23 May 2025

Peking to Paris Week One

7 days into the 37-day Peking to Paris Motor Challenge and the 14,250km adventure is well on its way!

So far, the worlds toughest endurance rally has seen the foot of the Great Wall of China to the Gobi Desert.

54 crews from 14 countries have tackled regularities, tests and STC sections across gravel tracks and mountain roads until they arrived in Inner Mongolia and the Gobi desert, where they are currently competing in 35 degree heat and sandstorms.

Tomas de Vargas Machuca (GB), Chairman of HERO-ERA, makes a return to the Peking to Paris Rally after him and teammate Ben Cussons narrowly escaped their burning 1914 LaFrance in Azerbaijan in 2024. This year, he's taking on the rally solo in a 1925 vintage Bentley. Tomas is pushing forward with grit and determination, currently holding 15th place in the Vintage Class.

Jonathan Turner (GB), the most experienced competitor in the 2025 Peking to Paris Rally, also makes a return, 28 years after his first run, in the very same 1929 Bentley he drove during the second event in 1997. This year, he's joined by Nick English (GB), a historic aircraft pilot taking on his first P2P rally. News Flash - Having just broken their chassis in the desert and a rest day tomorrow there is much work to do!

With Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, and thousands more kilometres ahead, the camaraderie, perseverance, and spirit is high.

Well done to all the crews and participants for completing the first week on the 2025 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge – what a start! Wishing everyone the best of luck for the 30 demanding days still ahead.

Huge thanks to HERO-ERA for the ongoing updates and behind-the-scenes insights as the adventure unfolds across continents.

Photo credit: Ian Skelton