Over 12,000 km in just over 30 days, over all kinds of roads and through a wide variety of cultures and topographies - the magnitude of this challenge can only be fully appreciated once you have driven the Beijing-Paris rally yourself.
Apparently, 96 teams with an international bouquet of vehicles were not deterred in June 2013 and tackled the first stage in Beijing on May 28, 2013.

From there, the route led through Mongolia to Russia and then westwards to Paris in a total of 32 daily stages. There were many time trials to pass along the way, as if this additional sporting test had even been necessary.
Taking part in the Beijing-Paris rally is a veritable project, because not only does a suitable car have to be selected and carefully prepared, it also has to be brought to China around two months before the start. You could buy a nice classic car for the entry fee alone and not everyone has the luxury of being able to take a whole month off from work and family.
In exchange for the considerable sum of money and all the preparatory activities, you get an adventure of the kind you don't get too many of these days.
screws
The 2013 edition of the Beijing-Paris Rally was open to vehicles that were at least 40 years old and equipped according to the route. As the ancestor of the modern rally took place back in 1907, cars from the early days were particularly popular.
The oldest participating vehicle was a somewhat fragile-looking Ford T-Model from 1913, while the La France Tourer, built in 1917 by Ingo Strolz and Werner Gassner, was of a completely different nature but hardly any younger. With an engine capacity of 14.5 liters and a petrol tank of almost 500 liters, the car was certainly one of the heavyweights and started with the number 1. Equipped with additional hydraulic front brakes for safety reasons, the mighty roadster required the whole man even on smooth asphalt; it is hard to imagine what the driver and co-driver had to endure on the bad roads in Mongolia.
The vehicle list of the 96 participants included some rarities, such as a Studebaker Power Hawk, a Renault Frégate, a Mercury Park Lane and several Bentley models. Mercedes Benz was also well represented with models such as the 220 SE, 220 S, 300 SE, 450 SLC and 280 S.
Technology that is up to a hundred years old and over 12,247 km of driving fit together like a glove. The worse the road quality and the longer the journey, the more there was to repair, if it could be repaired at all.
Flat tires, which were the order of the day, were among the least of the participants' problems. Entire gearboxes had to be replaced, axles swapped, engine blocks welded, clutches changed etc. etc. - For some teams, the night turned into day and yet they continued the next morning, without sleep if necessary.
Sleep?
In purely mathematical terms, daily stages of 300 to 400 km hardly sound like a borderline experience for the modern driver, but if the road is a mule track or a lane in the steppe, if technology throws a spanner in the works of planning, then the day quickly becomes longer and longer and instead of arriving at 17:00, you arrive at the next overnight camp after midnight. And of course the maltreated technology takes its toll, because only careful maintenance every day ensures progress on the next stage. A few more hours pass quickly and the morning approaches sooner than you think.
The winners of the Vintageants category, Phil Garratt and Kieron Brown in a 1937 Chevrolet Fangio Coupé, explained at the award ceremony: "We prepared the car for three years. We spent up to three hours every night making sure it was mechanically sound."
Mario Illien, the motoring pundit from Switzerland and on the road with his daughter Noele, lent a hand himself when the Citroën would no longer run after a gearbox change. The Traction Avant could only be restarted after it had been refitted correctly this time, but by then the night had long since come to an end.
(Fast) driving
Of course, the focus was on driving. And navigating. And squeezing out seconds in the time trials. The aim was to find a good mix between safe progress and minimal time deviations, to conserve the material where there were sufficient reserves and to push hard where time could be made up on the competition.
The two Australians Gery Crown and Matt Bryson in the 1973 Leyland P 76 (category Classics over two liters displacement) had this best under control. In what is probably the most "Austalian" vehicle ever to take part in this rally, 81-year-old Crown and his younger co-driver and navigator Bryson reached the finish in Paris with a lead of almost 20 minutes, followed by Peter Lovett and Tim Smith in a 1965 Porsche 911.
But regardless of the time trials and the results, anyone who reached Paris on their own wheels after more than 12,000 km could feel like a winner. And this was the case for 86 of the 96 teams that started.
And despite all the exertions, the positive moments outweighed the negative ones for most of the participants, so it's no wonder that most of the starters can imagine taking part again. At least Gery Crown, the 81-year-old veteran, said that he was already looking forward to the next edition in 2016, which will lead through Tibet and along the Himalayan route. And he must know what he's talking about. After all, he has already won the Beijing-Paris Rally once before.
