A TEAM of medics is swapping their ambulance for a rally car this summer to help raise money for charity.
The colleagues from Meditech Global based at Rockingham Motor Speedway in Corby, have formed the Medrock Allstars and will be competing in the annual Two Ball Banger Rally, which sees teams competing against each other over four-days.
Following the original route, the event starts in France on Friday, August 18 and takes in nine different countries in just four days, passing through Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Monte Carlo before finishing in Nice.
Operations Director Gary Watts will be joined by Rockingham’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Mark Tyler and paramedic Adrian Hanson on the 1200-mile European road trip to raise money for Northamptonshire-based Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Gary, from Rushden, said: “This is a great opportunity for us three middle aged guys to have some fun driving around Europe in an old banger. It’s not quite Top Gear, more like we’ve lost a gear, but hopefully the Megane will see us across the finish line in Nice.
“We decided to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease Association as it is a charity close to our hearts. Sadly one of our friends’ partner has this condition and at present there is no cure. By taking part in this event, we are hoping to raise at least £1,000 for MND, which provides support, care and research.”
Although the Two Ball Banger Rally is not a race, it is a serious competition, with competitors completing outrageous daily challenges which will test their mental state of mind, teamwork, driving and navigational skills.
Along the way, however, the route will pass through the Black Forest of Germany, the famous Stelvio Mountain Pass, Italy’s breathtaking Lake Como and the Mediterranean principality of the rich and famous, Monaco.
To take part in the event, each team had to purchase a car for less than £567 and the Medrock Allstars will be travelling in style. Their chosen wheels is a grey 56-plate Renault Megane. The trip is completely self-funded with competitors raising much needed funds for their own chosen charity.
The motorsport medics have so far secured sponsorship from Rockingham Motor Speedway, Whilton Mill, NGR Spark Plugs, British Touring Car teams – BMR and Triple8 – and drift racer Michelle Westby, but the team has room on the car for more names.
Anyone interested in adding their name to the Medrock Allstars car can contact Gary on 01536 206010. Or to make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-tyler8. You can follow the team’s progress via Facebook – Medrock Allstars – Two Ball Rally 2017 & Twitter – @MedrockAllstars.