AMUNDSEN OMEGA 3 SOUTH POLE RACE

BBC TWO :: On Thin Ice Continues - Sunday 5th July 2009 at 9pm

The second episode of the documentary "On Thin Ice" continues on Sunday 5th July at 9pm (after Top Gear). If you missed the first episode you can catch it on the BBC iPlayer.

Synopsis: James Cracknell and Ben Fogle embark on a huge and very dangerous adventure - a gruelling race to the South Pole. After rowing the Atlantic, as seen in the multi-award winning BBC series Through Hell and High Water, adventurer Ben Fogle and double Olympic Gold medallist James Cracknell along with team mate Ed Coats are going to attempt not only to complete but also to win one of the most arduous and dangerous endurance events in the world - The Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race.

This mammoth undertaking will be filmed by TwoFour productions and broadcast on BBC TWO Sunday 28th June 2009 - 9pm.

If you are interested in finding out more then register your interest for the 100th Anniversary Race.

South Pole Race 2009 - Video

The latest South Pole Race video is now live on youtube.com. Don't forget if you missed last night's show On Thin Ice with Ben Fogle and James Cracknell you can catch up with the BBC iPlayer. Don't miss next week's BBC 2 9pm on Sunday 5th July 2009.

Sign Up for 100th Anniversary 2011/2012

The South Pole Race now recruiting for 2011/2012 competitors, after the huge success of this years race we are now looking for people to join the race in 2011/2012 for more information contact philpolar@hotmail.com or call 01285 860440. The latest entry date is 30th August 2009 call for an interview today.

09/02/2009 - World record successfully achieved!

A world record has been achieved by the support crew travelling in specially adapted Toyota Hiluxs modified by Arctic Trucks and used on the Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race. The four Toyota Hiluxs have completed a trip of over 5000km from Novo, a Russian Scientific Station in Antarctica to the Geographic South Pole and back again, making them the first 4x4s to reach the South Pole. The return journey of 2500km from the South Pole to Novo Station was completed in a record 8 days and 17 hours.

The arduous route to and from the Pole included extremely hostile terrain, travelling through crevasse fields and mountains, and an unusually high amount of snowfall where temperatures plummeted below -40C still air, and -60C with wind chill. Arctic Truck's Driver-mechanics Gísli Jónsson and Hjalti Vigfús Hjaltason were on hand to provide constant modifications during the trip.

The team were greeted at Novo station with cheers, flares and champagne to celebrate the success of the expedition. Tony Martin commented "It is an incredible achievement, we are breaking boundaries here, no one has ever completed a trip like this before, we are making history".

They hope this trip will open a brand new method of travel in Antarctica, encouraging people to use 4x4s as an alternative to current methods of transport as they are cleaner, and 5 times more fuel efficient than other vehicles presently used.

09/02/2009 - The Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race is over for 2008/9

All competitors in the Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race are now safely home and the staff are on their way.

Once again a big congratulations goes to everyone who has achieved their goals on this history making event - watch this space for the next South Pole Race!

02/02/2009 - THE SUPPORT TEAM ARE RETURNING TO BASE CAMP

Tony and the drivers are bringing the support vehicles back to the Novo base, to find out more about the vechiles used for the race support go to: arctictrucks.com. The support trucks have been used through the race to ensure everything runs smoothly, now that the race is over they need to be returned to the Novo base camp.

31/01/2009 - COMPETITORS ARRIVE IN CAPE TOWN

All competitors have arrived safely in Cape Town and are awaiting their flights back to the UK.

30/01/2009 - GOING HOME

Competitors are due to fly out of Novo tonight! Teams Danske Bank, Southern Lights, Due South and South Pole Flag are now all in the air on their way to Novo. Its an hour flight which shows you how far they have travelled! At Novo they will meet QinetiQ, Missing Link and the film crew before flying to Cape Town.

If the weather holds they will be on their way to Cape Town where they will arrive early morning, before waiting for a couple of days for a flight to London. It is possible the flight will not leave until tomorrow morning, but all competitors have their fingers crossed! They are looking for some very well earned R and R in Cape Town where it is +35C rather than -35C, you can eat without having to turn on a stove and melt snow, you have a real bed, a bathroom with lockable door and toilet and you don’t have to wear layer upon layer to go outside! Surviving somewhere like Antarctica makes you truly appreciate the small things in life which we all take for granted.

The support team are preparing the vehicles for the journey home - 2500km back across Antarctica: they will be making a world record speed attempt. Watch this space for more news.

United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust

The Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race is proud to support: United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust. Please visit their website for more information ukaht.org.