Q Harvey, this looks like a Panda with purpose! What exciting things do you have planned?

A Panda Raid 2025 and of course, Panda Raid 2026 too. It’s a 6-stage rally raid covering 2000km across Morocco. Most of these kilometres are offroad on tracks and across desert, which includes very large sand dunes. It’s called Panda Raid for the obvious reason its only for Fiat Pandas, the first generation, the boxy ones you may have seen buzzing around Italy.

Q Sounds great fun but very challenging I am sure?

A The Panda Raid is a navigational challenge as you don’t have a map, just a route book with pictures, distances, and bearings. To spice things up each day there is a timed/average speed stage which really tests the relationship between driver and navigator!

Q How much driving does it involve everyday?

A Each day lasts about 7 hours with time penalties for being late and losing points on the average speed sections and missing checkpoints.

Q Then you get to relax with a nice cold drink?

A Unfortunately, there isn’t a nice hotel when you finish the day, its pitch a tent time. You do get an evening meal in a Bedouin style camp with some rudimentary showers and toilet facilities thrown in.

Q Tell me about the rally, who you’re doing it with and why?

A I raced historic cars for many years and packed up 18 years ago. I don’t recall getting out of the car and thinking that’s the last time I do that. The competitive spirit never leaves and when one of my customers started ordering Panda parts (I have an engineering business) as a Panda 4 x4 owner, of course I was curious. It turned out he was building a car for Panda Raid 2021. When he got back from doing the raid he was completely hooked and so the search for a car began…..

Q Looking at your Panda, it’s certainly not ‘standard’, what have you done to it?

A Myself and my friend Richard (willing navigator) decided to look for a car and found one that had done the raid previously. According to the vendor, it didnn’t need anything doing to it. Yes, right we’ll see about that…

Q How long did it take to prepare?

A Months, literally of bartering and negotiating import documents ensued but we did end up with a car with a healthy 8 months to go through it.

Q Which part proved the most difficult?

A We had to learn how this thing worked in case of an mechanicals. It wasn’t too far from standard, extra coilover dampers at the rear and lifted both ends, mandatory sump guard. We did find lots of things that would have caused a problem like seized brakes, we fixed a lot of things. We added a roll cage and Brantz for navigation but not much else.

Q What were you most looking forward to about the Panda Raid Rally?

A I couldn’t wait to do some competitive driving again and see a part of Morocco I’d never visited. Not sure about the camping and if I’d known we’d have torrential rain for the first couple of days I’d have been more reticent. We didn’t really know what to expect in terms of terrain, it was truly spectacular.

Q When and where did the passion for the Panda 4×4 come from?

A This is an easy one, I spend a lot of time in northern Italy and the little Pandas are everywhere. Years ago, I decided I had to buy one and miraculously, one actually popped up on eBay and not far from where I live. A nonchalant bid one Saturday evening resulted in a Sunday morning surprise, I’d bought one.

Q So the rest is history…

A I love it, nothing it can’t do in snow or mud, they are incredible. Prone to a little rust, however mechanically they are simple and robust.

Q So what’s next on the Panda horizon?

A We have already entered the Panda Raid 2026 and perhaps we’ll do 2027 too? I’m also considering a light resto-mod of my original Panda and a drive to see my friends Panda Club of St Moritz!

Q Well good luck, we can’t wait to hear about next time and wish yourself and Richard the best of luck

A Thank you. Watch this space…..