"The Leyland P 76 is the best rally car I have ever driven," said Crown on arrival in Paris and was convinced that the victory was largely down to the now 40-year-old Rover SD1 derivative of Australian descent.
Incidentally, a strong competitor alongside the second-placed Porsche was the Citroën DS 23, which won the World Cup Rally in 1974. "If this team hadn't had problems with the suspension, it would probably have won the overall victory," Crown said approvingly of the French-engined competition.
Feasting
From tents to luxury hotels, from simple camp meals to multi-course gourmet dinners, the variety of accommodation and catering was probably just as great as the range of road quality and the culture of the countries they passed through. However, many participants had made provisions so as not to be dependent on local food sources and suppliers.
In fact, some of the cars looked almost like a pantry and quite a few teams could be seen, for example on the Gotthard, eating their fill in the car. But that is also part of the Beijing-Paris adventure.
The fact that 86 of the 96 teams that started arrived in Paris is a testament to the organization and planning of the rally and, of course, to the teams' preparations.
"People bowed down to us in recognition of the fact that we made it to Paris with our 14.5-liter La France Tourer. It was brutal, at times we had to do some welding every night and once we had to dismantle and repair the clutch at a bus stop on the way," recalls Ingo Strolz, who is already looking forward to the next long-distance rally.
For further impressions and experiences, we recommend the blog of the team Mario and Noele Illien as well as the online diary of the winner Gery Crown. The official website of the event also contains informative daily reports as well as all participating vehicles and results.
Participants and results
The following table lists the 96 participating vehicles as well as the overall and category results. "Med" stands for medal status.
All data without guarantee. The table can be sorted by clicking on the column headings.
| Category | No. | Vehicle | Year | cm3 | Participant | Pos Total | Pos Class | Med |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 1 | La France Tourer | 1917 | 14500 | Ingo Strolz(A) / Werner Gassner(A) | 25 | 9 | S |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 2 | Rolls Royce Silver Ghost | 1924 | 7428 | Erwin Beerens(B) / Gert Mertens(B) | 6 | 3 | G |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 3 | Ford Model T | 1913 | 3000 | Nicky Bailey(IRL) / Nadja Saralam(AUS) | 24 | 8 | S |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 4 | Bentley 6½ Tourer | 1926 | 6500 | Robert Wilkinson(GB) / Mark Wilkinson(GB) | Retired | ||
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 5 | Vauxhall 14/40 | 1927 | 2500 | Matthew Telling(GB) / Andrew Wyers(GB) | Unclassified | ||
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 6 | Bentley 3-4½ | 1927 | 4398 | Daniel Woodcock(GB) / Tony Woodcock(GB) | 5 | 2 | G |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 7 | Ford Model T Phaeton | 1928 | 3285 | Jenny Mah(CAN) / Loren Cocking(CAN) | 34 | 15 | B |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 8 | Bentley 4½ | 1928 | 4500 | Lars Rolner(DK) / Annette Rolner(DK) | 27 | 11 | B |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 9 | Packard Phaeton | 1928 | 4735 | Paul Darrouzet(AUS) / Ian Brown(AUS) | Unclassified | ||
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 10 | MG TC | 1948 | 1250 | Peter Zernial(D) / Udo Fink(D) | 9 | 6 | S |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 11 | Bentley 4½ Tourer | 1929 | 4398 | Christian Schenk(A) / Balz Eggimann(CH) | 21 | 6 | B |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 12 | Buick 25X | 1929 | 3300 | Jock Burridge(NZ) / Bill Burridge(NZ) | 16 | 5 | S |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 14 | Chrysler 75 Roadster | 1929 | 4078 | Bruce Washington(NZ) / Ben Washington(NZ) | 2 | 1 | G |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 15 | Ford Model A Speedster | 1929 | 3400 | Bill Cleyndert(GB) / Mark van Hees(GB) | 26 | 10 | B |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 16 | Rolls Royce 20 | 1929 | 3127 | Dom Bernaz(CH) / Guido Somazzi(CH) | Retired | ||
