Charley Boorman becomes an 80 Day Race ambassador

Charley Boorman, a modern-day adventurer, travel writer and entertainer, has become an 80 Day Race ambassador. The 48-year-old is best known for the television series ‘Long Way Round’ in which he travelled from London to New York on motorbikes together with actor Ewan McGregor. Boorman shares his passion of adventure with 80 Day Race, a sustainable global race around the world starting in Paris.

Boorman started his acting career as a child. Being a son of film director John Boorman, he appeared in films since 1972. In 1997 Boorman worked with Ewan McGregor in award-winning movies like ‘Train Spotting’, ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Moulin Rouge’. Both being passionate motorbike riders, McGregor became Boorman’s co-star in the successful ‘Long Way Round’ and ‘Long Way Down’ television series. Many of the DVD’s and books have remained best sellers.

80 Day Race is based on the novel of Jules Verne. It is a race around the world in which any land-based vehicle is allowed, as long as it does not run on fossil fuel or contains a combustion engine. The race starts in Paris and consists of 8 legs. Stopovers will be organised in major cities where a public programme including qualifying events, an educational programme as well as tradeshows will take place.

Charley Boorman, modern-day adventurer, travel writer and entertainer said: “The fun part of 80 Day Race is that people are going to see all those different countries and cultures. It’s a great push for people to get out and see the world. Everybody should do that. It’s a great challenge to go around the world in 80 days, especially with an electric vehicle that they’ve chosen or developed. That’s very cool. This way the environmental issue will be addressed perfectly. 80 Day Race will certainly help develop e-mobility and to show people that electric is a viable means of transport.”

Frank Manders, co-founder and General Director at 80 Day Race said: “When Long Way Round was first shown on TV, I was captivated. The stories they’ve told helped people understand there is a whole exciting world out there. Travelling, especially such an epic trip, is a life changing experience. You get exposed to different cultures and viewpoints, and experience that people all over the world share the same dreams and hopes; a safe life for themselves and a better future for their children. So when Charley agreed to become ambassador for 80 Day Race I was really honoured. He is a master storyteller and traveller, and his adventures have inspired me personally as well inspired the spirit of 80 Day Race.”

Other ambassadors who are committed to 80 Day Race are: Hubert Auriol (Three time Dakar Rally winner and former race director), Michael, Sebastiaan & Jeroen Bleekemolen (entrepreneurs and racing drivers), Albert Bosch (adventurer and electric Dakar Rally participant), Tim Coronel (Dutch racing driver with electric aspirations), Jan Lammers (former F1 driver and Le Mans 24 hours winner), Erik Lindbergh (electric aviation pioneer), Robert Llewellyn (British actor and e-mobility specialist), Louis Palmer (sustainability specialist), Claudio von Planta (award winning film director), Javier de Rocafort (successful entrepreneur and strategic advisor), Maarten Steinbuch (Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology) and Eric Vigouroux (experienced off-road racing driver and team manager).

The candidate teams that are preparing their participation are STORM Eindhoven from the Netherlands, Rimac Automobili from Croatia, Albert Bosch from Spain and Eric Vigouroux from the United States of America.