The 2016 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge started Sunday, June 12th from the Great Wall outside Beijing and finished 36 days later on Sunday, July 17th with a drive into Paris to cross the finish line in Place Vendome.
The route for the 6th edition of the Peking to Paris included driving some of the world’s toughest terrain with participants required to maintain a demanding rally time-schedule. Cars were divided into two age categories — Vintageant for pre-1941 model types or the Classic category for models in production before 1975. To qualify for a place on Peking to Paris 2016, event organiser Endurance Rally Association said a car can certainly be “different” but must reasonably stand a chance of coping with the demands of the event. Cars should be prepared with high ground clearance and be capable of running on low grade petrol. A compression ratio any higher than 8:1 can lead to piston failure, which happened to cars on earlier events. Substantial underbody protection with a sump guard, tank guard, and skid plates to all vulnerable items and ideally brake pipes and petrol lines either well plated or running inside the car was also strongly advised. Additionally, tents, sleeping bags, and all spare parts including wheels must be carried by entrants.
In addition to the main report and gallery , photographer Gerard Brown also offers the following ‘Behind the Scenes’ images from the 2016 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge that bring more insight into the variety and challenges encountered on the sixth edition of the rally. We split up pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, while the second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a complete view of all 158 photographs.
Peking to Paris 2016 – Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery Car 56. Paul Hickman(AUS) / Sebastian Gross(AUS)1954 – Bristol 403 1977, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 18. Ekaterinburg – Perm Car 103. Rene Declercq(B) / Eric Claeys(B)1972 – Datsun 240Z 2393, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 18. Ekaterinburg – Perm Car 65. Patrick Sommer(D) / Christine Sommer(B)1966 – Volkswagen Karmann Ghia1995, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 18. Ekaterinburg – Perm Car 94. Mick de Haas(NL) / Anthony Verloop(NL)1966 – Mercedes 230 SL2306, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Ulaan Baatar rest day Peking to Paris 2016. Day 04. Camp to Ulaan Baatar Camping, Peking to Paris 2016. Day 03. Erenhot to camp. Camping, Peking to Paris 2016. Day 03. Erenhot to camp. Camping, Peking to Paris 2016. Day 03. Erenhot to camp. Car 27. Manuel Dubs(CH) / Robi Huber(CH)1932 – Rockne Six 753365, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong, The start Car 32. Nigel Lee(GB) / Richard Turner(GB)1938 – Ford 622226, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Ulaan Baatar rest day Peking to Paris 2016. Ulaan Baatar rest day Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong Car 44. Philip Lindsten(SE) / Charles Cook(GB)1939 – Chevrolet Coupe3500, Car 65. Patrick Sommer(D) / Christine Sommer(B)1966 – Volkswagen Karmann Ghia1995, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Ulaan Baatar rest day Car 40. Renate Hanselmann(LI) / Andreas Gabathuler(CH)1939 – Chevrolet Coupe3860, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Ulaan Baatar rest day Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Scrutineering. Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Car 01. Steve Trafton &Katherine Trafton 1915 – American La France14500, China, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering China, Forbidden City, non rally, Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering China, Forbidden City, non rally, Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start Car park in Beijing Car park in Beijing Car park in Beijing Car park in Beijing Car park in Beijing Car 02. Ingo Strolz Werner Gassner 1917 – La France Tourer Speedster14500, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 18. Ekaterinburg – Perm Car 56. Paul Hickman(AUS) / Sebastian Gross(AUS)1954 – Bristol 403 1977, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 18. Ekaterinburg – Perm Car 60. Giorgio Schon(I) / Pierre Tonetti(I)1971 – Alfa Romeo Giulia Super1290, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 18. Ekaterinburg – Perm Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Chinese tourist, Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong China, Chinese tourist, non rally, Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong, The start Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong, The start Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong, The start Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong Car 60. Giorgio Schon(I) / Pierre Tonetti(I)1971 – Alfa Romeo Giulia Super1290, Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering, Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Car 03. Keith Ashworth & Norah Ashworth 1927 – Bentley 4½ Le Mans 4500, China, Peking to Paris 2016., portraits, slideshow Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Car 01. Steve Trafton & Katherine Trafton 1915 – American La France 14500, China, Peking to Paris 2016. Peking to Paris 2016. Day 08. Murun – Uliastai, staff Peking to Paris 2016. Day 08. Murun – Uliastai, staff Car 73. Simon Spinks(GB) / Jim Grayson(GB)1969 – Ford Escort Mexico Mk11825, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 02. Datong – Erenhot China, Chinese tourist, Peking to Paris 2016. Day 02. Datong – Erenhot Car 28. Colin Smith(NZ) / Hernan Zanghellini(AUS)1934 – Hudson Terraplane Convertible3475, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Ulaan Baatar rest day Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Scrutineering. Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Scrutineering. Car 115. Paul Smith(AUS) / Martin Kass(AUS)1977 – Mercedes 280E2800, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 04. Camp to Ulaan Baatar Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Scrutineering. Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Scrutineering. Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering. Car 34 Peking to Paris 2016. Pre start. Car collection and scrutineering Car 105. Mark Pickering(AUS) / Dave Boddy(AUS)1973 – Datsun 240Z2393, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 18. Ekaterinburg – Perm Car 78. Justin Fleming(GB) / Kristian Fleming(GB)1972 – Ford Capri1600, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 18. Ekaterinburg – Perm Car 06. Bill Cleyndert & Jacqui Norman 1925 – Bentley 3-4½5300, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Ulaan Baatar rest day Car 07. Helmut Rothenberger(D) / Michael Schmidt(D)1928 – Bentley Super Sports 5300, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 18. Ekaterinburg – Perm Breakdown and servicing, Car 41. Joe Robillard(USA) / Alzbeta Katuscakova(SK)1939 – Chevrolet Coupe3900, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 03. Erenhot to camp Breakdown and servicing, Car 34. Paul Hartfield(GB) / Chris Hartfield(GB)1936 – Packard Super 85200, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 04. Camp to Ulaan Baatar Car 27. Manuel Dubs(CH) / Robi Huber(CH)1932 – Rockne Six 753365, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong Car 19. Andrew Boland(IRL) / Ann Boland(IRL)1930 – Ford Model A3285, Chinese tourist, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 01. Great Wall – Datong Car 06. Bill Cleyndert & Jacqui Norman 1925 – Bentley 3-4½ 5300, Peking to Paris 2016., Peking to Paris 2016. Day 13. Aya – Novosibirsk Peking to Paris 2016. Day 15. Novosibirsk – Omsk Peking to Paris 2016. Day 15. Novosibirsk – Omsk Peking to Paris 2016. Day 15. Novosibirsk – Omsk Peking to Paris 2016. Day 15. Novosibirsk – Omsk Peking to Paris 2016. Day 04. Camp to Ulaan Baatar Peking to Paris 2016. Day 04. Camp to Ulaan Baatar Peking to Paris 2016. Day 04. Camp to Ulaan BaatarThe unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
[Source: Endurance Rally Association; photos: Gerard Brown]