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 17 | Bentley Open Tourer | 1930 | 4500 | Stefan Auer(A) / Harald Lingg(A) | 14 | 4 | S |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 18 | Ford Model A | 1930 | 3285 | Rod Wade(AUS) / John Bell(AUS) | 28 | 12 | B |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 19 | Ford Model A | 1930 | 3200 | Alan Day(NZ) / Roger Anderson(NZ) | 29 | 13 | B |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 20 | Delage D6 Tourer | 1933 | 3045 | Jan De Clerck(B) / Jan Imschoot(B) | Unclassified | ||
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 21 | Ford Model A Convertible | 1930 | 3285 | John Anderson(CAN) / Gary Anderson(CAN) | 22 | 7 | B |
| Vintage Cars (1920-1931) | 22 | Rolls Royce Phantom II | 1930 | 7668 | Philip Noble(GB) / David Brown(GB) | 31 | 14 | B |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 23 | Rockne Six 75 | 1932 | 3365 | Mani Dubs(CH) / Robi Huber(CH) | 15 | 11 | S |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 24 | Dodge DR Special | 1934 | 3569 | Mike Armstrong(AUS) / Peter Armstrong(AUS) | 11 | 8 | G |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 25 | Packard Convertible | 1934 | 5360 | Arnold Meier(CH) / Rudolf Hug(CH) | 17 | 12 | S |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 26 | Bentley Drophead | 1936 | 4250 | Tony Strelzow(CAN) / Lee Strelzow(CAN) | 4 | 3 | G |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 27 | Chrysler Imperial Airflow | 1936 | 5300 | Monte Gingery(USA) / Phil Putnam(USA) | 30 | 17 | B |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 28 | Bentley Sports Derby | 1936 | 4250 | Daniel Schoch(AUS) / Shaneen Pointing(AUS) | 35 | 20 | |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 29 | MG SA | 1936 | 2288 | Rhys Timms(AUS) / James Stone(USA) | 7 | 4 | G |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 30 | Chevrolet Fangio Coupe | 1937 | 3860 | Phil Garratt(GB) / Kieron Brown(GB) | 1 | 1 | G |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 31 | Bentley 4¼ MX Saloon | 1939 | 4250 | David Browning(AUS) / Michael Dow(AUS) | 32 | 18 | B |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 32 | Chevrolet Fangio Coupe | 1938 | 4000 | Christian Lalarderie(F) / Christian Morales(F) | 23 | 16 | S |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 33 | Cadillac La Salle | 1939 | 5300 | Glen Duthie(CAN) / Allan Cullen(CAN) | 18 | 13 | S |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 34 | Chevrolet Coupe | 1939 | 3860 | Dirk Cavens(B) / Jeff Cavens(B) | 8 | 5 | G |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 35 | Packard Six | 1939 | 4020 | Chris Clemons(AUS) / Tim Clemons(AUS) | 20 | 15 | S |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 36 | Chevrolet Suburban | 1940 | 4000 | Keith Young Jr(USA) / Keith Young Sr(USA) | 12 | 9 | S |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 37 | Packard Six 1700 | 1939 | 4020 | Willy Hopflinger(A) / Norbert Thurner(A) | 19 | 14 | S |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 38 | Ford Coupe | 1940 | 3700 | Mike Reeves(GB) / Michelle Jana Chan(GB) | 3 | 2 | G |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 39 | La Salle Cadillac Coupe | 1940 | 5227 | Pierre Malingreau(B) / Gaby De Coninck(B) | Retired | ||
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 40 | Pontiac Deluxe | 1940 | 3600 | Willy Van Loon(B) / Chris Torfs(B) | Unclassified | ||
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 41 | Studebaker President | 1940 | 4103 | Sam Peters(USA) / Enos Reed(USA) | 13 | 10 | S |
