BURNLEY businessman Mark Bowie has won the inaugural Panama to Alaksa endurance rally.

After covering 10,000 miles in just 25 days, Bowie and co-driver Peter Swire arrived in Anchorage as winners of the four wheel drive class in their Vauxhall Frontera turbodiesel.

The pair were one of only two crews to receive the coveted gold award after completing the entire route through nine countries without time penalties.

"It has been a long and difficult event, but winning gold was certainly a moment to remember," said Bowie.

"It was exactly what the entire Frontera team had worked so hard for since starting in Panama on June 1. The last two days in Alaska were both exciting and spectacular, with some very big drops if you got it wrong. Our only regret was that Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson wasn't at the finish to see the Frontera win!"

Mr Bowie, who is chairman of Burnley Vauxhall dealers The Vantage Group, is expected to be back in East Lancashire on Monday.

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