This Day in History: 2023-05-30

Nr. 465

RALLYING CALL FOR GREAVES (1970)

Former England gol poacher Jimmy Greaves’ first sight of World Cup host country Mexico was through the visor of a crash helmet and a cloud of dust. Greaves, his international career over and club prospects waning, was a participant in the first World Cup Rally. In the drive from London to Mexico he finished sixth in a Ford Escort. Driving on several continents, the rally was more gruelling than rallies had been up to this point and it included long, timed sections of up to 650 miles. Greaves’ verdict? «Harder than any football match.»

Jimmy Greaves tries his hand at rally driving in Surrey before setting off on his mammoth trip across six continents to Mexico City.