Day 3 - Tuesday 8th July

Today the ‘Ballers left the hotel and drove just a couple of miles to the world famous Estoril racing circuit, regarded as one of the best circuits in Portugal. Estoril has seen many legends of motor racing grace it’s tarmac including the great Ayrton Senna & the multi F1 champion Michael Schumacher.

After a safety & track etiquette briefing by Phiroze Bilimoria, a British GT & soon to be BTCC racing driver, it was all systems go. An ‘open pit-lane’ made it possible for the cars to take to the track as and when they pleased & wasted no time tearing up the asphalt under the heat of the Portugese sun.

With no serious ‘offs’ (just one or two visits to the gravel traps!) Estoril was good to our cars & after 6 hours of exhilarating, unlimited track time it was time to leave with all prides intact & the smell of burning rubber and brakes still lingering in the air.

Next stop Merida, a medieval town 190 miles from the track, just inside the Spanish boarder. Little did the guys know what was in store for them when they reached their destination. It seemed that the whole of Merida turned out to greet the drivers. Suddenly every Cannonballers became a film star. The guys were greeted to rounds of applause as the roar of exhausts bounced off the town’s ancient walls. Never has this beautiful town experienced anything quite as spectacular in it’s 500 year history as the arrival of the Cannonball Run Europe!!!! Most of the onlookers had only seen these cars in magazines & their dreams, now they had

the chance to get VERY upfront & personal causing the

town to come to a complete standstill.

After an afternoon & early evening of madness and mayhem the excitement died down, just enough for the ‘ballers to freshen up and make their way to Los Lomas, a beautiful amphitheatre, their evening meal & entertainment.

Our unfortunate casualties today were Sam & Colin in their VX220. After a great track day the car packed up 30 miles from Merida, shedding most of it’s oil in the process! The guys are certainly not ready to go home and will now be hitching rides with other Cannonballers. The Vauxhall Vectra of Dean & Darren has a suspected head gasket failure & is now residing in a garage just inside the Spanish boarder. The guys will now continue in another Vectra, courtesy of the local hire company! They may have lost their cars, but none of the Cannonball spirit!