AN Amesbury family has helped launch a car rally across Europe to honour soldiers killed in Afghanistan and raise money for two forces charities.

The Rally for Heroes is a week-long challenge from August 18 to 25, covering five countries and some of the most famous race tracks and driving routes including the Top Gear test track, Monaco, Le Mans and the Nurburgring Circuit in Germany. The route includes a five-mile drive for every serving soldier who has lost his or her life on duty in Afghanistan and will raise money for Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion.

Pat Rendell, who is currently working in Afghanistan as a civilian after a 24-year career in the Royal Engineers, has signed up as one of the rally drivers and his wife Juliet and daughters Aimee, 16, and Ellie, three, helped launch the event.

Mr Rendell, 42, will be racing in a BMW M3 with co-driver Will Jeeves, who is also ex-military and working in Afghanistan.

The event is being organised by Warrant Officer Benn Laidler and Corporal Mick Clark, who have both been on tours to Afghanistan and Iraq, and they already have 50 drivers signed up.

WO Laidler said: “We are already meeting tremendous enthusiasm for the event. Now the key is to see if we can meet our fundraising target of £100,000. This local car has car sticker space and sponsorship slots available and we are not looking for set levels of donations, any amount people would like to give would be wonderful.”

The drivers will all cover their own costs so that all the money raised will go directly to the charities.

To sponsor Mr Rendell go to virginmoneygiving.com/patrendell and for more information go to rallyforheroes.com.