| Vingeant Cars (1932-1941) | 42 | Ford Super Deluxe | 1946 | 4000 | Ed Haag(USA) / Ernie Johnson(USA) | 33 | 19 | B |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 46 | Citroen 11B | 1955 | 1910 | Mario Illien(CH) / Noele Illien(GB) | 14 | 9 | S |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 47 | Porsche 356A | 1957 | 1600 | Henry Rohrer(CH) / Adi Herzog(CH) | 23 | 11 | S |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 48 | Morris Oxford | 1958 | 1500 | Stephen Partridge(NZ) / Corgi La Grouw(NZ) | 17 | 10 | G |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 49 | Porsche 356C | 1964 | 1582 | Phil Cuerel(CH) / Rela Hoenner-Zullig(CH) | 39 | 15 | S |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 50 | Volvo 122S | 1964 | 1800 | Richard White(GB) / Richard Scott(GB) | 5 | 3 | G |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 51 | Datsun P510 | 1968 | 1600 | Paul Kirkham(AUS) / Mariella Kirkham(AUS) | 4 | 2 | G |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 52 | Volvo Saloon | 1968 | 1800 | Phil Burgan(GB) / John Wright(GB) | 27 | 13 | S |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 53 | Volvo 142 | 1969 | 1993 | Kerry Finn(AUS) / Kevin Finn(AUS) | 10 | 7 | G |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 54 | Volkswagen Beetle | 1969 | 1192 | Garrick L. Staples(USA) / Hayden Burvill(AUS) | Retired | ||
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 55 | Volkswagen Beetle | 1970 | 1955 | John Layzell(USA) / Brett Layzell(USA) | 26 | 12 | S |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 56 | Volvo 144 | 1970 | 1986 | Allison Cotes(GB) / Peter Cotes(GB) | 11 | 8 | G |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 57 | Lancia Fulvia Coupe | 1971 | 1300 | Gianmaria Aghem(I) / Piergiovanni Fiorio Trono(I) | 8 | 5 | G |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 58 | Nissan Fairlady 240 Z | 1973 | 1990 | Yasuaki Iwasaki(JP) / Takeshi Akiyama(JP) | 32 | 14 | S |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 59 | Volkswagen Beetle | 1973 | 1584 | Hans-Peter Schaerli(CH) / Marc Schaerli(CH) | 9 | 6 | G |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 60 | Peugeot 504 Berline | 1974 | 2000 | Maryse Clamens(F) / Antoine Sanchez(E) | 40 | 16 | B |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 61 | Moskvitch 412 | 1979 | 1450 | Evgenii Smirnov(RU) / Boris Lytkin(RU) | 7 | 4 | G |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 62 | Renault 4 | 1982 | 1300 | Hitoshi Kato(JP) / Marc Ollier(F) | 47 | 18 | B |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 63 | Porsche 911 | 1965 | 1991 | Peter Lovett(GB) / Tim Smith(AUS) | 2 | 1 | G |
| Classics Cars up to 2 L (1942-1975) | 64 | Porsche 911 | 1965 | 2000 | Stan Gold(USA) / Brant Parsons(USA) | 43 | 17 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 65 | Chevrolet Stylemaster | 1948 | 3950 | Trish van Zyl(GB) / Robert van Zyl(ZA) | Unclassified | ||
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 66 | Jaguar XK120 | 1950 | 3400 | Albert Bessudo(F) / Joanin Bernard(F) | Retired | ||
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 67 | Chevrolet Pick-Up | 1949 | 3100 | Michel Leempoel(B) / Camille Van Vooren(B) | 31 | 18 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 68 | Jaguar XK150 | 1957 | 3400 | Tadeusz Wesolowski(PL) / Piotr Lubaczewski(PL) | 34 | 20 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 69 | Mercedes Benz 219 | 1958 | 2195 | Dirk de Groen(NL) / Alexandra de Lespinasse(NL) | 16 | 7 | G |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 70 | Renault Fregate | 1958 | 2141 | Gerard Besson(F) / Marie-Odile Besson(F) | 13 | 5 | G |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 71 | Jaguar Mk1 | 1959 | 3442 | Daniel Spadini(CH) / Alexandra Spadini(CH) | 49 | 31 | |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 72 | Mercedes 220S Ponton | 1959 | 2195 | Roland Singer(A) / Christoph Ley(D) | 36 | 22 | S |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 73 | Rover 80 | 1959 | 2286 | Barry Nash(GB) / Neil Ridley(GB) | 45 | 28 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 74 | Jaguar MkII | 1960 | 3400 | Willem Vermeulen(NL) / Ellen Vermeulen(NL) | 19 | 9 | G |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 75 | Rover 100 | 1960 | 2625 | Tony Smyth(GB) / Malcolm Lister(GB) | 44 | 27 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 76 | Mercedes 220 SE | 1962 | 2195 | Ron Solomon(GB) / Matt Keeler(GB) | Retired | ||
