Marathon to run in reverse

The route for the 2014 Sydney-London Marathon Rally has been confirmed, with a daunting schedule of over 1700 miles of special stages in a total route of more than 7000 miles.

The first rally connecting Sydney and London for a decade will also break new ground by running in the opposite direction to all previous events. A major factor in the decision was the bio-security problems associated with taking dirty rally cars into Australia.

A 12-day leg, starting on April 12, will take crews to Perth, where the cars will be airlifted to Turkey. Then comes an 18-day trek across Europe, taking in Slovakia and Croatia, with a rest day in Rijeka. The final special stages will be held on the Epynt ranges in Wales before the rally finishes in London on May 11.