Rally car crossing Eastern Cape (7)
I believe the answer is:
recover
'rally' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'car crossing eastern cape' is the wordplay.
'car' becomes 'rover' (former British car manufacturer**).
'crossing' indicates putting letters inside.
'eastern' becomes 'e'.
'cape' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used on maps).
'e'+'c'='ec'
'rover' going around 'ec' is 'RECOVER'.
(Other definitions for recover that I've seen before include "Obtain the return of" , "get fit again" , "Regain" , "Recuperate" , "Get well again" .)