Motorized Traverse Completed

Published on 16.12.2011 - South Pole Race 2011/2012 Centenary Race

A mark for History (!) from the EWR traverse on the Antarctic

The three specially equiped cars under the leading of Tony Martin have reached the other side of the 6th Continent. They needed 23 days to complete the traverse.

On day 23 (15 December) the crossing was over ; the three vehicles have crossed the finish line.

Excerpts (Tony martin on 15 December) : " ... Finish Line! After 23 days we have made it across Antarctica on one of the longest routes in history; 3280 km and on the Anniversary of Amundsen's arrival at the South Pole. It is truly overwhelming. ... On the last leg of 50 km the weight of the vehicles opened up two crevasses that would have swallowed all three vehicles if the snow bridge had collapsed completely. The advanced warning of the radar stopped the fleet moving forward on both occasions. The Arctic Trucks expertise has once again proved invaluable to Extreme World Races.

It has been a humbling experience crossing Antarctica and I have total respect for Mother Nature for letting us know on occasion that she is the boss and we are simply guests in her back yard. Now it’s back to the start line to prepare for the Centenary Race in remembrance of those great men, Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen, 100 years ago.
All competitors are on their way to Cape Town as you read this blog after the EWR Team, Emily, Andy and Mikey, saw them off at the airport seamlessly yesterday evening. ... "

On 16 December, day 24 of the excursion, the caravan was at 86° 44.782 S / 135° 00.596 W and have covered 183 km since they left McMurdo and the coast.

They did not forget to leave a mark at 16.07 GMT on the 15 December on the wooden pole that the Americans left to mark the position of the Ross Ice shelf in adventure tradition. Because of course no doubt that this motorized crossing will make History !