UP FOR THE CUP

Months after the pioneering London to Sydney Marathon in 1968 had made the headlines, a much more ambitious event — London to Mexico City — was launched. Dubbed the World Cup Rally, to link up with the football extravaganza, the route aimed to join the 1966 venue (London) with the 1970 venue (Mexico City).

The title provided a good excuse for a marvellous motorsport event, and attracted the Daily Mirror as main sponsor. The route wound east to Sofia in Bulgaria, then back through Yugoslavia, Italy, France and Spain to Lisbon. After crossing the Atlantic by boat, the competitors then tackled a complete South American circuit, through Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia, before being ferried to Panama for the dash