After sponsoring a team in Rally for Heroes back in 2016, Briggs Defence has stepped up its support for the charity fundraiser and is a main sponsor of this year’s event, which is aiming to bring in £150,000 for SSAFA…

Rally for Heroes takes place from August 2-11 when the cars will set off from Horse Guards Parade in London. Taking in some of Europe’s most picturesque scenery, the 50 teams participating in the fully subscribed event will follow a set route through no less than 10 countries.

As well as its event sponsorship, the specialist division of asset management and engineering services provider Briggs Equipment is entering a team in this year’s Rally. Briggs Defence’s contract development manager Jamie Secker is co-pilot to Brigadier Simon Hutchings, who has already completed two Rallies and this year gets behind the wheel of a Caterham CSR 260.

Gary Clements of Briggs Defence said: “Rally for Heroes is SSAFA’s biggest single fundraiser and as an event and team sponsor for this year’s Rally we’re delighted to support the Armed Forces’ charity’s wonderful work in support of serving and veteran military personnel.”

Every five miles of the Rally represents the life of a serviceman or woman who has died in combat since the start of the Afghanistan conflict. This is especially important for SSAFA, which provides specialist support to hundreds of bereaved and injured service families affected by recent conflicts, including Afghanistan.

On the first day the teams will cross the Channel to France and then make their way to Switzerland, heading through the mountain passes to Italy. Day 4 is the drive south to Venice before the cars turn east into Slovenia – a first for Rally for Heroes – and then head south along the coastal roads of Croatia.

The route for day 6 is Croatia to Bosnia, after which the teams drive north through Austria to Germany. Day 9 will see the teams make their way along the autobahns to Luxembourg before embarking on the final leg to the finish back in the UK.

Jamie said: “This challenge is going to be an amazing experience, with no creature comforts as those familiar with a Caterham CSR will fully appreciate, and it’s all in a great cause.

“We’re really committed to achieving the Rally’s overall target of £150,000 for chosen charity SSAFA, which provides lifelong support to servicemen and women and their families and works with veterans of all ages to help them settle into life outside the Armed Forces.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring the Briggs Defence team in Rally for Heroes can donate here.