Rallying the western edge of the East Hemisphere

According to the BBC, the Dakar Rally welcomed a record entry field this year for the race that started in Lisbon yesterday:

” record 525 teams are set to take part in the 2007 Dakar Rally, a 4,918-mile race of endurance over 15 stages which begins in Portugal and ends in Senegal. “

That’s all fine and good for them, but for the rest of us, I highly recommend the low-budget alternative, the Plymouth to Banjul Challenge 2007, which follows a similar route from Plymouth, England to Banjul, Gambia. The rules of the race are a little different than the rally:

1	Competing cars must cost less than £100.
2	Maximum budget for the vehicle Rally Preparation: £15
3	Once the Rally is underway, there will be no form of formal assistance from the organisers in any way - Teams are ON THEIR OWN.
4	All of vehicles that make the full distance to Banjul must be handed over to the Challenge Control Group to be auctioned under controlled conditions (reported to The Gambian Government) in aid of local Gambian Charities.
5	All vehicles must be LEFT-HAND DRIVE!!
	The above rule is necessary because The Gambia* is a left-hand-drive country*