Half‑Hour Special follows the adventures of the only disabled professional rally team in the ultimate rally
Whitley, 1 May 2014. Dakar Rally 2014: Race2Recovery is a half‑hour documentary debuting on British Eurosport this Saturday (May 3rd) at 7.30pm. The show follows Race2Recovery a team of amputee and seriously injured servicemen as they take on the world's toughest rally.
In 2013, Land Rover‑sponsored Race2Recovery became the first team of amputees ever to complete the Dakar Rally and this year they returned to continue inspiring people that there is life beyond injury. Last year, the team of injured servicemen, against all odds, managed to get a Land Rover Defender‑based Wildcat rally car across the finish line against all odds.
The 2014 Dakar saw the team race over 9000 km through Argentina and Chile. 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 all in searing heat: a true test of man and machine.
The half‑hour special charts the team's extraordinary journey and delves into the personal challenges of the individuals who put their go beyond spirit to the ultimate test.
Team member 'Baz' was part of a bomb disposal unit when he was blown up in Afghanistan in 2009 and lost his left leg. "It's been an incredible journey from the battlefield to the Dakar," said Whittingham during the event. "I was told I'd never walk again but here I am taking part in the world's toughest rally. Just being part of Race2Recovery has helped all of us in our rehabilitation and we hope that we've demonstrated to others that with teamwork and determination, you can overcome almost anything."
Dakar Rally 2014: Race2Recovery will be shown on British Eurosport on Saturday 3rd May, 2014 at 7.30pm.
A trailer for the series can be viewed/embedded at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV8XeA4pe‑c&list=UUVZr1_vH9VNFWQJ4Y6l5zEA
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For further information log onto www.uk.media.landrover.com or contact:
Kim Palmer
Senior Press Officer, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 564 129
M: 07795 666169
E: kpalmer@landrover.com
Jessica Rumboll
Press Officer, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 564 258
M: 07880 177 300
E: jrumboll@landrover.com
Editors Note:
- Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true breadth of capability across the model range. Defender, Freelander, Discovery, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's 4x4 sectors. Land Rover products are currently sold in approximately 180 global markets.
About Race to Recovery
Race2Recovery first came to public attention when the early stages of their project were featured on BBC's Top Gear programme, back in 2011. In 2013 they made their Dakar Rally debut when Philip 'Barney' Gillespie became the first amputee ever to finish the event when he partnered Major Matt O'Hare in a Wildcat rally car, based on the Land Rover Defender. This year the Race2Recovery race fleet consisted of two Wildcat rally cars and a T4 rally truck, which can also support the cars on the timed special stages. The fleet also consisted of two 8x8 support trucks, providing the team's service areas, as well as three Land Rover Discovery support cars to ferry the mechanics and team management. A conventional day saw the racers spend over 10 hours per day in their Wildcat racers, covering anywhere between 500 and 800km a day, largely off road, at speeds of up to 120mph.
The logistical and mechanical team followed a separate liaison route but the journey was arduous for them too. Most of the mechanics only slept for a couple of hours each night and the support fleet, as well as the race vehicles, needed to be looked after.
Those members of the team that have been wounded in combat have a huge variety of injuries ‑ some are more apparent than others but each person has had their life completely changed. Whether dealing with missing limbs, spinal and respiratory injuries, or psychological and fragmentation injuries, each has resolved to prove that their injury will not stop them completing the toughest motorsport event on the planet.
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