The Beaujolais Run® 2018 - ‘Operation Chastise’

A Royal Air Force Harrier left the UK coast and crossed the channel on a very special mission. It’s course was set, and as it entered French airspace; it soon passed over Paris heading for a location just south of Macon. In the November sky, it’s two aircrew were focussed on one objective, to repatriate the first Beaujolais to London.

Just before midnight, it touched down in the vines, very close to the ‘Runs own vineyard. As the local church sounded midnight, cases of Beaujolais Nouveau were loaded, and utilising it’s vertical take off capability, the Harrier rose above the vineyards London bound. Landing in the coal yard at Victoria Station, it’s ‘Beaujolais race™’ won, the bottles were offloaded and transported to The Times newspapers offices to claim their prize.

As the oldest pan European car event, we could not let such a significant anniversary as one hundred years of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force pass by. In return the Royal Air Force have embraced the ‘Run. To encompass this it was necessary to extend the ‘Run this year, to six days to appropriately celebrate this milestone amongst our itinerary.

To be the final official celebration of RAF100 is a great privilege, but also we will be the opening event for the celebrations of one hundred years of our new core charity partner, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

2018 also marks the seventy fifth anniversary of ‘Operation Chastise’, probably the most famous of wartime flying missions. On May 16th 1943, nineteen Lancaster bombers of 617 squadron left RAF Scampton, now the home of the Red Arrows, for the Möhne, Eder and Sorpe dams.

Wing Commander Guy Gibson was been chosen to lead the mission and empowered to hand pick his men. This lead to characters like ‘Dinghy’ Young and Lewis Burpee being amongst his chosen crews. The ‘Dambusters’ route across the channel took them through Holland, en route to their final targets. Once there they had to fly at 220mph, 60 feet above the water to deliver their ‘Upkeep’ bombs exactly 425 feet from the dam walls. This also had to be achieved under cover of darkness! The rest, as they say, is history- as is the part played in the story by a certain black labrador.

Our opening route this year will pay tribute, and part follow, the course of these Leviathans of the air. In true ‘Run style we will unravel in a respectful, and fun way, the story of the 133 brave airmen that took part in this amazing feat.

After leaving blighty we will be passing through France and the Benelux countries. We have put together a unique feast for the senses in perhaps one of our most apt venues yet. Passing through the Ardennes the roads will delight, as they vary between roman straights and dramatic twisting gorges.

When we reach Champagne, Burgundy and Beaujolais we will be once more immersed in the wines, and the regions that are annually the heart of the event; thanks to the unique friendships and unprecedented access we have with our new and existing supporting partners. We hope you can join us..