SOME OF the world’s most prestigious top-of-the-range coupé and 4×4 cars raced around Cascais and Serra de Sintra recently in the annual Challenge Mix.
Organised by car leasing company ALD Automotive and sponsored by Goodyear, BP, Carglass and Dunlop, among others, this year’s wacky race route started off at the Quinta da Marinha Cascais Hotel in Guincho and finished up two hours later at Penha Longa Tennis Club House in Sintra. The winner was António Arruda, financial director of Cosmética Atiya Portugal (L’Oreal).
The 25 participants made three pit stops en route, including a belvedere high up in the Sintra mountains and a beauty spot outside Azenhas do Mar, with breathtaking views of the sea and serra.
At Penha Longa, the rally contestants were literally overturned in their car seats when they took part in a vehicle safety exercise using a simulator to demonstrate how to escape from an overturned car. This was followed by drinks and canapés around the pool, an open air buffet lunch and the prize giving ceremony.
