History 1990s

1993 Lombard London–Sydney Marathon (UK to Australia)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1993 Lombard London–Sydney Marathon

Date: April 17 – May 16, 1993

Start Location: London, United Kingdom

Finish Location: Sydney, Australia

Total Distance: ~16,000 km (mixed surfaces)

Surface: Asphalt, gravel, desert, and open-road stages

Commemorating the legendary 1968 event, the 1993 Lombard London–Sydney Marathon spanned 16,000 kilometers across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Featuring a blend of vintage and modern vehicles, the rally tested endurance, navigation, and mechanical resilience across three continents. Francis Tuthill and Anthony Showell, driving a classic Porsche 911, paced themselves with precision and grit, emerging victorious after one of the most demanding long-distance rallies ever held in the modern era.

Route

Europe: UK, France, Italy, and Eastern Europe—tight tarmac stages, snowy mountain passes, and liaison routes through historic cities.
Asia: Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and India—desert heat, gravel sections, and remote villages with limited service access.
Australia: Arrival via airlift, with stages from Perth to Sydney—outback tracks, long red-dust trails, and classic rally loops.

The rally’s route passed through historic and treacherous terrain, echoing the original marathon’s globe-spanning ambition:

Crews faced political, logistical, and physical challenges—navigating unfamiliar cultures, border crossings, and changing road laws while keeping vehicles intact across extreme climates.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Francis Tuthill & Anthony Showell · Porsche 911
2nd Place
Phil Surtees & Peter Watt · Ford Capri
3rd Place
Nick Brittan & Steve Hall · Volvo 144

Tuthill’s steady hand and deep understanding of classic rally mechanics allowed his Porsche 911 to withstand the strain of a month-long race across unforgiving terrain.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Multi-Continent Complexity: Language barriers, fuel issues, and mechanical support logistics across three continents required strategic foresight.
  • Heat and Altitude: From snowy Alps to Iranian deserts—engines and drivers were pushed to their physical limits.
  • Mechanical Preservation: Classic cars needed constant upkeep—Tuthill’s rally preparation and mechanical experience were decisive.

The 1993 London–Sydney Marathon honored rallying’s grandest adventures—Tuthill’s victory in a vintage Porsche was a celebration of both man and machine over distance, time, and adversity.

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