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| Couple battle in old banger rally | |
| (1 day later) | |
| A couple have challenged each other head-to-head over 4,000 miles to Gambia in cars saved from the scrapheap. | |
| Adrian Lort-Phillips, from Pembrokeshire, entered the Plymouth-Banjul Challenge despite his wife Rachel Hicks expressing concern. | Adrian Lort-Phillips, from Pembrokeshire, entered the Plymouth-Banjul Challenge despite his wife Rachel Hicks expressing concern. |
| But he later learned she had secretly also signed up for the charity rally securing an old Range Rover, formerly used as a chicken coop, for her ride. | |
| The rally to Banjul, the Gambian capital, may take up to 24 days. | |
| When they reach their destination, the vehicles will be auctioned off to raise money for local causes such as businesses and schools. | When they reach their destination, the vehicles will be auctioned off to raise money for local causes such as businesses and schools. |
| The cars will also be donated for use by local people and the competitors will fly home. | The cars will also be donated for use by local people and the competitors will fly home. |
| The couple are starting their journey from their home in Lawrenny before driving to Plymouth, where they will take the ferry to France. | The couple are starting their journey from their home in Lawrenny before driving to Plymouth, where they will take the ferry to France. |
| If he gets in any scrapes he'll probably call for help like he usually does! Rachel Hicks | If he gets in any scrapes he'll probably call for help like he usually does! Rachel Hicks |
| After driving to Spain, they will continue on to Morocco and places including Mauretania and Senegal and across the Sahara desert before reaching Gambia. | After driving to Spain, they will continue on to Morocco and places including Mauretania and Senegal and across the Sahara desert before reaching Gambia. |
| When Mr Lort-Phillips, 35, who is driving a Jeep Cherokee Wagon, entered the rally in the summer he believed he was doing so against his wife's wishes. | |
| But weeks later he discovered she had also secretly bought a wreck and entered the challenge herself. | But weeks later he discovered she had also secretly bought a wreck and entered the challenge herself. |
| He recalled: "I had a call from my co-driver. He said he thought there was a mistake on the lists and that somehow my name had been entered twice. | He recalled: "I had a call from my co-driver. He said he thought there was a mistake on the lists and that somehow my name had been entered twice. |
| "But when I saw the name and the listed co-driver I realised I'd been out-manoeuvred." | "But when I saw the name and the listed co-driver I realised I'd been out-manoeuvred." |
| Fierce rivalry | Fierce rivalry |
| Mr Lort-Phillips then found photographs of an old Range Rover on his computer and his wife admitted she and a friend had been plotting for weeks. | Mr Lort-Phillips then found photographs of an old Range Rover on his computer and his wife admitted she and a friend had been plotting for weeks. |
| One of the rules of the rally is that the cars must cost less than £100. | |
| Ms Hicks, 36, also roped in some extra help from the motor vehicle students at Pembrokeshire College, who have been preparing the Range Rover for its epic journey. | Ms Hicks, 36, also roped in some extra help from the motor vehicle students at Pembrokeshire College, who have been preparing the Range Rover for its epic journey. |
| She said: "They dragged it out of the barn where it was being used as a chicken coop. For three months, they've been doing it up." | She said: "They dragged it out of the barn where it was being used as a chicken coop. For three months, they've been doing it up." |
| Rivalry between the couple has become fierce and both have kept their preparations a closely guarded secret, including the route they plan to take. | Rivalry between the couple has become fierce and both have kept their preparations a closely guarded secret, including the route they plan to take. |
| Among the potential challenges they face are inhospitable desert and even minefields. | Among the potential challenges they face are inhospitable desert and even minefields. |
| Ms Hicks, who is chief executive of Pembrokeshire Tourism, said: "Adrian wanted to have the adventure for himself, so why shouldn't I be able to do it?" | Ms Hicks, who is chief executive of Pembrokeshire Tourism, said: "Adrian wanted to have the adventure for himself, so why shouldn't I be able to do it?" |
| "If he gets in any scrapes he'll probably call for help like he usually does!" | "If he gets in any scrapes he'll probably call for help like he usually does!" |
| More than 200 vehicles from around the world will take part in this year's challenge and more than £100,000 is expected to be raised for charity. | More than 200 vehicles from around the world will take part in this year's challenge and more than £100,000 is expected to be raised for charity. |