Having walked the classic car competition road until now,
people asked why I had suddenly gone from classics into a different kind of rallying.
There was a proper purpose and a proper goal behind it, and a plan.
Driving the world on Peking to Paris requires a licence.
I heard all sorts of back-door talk about getting it — that you can buy it, that fewer events will do — but once your purpose is clear, you need to reach it properly, so I completed the required number of events.
I have obtained the international Class C and Class R licences.
Building experience and a record the right way: learning the rules steadily, and hoping that shows when it counts.
This licence required driving and finishing a set number of rallies within one year.
There was drama: disqualification in the very first round, and then the illness episode putting the number of entries in doubt.
With this I can go on to the races and rallies abroad that I have dreamed of.
There are still landscapes I want to see.
There are still roads I want to drive.
Keep going without giving up and it will happen.
Believing that, I go on into the future — falling over as I go.
The Peking to Paris publicity car drew every eye.
