British Adventurer Breaks Cape to Cape World Record in an INEOS Grenadier

British fine-art photographer and adventurer, John Balsdon, has completed the 20,000 km (12,427 miles) Cape to Cape road challenge in record-breaking time, at the wheel of an INEOS Grenadier.

Balsdon and his five-member support team achieved the feat in 28 days and 13 hours, breaking the previous record, set in 1984, by five hours. Driving two Grenadiers in convoy, the crew crossed 25 borders spanning two continents, starting from Nordkapp in Norway, the most northerly point in Europe, and ending at Cape Agulhas, South Africa, the most southerly point in Africa.

During the four-week journey, Balsdon and his team overcame punishing driving conditions and extreme temperatures ranging from -28 degrees C to +48 degrees C, company officials stated in a press release. Beating the record meant driving across the African continent with very few breaks, including the grueling final 3,500 km (2,175 miles) through Angola, Namibia, and finally South Africa—covered in just over two days.

Three Records Set on a Single Expedition

Two additional records were set in achieving the feat: completing the journey while towing an expedition trailer and tackling the route with two cars simultaneously. Balsdon also becomes the first person to fully document the historic long-distance challenge on film, with a documentary featuring many of the people and places they encountered along the route. The film is set to premiere later this year, noted the release.

“Our Grenadiers took us from the coldest place in Europe to the hardest and hottest places in Africa,” said Balsdon. “They were heavily laden, with one of them towing an expedition trailer for nearly 24,000 kilometers. It was tough on us but much tougher on the cars, but they performed and were reliable no matter the environment or our demands. Being with them across this journey showed us the character of these cars, and they endeared themselves to all six of us.”

INEOS Automotive said that it provided assistance to the team, including full expedition prep and kitting out their Grenadiers before departure.

“The Cape to Cape challenge remains one of the world’s most challenging long-distance driving events and is exactly the kind of adventure we envisaged Grenadier owners taking on when we developed the vehicle,” commented Lynn Calder, CEO at INEOS Automotive. “The success of the four-week mission is testament to the fortitude of John and his team and the capability of the Grenadier.”