So far teams have been put forward by Holiday Extras, Sunvil (teaming up with C&M Recruitment, Uniworld and Cyplon Holidays), Travel Stop, Exsus Travel, 3For, If Only (joining with Baldwins Travel and Latin Routes), Traveltime, Jayne Peirce Travel Recruitment, Romanski, Bright, Resort Marketing International, FST, Mi Telecom, Beachcomber Tours, Designate and Travel with Kitts.

Teams must enter with either a Travel Shed – a “banger” costing £650 or less; The Travel Standard – participants’ own cars; or a Travel Shrine – a super car or classic car “if you’re lucky enough to own one”.

Vehicles must then be decorated to suit the team’s name and theme. Teams must also choose a charity and commit to raising a minimum of £125 per team member.

Once on the continent, participants are encouraged to don fancy dress (in-keeping with their theme) as they compete in a set of challenges along the route.

Next year’s Crusade will begin in the French city of Reims and see teams make their way to the German town of Bernkastel-Kues on the banks of the Mosel.

Archer said the route had been designed to provide “stunning scenery and great driving experiences” while taking Crusaders to places they may not already be familiar with.

The final day of the Crusade will finish in a mystery location in Holland, which Archer said she and fellow organiser Nick Joyce were “very pleased” with. “It’s somewhere very different,” she added.

New teams looking to enter can take advantage of the “Start your journey with Avis” initiative, which sees the car rental specialist giving teams £400 to help with expenses, providing they display an Avis TTC car sticker on their crusade vehicle.

“Avis has really embraced what the Crusade is all about and has been so generous,” Archer said.

Team entry (additional to the individual fundraising targets) starts at £275 for a vehicle and a team of two and £395 for a vehicle and team of four.

There is no limit to the number of people you can have on your team as long as it’s within the legal limit of the vehicle, with extra passengers at £60pp.

Archer said she hoped both new and past participants would get involved for 2019 to take in the Crusade’s “unique sense of camaraderie”.

“Everyone puts in so much effort with their cars and costumes; it’s really hard to put into words just what it’s like and how much fun everyone has until you’ve done it,” she said.

The Travel Trade Crusade course 2019

• DAY 1: Reims, France, to Konstanz, Germany
• DAY 2: Konstanz, Germany, to Bernkastel-Kues, Germany
• DAY 3: Bernkastel-Kues, Germany, to a mystery location in Holland

Get involved

To enter a team or for further information, visit traveltradecrusade.com or contact Sarah Archer at sarah@traveltradecrusade.com