Whitley, 24th April 2013. An exciting new
two-part documentary, Dakar Rally: Frontline to Finish
Line, follows the Race2Recovery team of seriously injured
servicemen from Britain and the US who took on the world's toughest
rally in January this year. The two one-hour series will be aired
on ITV4 at 9pm on Wednesday 24th and Friday
26thApril 2013.
The Dakar saw the team race almost 6000 miles over 15 days
through Peru, Argentina and Chile in Land Rover Defender-based
Wildcats. They tackled some of the most challenging, isolated
terrain in the world, from giant sand dunes to the Atacama Desert
and the top of the Andes. The Dakar is the ultimate test of man and
machine versus the elements, but for the Race2Recovery team, there
was an added challenge. Each of the four cars contained an amputee
serviceman as part of the two-man crew. Co-driver Corporal Tom
Neathway, for example, is a triple amputee, having lost both legs
and an arm while serving in Afghanistan.
The rally was the culmination of two years' hard work. The idea
for Race2Recovery grew out of a conversation between Neathway and
Captain Tony Harris at Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation
Centre and quickly grew into a twenty-eight strong rally team,
comprised of volunteers and servicemen. Harris became the first
amputee driver to enter the Dakar, using a specially adapted clutch
pedal.
The team's target was to get four Land Rover-based Wildcat
vehicles across the finish line, but things did not go according to
plan. Within days, three of the Wildcats had been forced to retire,
one in a horrifying rollover crash. The tears flowed as the crews
saw their dream turn into a nightmare. The infamous Dakar had
bitten hard but against the odds, the remaining Wildcat, nicknamed
'Joy' after the wife of a team benefactor, struggled on. Joy made
it to the finish line in Santiago de Chile and in doing so,
co-driver Corporal Barney Gillespie became the first amputee to
complete the Dakar.
"It is almost two years to the day since I was blown up in
Afghanistan," said Gillespie at the finish. "There were dark days
when I thought life as I knew it was over, but I hope I've shown
that serious injury is no barrier to doing extraordinary things.
Everyone here's been through so much, but we've all supported each
other. It's been an emotional journey, but we made it."
Land Rover Brand Experience Director, Mark Cameron commented:
"What the Race2Recovery team accomplished in South America earlier
this year is a testament to achieving an extraordinary feat of
human endurance despite the odds being well and truly stacked
against them.
"Despite this, they pushed on and won the ultimate prize - not
just finishing the race but becoming role models for anyone
suffering injury, illness or adversity in their lives.
"Land Rover is proud to support the Race2Recovery team with our
all-terrain vehicles perfect for covering the demanding terrain
associated with the Dakar."
The inspirational challenge received Royal backing when it
became the first ever recipient of a grant from the Endeavour Fund,
set up by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
and Prince Harry. The Duke and Duchess sent the team a
personal note of congratulation on their completion of the rally.
"Catherine and I have heard the wonderful news about your success
today − many, many congratulations. We know it was not easy,
but you have today become true record holders as the first ever
disability team to complete what is one of the world's toughest
challenges. What you have achieved was a triumph of
perseverance and teamwork, and you have shown the world what true
valour looks like."
Prime Minister David Cameron added his congratulations, telling
the team they, "should all be rightfully proud to be the first
disabled team to complete what is recognised as one the of the
world's toughest challenges. You have shown that disability should
be no barrier to achieving success and have fully lived up to the
team motto 'Beyond Injury - Achieving the Extraordinary'."
Dakar Rally: Frontline to Finish Line will be shown on ITV4
Wednesday 24th and Friday
26th April 2013.
Courtesy of: Land Rover Media
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