We are just back from nine-days driving across the top of Northern Africa in Libya, which will feature in our next year’s Nile-Trial.

We set out from Tripoli and drove east stopping at Serte, and then the long road to Benghazi, the coast road made famous by the 27 Libyan battles of World War Two when rallied by the likes of Rommel and Montgomery.

The roads get steadily more remote and empty of traffic the further east you drive. A regular supply of scruffy roadside cafes keep your caffeine levels topped up with fresh Nescafe, along with locally picked oranges, while you sit in the sun and admire the local choice in classic cars (Peugeot 404s and 504s are still common sets of wheels in these parts).

The Roman ruins of Liptis Magna and Greek port of Cyrenika and Appolonia were majestic and totally unspoilt sites to explore – if you are not into climbing over Roman ruins, this will be a revelation. What impresses is the feeling that its all as discovered only yesterday – they have swept out the sand of the ampitheatres, and that’s about all, no restoration, no intrusive commercialism, you park up in a muddy car park and stroll over desert scrub to find the remains much as archaeologists must have discovered them. The cells of the Christians who fought and lost their lives in the name of entertainment are just as you’ve experienced them in Hollywood’s epics such as Spartacus and Gladiator.

We ran along the Mediterranean coast in bright sunshine, took in chicken kebabs washed down with fresh oranges, and stopped in empty, deserted hotels. We found the local fuel is “supposed” to be 95 octane - modern Rover 75s among the many Toyotas and Kia’s seem to run without any fuel issues, and the surface quality of the roads seems surprisingly good. Driving standards vary enormously, you certainly need your wits about you, for one thing herds of camels have no respect for traffic, just wandering aimlessly across the road.

All the locals wisely seem to run older-fashioned tyres with tall profiles, and we have noted some local roadside tyre dealers while making our route-notes, as puncture repairs will surely be needed by someone… but an uprated, strong van-type tyre would be our preference for rallying this route.

Our next trip will have us exploring some of the tracks that run out in the desert for optional Time-Trials. We met the Ministry of Tourism and other local officials, along with the national club responsible for motor-sport authorisation, and found the locals very willing, friendly, and super-helpful.

Philip Young & Kim Bannister
(Jan. 10th, '08)