DAY 8 – Rest Day, Dunhuang

After seven days and 3,200 kms since leaving the start of the 2025 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge at the Great Wall of China, crews have earned a well deserved rest day at Dunhuang. The break means that they are not driving and competing, but are still exerting themselves as they repair and prepare their cars for the next phase of the epic journey that is the P2P.

Teams have experienced a sand storm, heat, cold, dust and even snow on the highest part of the competition adventure where they climbed up to 3400 metres with incredible views from the top. Cars have been stuck in deep sand in the Gobi desert whilst others have gone off the road or broken down.

There has been a small vehicle fire, broken chassis and vehicles being transported by flat bed transport, but everyone is determined to keep going and make it to Paris somehow in the true spirit of 1907.

There have been great battles in the desert too as there is a new overall leader in Brian Scowcroft and Mark Gilmour (GB) in their Chevrolet Fangio Roadster. They are just four seconds ahead of previous leaders Jorge and Cristobal Perez Companc (AR) in their Chevrolet Master Coupe.

Similarly there has been a good contest in the Classic Class between Harold Goddijn (NL) and Corinne Vigreux (FR) in their Porsche 911 and the Peugeot 504 Coupe of Brian Palmer and David Bell (GB) who are 1 minute 14 seconds behind.

When the Peking to Paris resumes on Day 9, competitors face 400 kms which include two Sporting Trial Control sections and then the spectacle and experience of the Great Sea Road on Day 10.

In terms of endurance, the rally has only just started to get into its stride with over 11,000 kms and 29 days to go before that all important finish line in Paris. The event has already demonstrated that it really is one of the world’s last true motoring adventures.