Mike Dreelan returns to China to express his thanks

One year on from the dreadful accident that almost cost him his life on the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge 2024, Mike Dreelan returned to China to thank those who saved him and aided his incredible recovery.

The ebullient Irish historic car enthusiast and competitor was greeted warmly by HERO-ERA officials and competitors alike as he moved between them and their cars, even helping and advising HERO-ERA Chairman Tomas de Vargas Machuca how to best pack his Bentley for his solo assault on P2P 2025!

The ever popular Mike Dreelan, flew to China to be at the build up and start at the Great Wall of China to express his huge gratitude on his mini thank you tour. He visited the Beijing United Family Hospital to thank the staff and then the People’s Hospital of Jinchang. It was Jinchang that Mike was originally rushed to after the accident, where his dreadful injuries were immediately treated in a series of critical emergency operations that were to save his life.

With him at the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge HQ, the Shangri-La Hotel in Beijing for a briefing, was Professor Derek O’Reilly, the Irishman in charge of the Beijing United Family Hospital. Also Muhammed Khalid the brilliant Medic who treated Mike at the scene a year ago. Only Mike could be under the care of an Irishman, Derek O’Reilly, one of a few Irishman in the medical profession in China, but that’s the luck of the Irish for you! Mike has made a marvellous recovery thanks to all these amazing medical professionals.

He has since returned to competition with HERO-ERA on the Pearl of India rally in China earlier this year where he finished second in class in his Alvis 25 with his loyal navigator Bob Pybus, who was also injured in the P2P accident, but fortunately with less serious injuries and was allowed to travel back to the UK after ten days.

Ever the historic motoring enthusiast, Mike Dreelan is hosting the HERO-ERA Scottish Malts competitors to his estate in Aberdeen this September (Malts Sept 1-5) where he will be showing the crews his incredible car collection which includes the largest collection of historic steam driven vehicles in Europe. He also has an entire steam driven fair ground which will be on show!

Mike Dreelan has entered the 2028 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge saying; “It’s unfinished business!”

Please watch the video of thanks with Mike Dreelan, Muhammed Khalid and Professor Derek O’Reilly.