Video: TG heads to the Mexico 1000. Contains drifting. And dust

The NORRA Mexico 1000 began in 1967 as a competition to find out which was best for tackling the terrain between Ensenada and La Paz: four wheels, or two wheels? Then six years later another organiser took over, got carried away, and created the ultra-serious Baja 1000 which still exists today.

Fast-forward 37 years to 2010, when Mike Pearlman – son of Ed, who inspired the original race – decided the off-road scene needed an injection of fun. The Mexico 1000 was reborn, comprising of, um, 1,400 miles of racing over four days. Continuity isn’t everything.

Anyway, we thought it was high time we paid a visit. Intrepid reporter Rowan Horncastle was dispatched on the next available economy flight to Mexico, along with his pen, his camera and the phone number for a skilled drone operator whose work you can admire in the video above.

“You know what that means, right?” a cheery competitor says as he points to three emboldened exclamation marks. I nervously shake my head. “Death.” Oh dear. I’m in Baja, Mexico, the estranged slither of land that’s orphaned by California above it, and by mainland Mexico that’s a hop across the sea to the east. I seem to have bitten off more than I can chew...

Can Rowan make it to the post-race party? Does he even survive? To find out, you’ll need to read the latest issue of TopGear magazine...

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