It's official - Record Breaking Solo Endurance Driver's Word Record is ratified

Following the application to OWR for the record breaking solo journey on the 2025 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge supported by comprehensive documentation, the International Acceptance Committee of OWR Europe informed the pioneering solo driver Tomas de Vargas Machuca, that his world record had been approved and titled by Official World Record™

The Approved Record Title received from OWR is; ‘The First Person to Drive Solo from Beijing to Paris in a Pre War Car.’

Tomas de Vargas Machuca is naturally delighted to have his epic solo journey recognised as an official world record and commented:

"I am delightful to add this important recognition to my Personal Achievement of the Year of my 'solo' adventure across the world. Just as I was inspired by Pioneers before me I hope to inspire others to go beyond their comfort zone. I would like to dedicate this recognition to my late father who was so instrumental in building and sharing my passion for adventure and to the motorcar."

Official World Record Europe is an organisation dedicated to promoting, verifying, cataloging and registering world records. Official World Record Europe carry out specific and extensive research, which can require the expertise of external consultants, before rejecting or approving record achievement claims to make sure they meet their stringent criteria.

To detail the enormity of the solo driving achievement of Tomas de Vargas Machuca, the Chairman of HERO-ERA on the 2025 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, consider the gruelling route covering 12 countries, driving halfway around the world in a pre war car for a distance of 14, 899 kms. From China, to Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan, and then onward to Türkiye and the European leg through Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and finally France. There were 10 border crossings and six nights under canvas. Tough roads on a route that spent much of the first three weeks taking in the southern reaches of the Gobi Desert. It was a major endurance effort, but it was also about survival.

Remarkably, Tomas also finished the 2025 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, described as the world's last true motoring adventure, in 14th place overall. He won a special post event award for his efforts after an Incredible journey, often in adverse conditions. Tomas then won a Personal Achievement Award at the Historic Motoring Awards, (Nov 14) which now ranks as a personal high together with his Official World Record.

At the end of each hard day, whether recovering from driving in rain, heat exhaustion, or a battering by sandstorms which had blown tents away, repairs and maintenance had to be carried out on the 1926 Bentley no matter what time of day or night. Without the grit and determination to carry on, the Paris finish line and the record would not have been attained.

Not content with crossing the finish in Paris, as far as Tomas was concerned, the task was not complete.

“It was incredible traversing China and the Gobi, the Aral Sea into the Caucasus, across Eastern and Central Europe, then the Alps in Austria, and through Switzerland and France. We enjoyed a wonderful celebration for the official end of the Peking to Paris, but I didn’t think the job was finished. Someone told me that in the old days, competitors used to drive to an event, and considered that you only really finished if you drove back home. So, I drove the Bentley home to London from Paris and then on to our HQ at Bicester Motion to complete the task.”

The 2025 P2P event became the platform for Tomas to become a World Record Breaker following on from Anton Gonnissen (furthest distance on a 3-wheeler) and Mitch Gross (furthest distance in a steam driven vehicle) both records set on the 2019 Peking to Paris. Tomas de Vargas Machuca set a record for the longest distance solo drive (single handed) in a pre war car (Vintage) over 14,889 kms in 37 days across the world’s largest landmass on the 2025 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge driving a 1926 Bentley 3-4 ½ Litre. It is now an Official World Record.  

The previous solo distance driving record in a competition event was set by Englishman Eddie Hall at Le Mans in 1950 driving his Bentley solo for the entire distance, despite having a co-driver in the pits ready to take over. He completed 236 laps, which equals 3,200 km (2,000 miles).

Many people could not contemplate the physicality of the challenge, but for Tomas there was definite method in his madness at attempting such a driving feat. “First of all, most advised against it, but then you have serious solo attempts in other sports such as yachting, going solo across the Atlantic or around the world, so why not in Historic Rallying on one of the oldest events in the world?”

You can follow the journey here:

https://www.youtube.com/@HEROERArally/shorts