LONDON TO SYDNEY RALLYING ROUND THE GLOBE
Almost 60 years since its inception, the Porsche 911 has nothing left to prove in motorsport. The 2+2 Coupe with a flat six engine flung out the back has demonstrated its legendary abilities by winning on the world’s most famous race circuits and rally stages. But back in 1968 it was about to face an especially tough challenge, one involving a journey of more than 10,000 miles from London to Sydney, Australia. This fascinating event has entered competition folklore, so it’s only right that we should recount the Neunelfer’s involvement, but we begin with a reminder of what was involved.
The event was the idea of proprietor, Sir Max Aitken, one devised in 1967 over a lengthy lunch at the Savoy Hotel with Tommy Sopwith and Jocelyn Stevens. Great Britain was going through, Sir Frank Packer, who was naturally keen to promote the Australian leg of the rally. The task of devising a suitable route was given to racing driver, Jack Sears.
