Gendarmes will ‘welcome’ racers

GENDARMES in the Gironde department say they are getting ready to “welcome” a clandestine car race expected to be heading through the area today.

The “Cannonball 2000” rally, a British-organised event, is meant to see about 50 high-powered cars heading down the west of France today, linking Saint-Malo and Barcelona.

“We can’t stop them driving on the roads, but we’ll be making sure they don’t take them for Formula 1 tracks,” said Colonel Xavier Ducept, in charge of gendarmes in the Gironde who are reportedly preparing a “substantial welcoming committee”.

“This race is done completely illegally and they do everything to fool the forces of law and order,” the colonel said, adding that they will be “making sure they respect the law”.

Organisers plan that drivers will head to Monaco tomorrow, then Milan on Saturday and Paris on Sunday.

They say they have picked locations where participants and followers can enjoy luxury restaurants, nightspots and hotels, for a “truly exclusive experience”.

The gendarmes are expected to mobilise motorbikes, cars and helicopters.