Held 13-19 September 2008, the ‘Calais to Calais’ route takes in France, Spain, Andorra, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and obviously back to France. Comprising a maximum of 100 teams, the non-speed drive is part competition, part off-road driving event, part club social, as the teams tackle a series of treasure hunt-type tasks along the way. Refreshingly, totally separate of the organiser each team raises funds for the charity/good cause of their choice (2007 event saw 30 different charities represented) with no minimum or maximum limits imposed.

But why the increase in countries this year? Simple! Do you recall the presenters of the TV’s Top Gear motoring programme driving a Porsche, Ferrari and an Aston Martin along what they described as the “best driving road in Europe” - the Stelvio Pass in Italy? Well, Landy Rally 2008 is going there, not just to take on that very same road, but it will be reached via mountain tracks; it is a Land Rover/4x4 event after all!

Also new this year is Bofa 4x4 Rally, an all-marques competitive charity drive running parallel to Landy Rally. Identical in almost every respect, the one big difference being … the Jap ‘n’ Jeep owners will be out to beat the Land Rover crews to the first prize. We’ll see about that!