Around 110 classic and antique cars will crisscross the Peninsula in a five-day rally next week.
The fifth annual Rally Maya, which starts on Isla Cozumel, rolls through Mérida and concludes in Cancun.
The first challenge will be to get off the island, making this the first rally of its kind where drivers must cross to the mainland to continue with the competition.
The “rolling museum” will be judged in categories based by year: up to 1931, 1932-1949, 1950-1964 and 1965-1975. Car collectors will show off examples of Rolls Royce, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Packard, MG, Alfa Romeo, Oldsmobile, Jaguar, Cadillac, Austin Healy, Pontiac, Renault, Dodge, Plymouth, Buick, Lincoln, Chevrolet, VW and Ford A and T models.
Vehicles will be in 90 percent original condition.
Rally participants will first gather Wednesday, May 23 for technical inspections and an exhibition, with a parade the next day.
On Friday, May 25 they set out on the 1,200-kilometer/750-mile route at an average top speed of 70 kmh/44 mph.
The rally is divided into stages:
- Friday, May 25: Cozumel
- Saturday, May 26: Punta Venado-Valladolid
- Sunday, May 27: Valladolid-Chichen Itza
- Monday, May 28: Chichen Itza-Mérida
- Tuesday, May 29: Mérida
- Wednesday, May 30: Mérida-Cancun
This event is ranked among the ten best in the world in its kind by the Federation Internationale des Vehicules Anciens, the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile, the Mexican Federation of Antique Automobiles and the Mexican Federation of Automobile Sports.
Since its first event, Rally Maya’s altruistic actions have helped children and adults of limited resources.
A sponsor, Fundación Telmex, will donate 100 wheelchairs to various communities. Franck Muller has produced a commemorative watch; a large portion of its profits will go toward helping children with diabetes.
Source: El Universal
