Post-Christmas family tensions will spill over into the deserts of Africa for a Pembrokeshire couple who are set to battle each other to make it to Gambia in West Africa in cars saved from the scrap heap. Husband Adrian Lort-Phillips entered the Plymouth-Banjul Challenge that starts today (December 28) against his wife's wishes only to discover weeks later that his wife had secretly bought a wreck and entered the challenge herself. The Plymouth Banjul Challenge sees competitors buying virtually worthless cars and doing them up on the cheap before driving 4,000 miles across Africa and auctioning off the cars for charity. Adrian entered the challenge back in the summer when a mate offered him a place in his car. His wife Rachel had reservations, but he thought he'd won the argument until he heard her name was on the entry lists. "I had a call from my co-driver," recalls Adrian. "He said he thought there was a mistake on the lists and that somehow my name had been entered twice. But when I saw the name and the listed co- driver I realised I'd been out-manoeuvered." Adrian describes how he then found pictures of an old Range Rover on his computer and challenged his wife. "Eventually she owned up and revealed she'd already bought this wreck that's apparently been used as a chicken coop." It turned out she'd been plotting for weeks with a friend. The couple have been keeping their preparations completely separate ever since, and have not even shared the routes they'll be taking to West Africa. Several sections of the challenge will see them cross inhospitable desert and even minefields from a lingering war in the region. However, neither competitor wants to admit they are concerned for their spouse. "Adrian wanted to have the adventure for himself, so why shouldn't I be able to do it?" says the 36- year-old who's chief executive of Pembrokeshire Tourism. "Anyway if he gets in any scrapes, he'll probably call for help like he usually does!" she adds. For his part, Adrian, 35, is not at all confident about his wife's mechanical know how, claiming it's a case of when not if her ancient Range Rover breaks down. "She usually gets me out of the house to change a bulb so now I guess it's time to see if that's all woman's wiles or out-and-out cluelessness! There won't be many around to help and I don't think her co-driver's much better from what she says." Locals in the village of Lawrenny will be seeing them off tomorrow and have in turn been backing their favourite. Rachel's friend Alison Lewis says Adrian's suffering one important weakness. "Basically, women are more resourceful than men," she claims. "She'll succeed for two reasons. She'll use her wits and wiles to get help when she needs it, and she won't be too proud to ask for directions in the middle of the desert. In short, she's a woman, so she'll get what she wants!" The challenge which will see them drive 4,000 miles over land may take up to 24 days, if they make it. More than 200 vehicles from around the world will be making the journey and raising more than £100,000 in the process. Both challengers are confident they'll come out on top. "By the time he's got up each morning I'll have done a couple of hundred miles," says Rachel. For his part, Adrian, who worked in West Africa for the BBC, reckons local knowledge and the ability to speak French will see his team through. But he is happy to admit one home truth. "We've clearly got some issues to deal with out there," he grins.
