Maxine Ashford catches up with the brave Race2Recovery team as they set out to raise funds by competing in the world’s toughest endurance race
planet in blistering South American temperatures. Every year it claims lives and every race tests
T
competitors, vehicles and back-up teams to the limit. And that’s the daunting challenge that lies
ahead for Race2Recovery - a team of wounded soldiers - who will be taking on the Dakar to raise funds for Help for Heroes and Tedworth House Personal Recovery Centre. Led by Captain Tony Harris, 31, from
Shropshire, the team is made up of 31 members including wounded personnel, experienced drivers, veterans and mechanics. Capt Harris was serving with the 2nd
battalion the royal regiment of fusiliers in Afghanistan in 2009 when he was injured by an improvised explosive device whilst out on patrol. T e blast shattered both his heels and fractured his left arm. His left leg was removed below the knee 10 months later.
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he Dakar Rally Raid is widely regarded as the world’s toughest endurance race over some of the most challenging terrain on our
T e father of two who will be one of the
drivers on the rally, said: “We will cover 9,000kms in 15 days driving between 10 and 16 hours a day. Temperatures will be up in the 40s and we will really struggle with sleep deprivation. My vehicle has a special light that shines if my foot is touching the clutch as I can’t feel it. It will be an incredible strain on my legs.” But Capt Harris and the team are convinced
their camaraderie, determination and sheer grit will get them through. “For all of us on the team, this is an
opportunity to push the boundaries of the possible and to challenge the human spirit of adventure and ensure that our injuries do not dictate our lives. “It’s an amazing adventure and it can be
done,” he said. Another wounded serviceman taking part
in the challenge is Tom Neathway, 28, who lost both legs and his left arm during a blast in Afghanistan in 2008. He will be a navigator during the rally but faces immense challenges along the way.
He explained: “T e heat will be the major
factor for me. Because of the prosthetics my core temperature is always much higher than normal. I’m like a hot water bottle.” Tom will be driven by Ben Gott, an
experienced driver who has completed the rally six times in eight years. But he appreciates the challenges that lay ahead for the team. “T e heat and humidity are draining and Tom
burns energy three times faster than an able- bodied person. “It’s vital that we don’t burn out too fast but
pace ourselves to complete the rally. T is race is the most demanding of challenges even if you are able-bodied.” T ere are four main race vehicles in the
Race2Recovery team. T ese are Qt Wildcat 500DKR models which are equipped for the tough terrain. T ese compete in the T1 category. T en there is a rapid response truck that carries spare parts and tools which competes in its own right in the T4 category. Finally, there are a couple of much larger all-terrain eight-wheelers that carry the spares needed for major repairs.
Dakar Rally Raid
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