mountains before we drop down to the Syrian border. Our Syrian friends will lay on a formal welcome at the tiny frontier. Welcome to Arabia - it's different, not just the signs all in fretwork Arabic writing but the whole life style is just very relaxed and very polite.
Then a run to Damascus which is the worlds' oldest permanently inhabited city and a chance to take an evening tour of the city and it's souks and mosques.
Our hotel is 20 minutes out of Damascus because there's no way you'd want to try driving in the centre amongst the million yellow cabs each one which is piloted by a Syrian who goes like Schumacher on steroids.
June 18th - Day 16
Damascus (Syria) to Amman (Jordan)
A fast run to the border and into Jordan. Different, brighter and busier and wealthier with a Regularity in the only forest in Jordan.
And here is something completely novel! Check into our hotel and come out in the cool of the evening to do two more tests in the middle of Amman, the nation's capital. Two runs in the stadium 5,000 spectators there to cheer you on.
Day's total 251 kms
June 19th - Day 17
Amman to Petra
Two Regularities in the desert, short but demanding and tough. Then a run along the famous Kings Highway over the roof of Jordan stunning views as the road wanders and weaves through tiny mountain towns and villages. Not a long day so we get in early and catch the famous rose red sunset from the balcony of our hotel overlooking the jagged mountain range and strange spooky rock formations which start right in the grounds of the hotel.
Day's total 326 kms
June 20th - Day 18
Petra to Wadi Rum
A late start so you can relax and take in the sights of this amazing city carved into huge walls of rock.
Then a 15 km tarmac hillclimb through an amazing rocky landscape (if you've got time to look!) of huge jelly mould shapes of what was once liquid volcanic sandstone and granite.
And then a sensational section. A mind blowing scenic run through a breath taking canyon. Starts on tar goes to gravel and sand. A truly amazing and challenging road before heading for Wadi Rum .
Wadi Rum is famous as the desert home of Lawrence of Arabia where we spend the night in a Bedouin tented encampment created specially for us with all the traditional food and belly dancers. A real night to remember.
Day's total 326 kms
June 21st - Day 19
Wadi Rum to Aqaba (Jordan)
The final day and another attempt at yesterday's stunning test - a fitting climax to the end of the event.
And then the run to Aqaba and the holding control at the Yacht Club before the champagne and garlands for the winners.
The Awards Dinner and the poolside celebrations go on as long as you can stay upright in our posh beachfront hotel.
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