HERO-ERA 1 Prodrive Mustang completes two consecutive Peking to Paris Motor Challenges
*US crew take 3rd in Class (2025) and finish in top ten on the road
*HERO-ERA 2 complete and ready for handover
The first historic American car to receive world title winning Prodrive engineering treatment, HERO-ERA 1, originally a rusting 1967 pony car transformed into state-of-the-art desert rally machine, has now finished two consecutive Peking to Paris Motor Challenges. The 2025 campaign was a huge success for the HERO-ERA Arrive & Drive Mustang as driver James, son Tucker (19) and wife Danica Callahan, who shared the navigation duties, were third in class and ninth car home on the road. They were the first American car to finish and represent part of HERO-ERA’s Enduro Rally Programme.
HERO-ERA, the world’s premier historic motoring events company, commissioned their flagship HERO-ERA 1 to be built in collaboration with Prodrive to take on major endurance events like the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge and the Sahara Challenge.
Launched by David Richards CBE (Chairman, Prodrive) and Tomas de Vargas Machuca (Chairman, HERO-ERA) in 2023 with ex-F1 driver and Le Mans winner Jackie Oliver in attendance at Bicester Motion, the stunning car was a result of a meticulous build by Prodrive, a company with World Championship winning pedigree across all motorsport categories.
Following the launch and extensive testing by three times British Rally Champion and 007 James Bond stunt driver Mark Higgins, HERO-ERA 1 was given its rally debut on the Badawï Trial to the Last Oasis in the Middle East by Xavier and Lucas de Sarrau, finishing 5th Classic overall and 2nd in class. It was a great debut and shakedown for the new machine. After 1500 kilometres through Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, Xavier loved it so much he said afterwards; ‘Can I have the next one?’ Now he is about to take delivery of his new machine.
The first assault on the 2024 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge for HERO-ERA 1 was by a team of top racing drivers. Firstly Katarina Kyvalova, who is part of the Bentley Bells, a great driver in historic racing, Spa six hours, Le Mans Classic, and her teammate John Minshaw, a very talented racing driver, who has won many prestigious races including the Goodwood Revival.
On day one of the 2024 P2P they blasted their way into the lead of the Classic Category and continued to be in and around the podium positions as they learned the art of desert rallying and the challenges of navigation, swapping roles between driving and navigation as they journeyed halfway around the world.
Sadly, the Mustang suffered a fuel pump failure in Greece that couldn’t be fixed on the side of the road, and so assistance was needed to get them to the port. The crew finally finished seventh in class.
Their challenge was over, but the superb feedback from the racing drivers was translated by Prodrive engineers, led by Richard Thompson, into improvements and modifications already built into HERO-ERA 2. Lesson learned and development through experience is part of Prodrive’s DNA. Now the scouts are out looking for a suitable donor chassis for HERO-ERA 3 and a new owner who wants to take on the might of the historic rally world - and win!
Go to ERP (Enduro Rally Programme) to learn more!