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 77 | Mercedes Benz 300SE | 1962 | 2996 | Markus Kirchgeorg(CH) / Roman Kainz(D) | 21 | 11 | S |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 78 | Holden EH | 1963 | 2940 | Mike Killingsworth(AUS) / James Killingsworth(AUS) | 28 | 15 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 79 | Mercedes Benz 300SE | 1963 | 2996 | Hermann Frye-Hammelmann(D) / Jovan Markovic(CH) | 20 | 10 | S |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 80 | Ford Mustang Convertible | 1967 | 3273 | Hans Middelberg(USA) / Malcolm Rose(AUS) | 30 | 17 | S |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 81 | Mercedes 230 Fintail | 1968 | 2306 | Keith Ashworth(GB) / Norah Ashworth(GB) | 37 | 23 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 82 | Volvo Amazon | 1969 | 1986 | Ludovic Bois(F) / Julia Colman(GB) | 25 | 14 | S |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 83 | Mercedes 280 SE | 1970 | 3500 | Mick de Haas(NL) / Anthony Verloop(NL) | 15 | 6 | G |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 84 | Mercedes 280S | 1971 | 2746 | Mike Velasco(GB) / Derek Sloan(GB) | 24 | 13 | S |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 85 | Porsche 911 | 1972 | 2311 | Ulrich Koerner(CH) / Hans Fueglistaler(CH) | 41 | 25 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 86 | Toyota Landcruiser FJ40 | 1973 | 2500 | John Rich(USA) / John Rich III(USA) | 6 | 3 | G |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 87 | Citroen DS23 | 1974 | 2347 | Robbie Sherrard(AUS) / Peter Washington(AUS) | 3 | 2 | G |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 88 | Studebaker Power Hawk | 1956 | 4200 | Jesse Smaal(NL) / Jack Boers(NL) | 22 | 12 | G |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 89 | Bentley MkVI | 1951 | 4257 | Shubun Kitami(JP) / Hirofumi Igarashi(JP) | 18 | 8 | S |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 90 | Leyland P76 | 1973 | 4400 | Gerry Crown(AUS) / Matt Bryson(AUS) | 1 | 1 | G |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 91 | Mercedes 450 SLC | 1972 | 4500 | Philippe Clamens(F) / Jose Lourseau(F) | 38 | 24 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 92 | Chevrolet C10 | 1970 | 5000 | Peter Davies(GB) / Emma Wilkinson(GB) | Retired | ||
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 93 | Bentley R Type | 1953 | 4500 | Richard Everingham(ZA) / Seonaid Beningfield(ZA) | 12 | 4 | G |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 94 | Bentley R Saloon | 1953 | 4560 | Kazuyuki Sugiyama(JP) / Katsumaro Chikushi(JP) | 46 | 29 | |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 95 | Chevrolet Impala | 1960 | 4600 | Kim Widrick(CAN) / Len Treeter(CAN) | 35 | 21 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 96 | Ford Mustang Fastback | 1964 | 4700 | Lutz Menge(D) / Florian Grashorn(D) | 42 | 26 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 97 | Mercury Park Lane | 1964 | 4700 | Jan Pettersson(SE) / Cathrine Ockernahl(N) | 48 | 30 | B |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 98 | Ford Mustang | 1965 | 4735 | Brian Shields(USA) / Chantal Shields(USA) | 33 | 19 | S |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 99 | Bentley MKVI Special | 1950 | 5675 | Anton Gonnissen(B) / Inge Willemen(B) | 10 | 7 | G |
| Classics Cars over 2 L (1942-1975) | 100 | Holden 48-215 FX | 1973 | 5700 | Peter St George(GB) / David Gainer(AUS) | 29 | 16 | S |





















































































































































































































































































































































































