Pushed to the Limit: Peking to Paris

Introduction to the Peking to Paris Rally

Peking to Paris (P2P) is a historic endurance rally that first took place in 1907 to prove the viability of automobiles for long-distance travel. It is the longest and most challenging classic car rally in the world. In 2024, Hernán Levy and Felipe Ledermann made history as the first Chileans to participate in this world-renowned competition, using Millers Oils to power their journey.

Journey Across Continents

The rally covered approximately 15,000 kilometres over 37 days, starting in Beijing (formerly Peking), and crossing through Inner Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Italy and France. 100 vintage and classic cars, dating from 1914 to 1974 crossed diverse terrains, including deserts, mountains, and remote regions, with daily stages that test the endurance and navigation skills of the participants.

Decision to Race in a 1928 Ford Model A Taxi

Hernán and Felipe made the decision to participate in a 1928 Ford Model A Taxi, since older classes have a better chance of being accepted to race. The car is also a very reliable option with a large stock of spare parts in the market. They prepared the car during the pandemic according to the rally organisation’s regulations, and before P2P, carried out extensive tests on different terrains. This included a 5,000 kilometre journey crossing the Andes Mountains at more than 4,800 metres high, enduring sandstorms and temperatures of more than 40 degrees in Argentina.

The Importance of Quality Lubricants

Given the extreme conditions encountered during the rally, the team needed a high-quality lubricant for their Ford Model A. “All these extreme conditions required a high-quality lubricant for a 3,200 CC engine, so we chose Classic Pistoneeze 20w50 mineral for Peking to Paris. We also have been using the same oil in other classic cars for many years, which we easily find at the local supplier in Chile”.

Navigating Challenging Terrain

All crews drive an average of 500 kilometres per day, with one day covering more than 900 kilometres. Each day is made up of liaison sections and special stages, in which regularity and navigation tests are carried out on hills, gravel, and sand terrain. For navigation, each crew has a road book, a tripmeter and a GPS, which allows each team to advance through various terrains. The most complex stages were in the Gobi desert in Inner Mongolia, with strong headwinds and high temperatures. Something similar happened in Greece in the hills leading to the Meteora Monastery, where temperatures of 37 degrees challenged the Yellow Taxi.

Mechanical Challenges and Triumphs

Before the rally started in Peking on May 18th, Hernán and Felipe set their goal… “To do everything possible to get to Paris”, however, mechanical challenges were a constant during the 37 days of competition. The hardest day for the Chilean crew was day 1. “We were happy to start the rally from the Great Wall of China, but 4 hours later the gearbox of the Ford A jammed. We were overwhelmed because we didn’t know if we could continue, with our egos on the ground and a bitter feeling of pain and frustration”. It took to them 4 hours to repair it on the side of the road and a further 4 hours in the Chinese city of Datong, but finally they were able to continue the rally.

Overcoming Adversity on the Road

Another challenge they had to face was the bad roads in China and Kazakhstan, especially during the regularity sections of the race. Those roads were very demanding for the tiny and old Ford A, which forced the Chilean crew to look for alternative routes some days to avoid major damage to the car. This strategy was captured by a journalist that wrote in the September edition of Octane Magazine the following:

“Sunrise on Day 13, our penultimate day in China. We didn’t always get to see the sunrise – you’ve got to sleep at some point – but Hernan and Felipe saw it almost every morning, as they worked out very quickly that they needed to leave an hour or two before everyone else to get their tiny Ford in before midnight. This photo sums up the rally for me. They didn’t always follow the official route, skipping along highways when they could, but I dare say their rally was longer than almost anyone else’s.”

A Podium Finish in Paris

Despite the numerous challenges, Hernán, Felipe and their Ford Taxi arrived in Paris on June 23^rd, obtaining a Podium with third place in the category N°2 of old cars. Reflecting on the significance that P2P had for them, they tell us that “P2P left us with the memory of an incredible and extreme experience, with images of extraordinary and unique places, with moments of camaraderie in the camps and routes with people that we will not forget and finally, with new friends and fellow travellers, with whom we shared for 37 days an adventurous spirit and the vision that everything is possible, dreams can be fulfilled”.

Read about another classic car powered by Millers Oils here. 

Explore Millers Oils Vintage and Classic range here. 

Thank you to Hernán and Felipe for the content and imagery.