History 1960s

1968 RAC Rally (United Kingdom)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1968 RAC Rally (Royal Automobile Club Rally)

Date: November 22–26, 1968

Start/Finish Location: Harrogate, England

Total Distance: Approximately 2,200 kilometers

Participating Teams: 96 starters, 32 finishers

The 1968 RAC Rally (24th edition) was a pivotal event in the European Rally Championship calendar, delivering classic British rally conditions—deep mud, low-lying fog, forested gravel, and persistent rain. Stages stretched across England, Wales, and southern Scotland, offering brutal mechanical punishment and zero margin for driver error. The format, which allowed no reconnaissance, emphasized adaptability, real-time navigation, and weather-proof mechanical setup.

Route

Welsh Forests: Slick gravel, tight tree lines, and elevation changes made this region a stage favorite and a tire graveyard.
Lake District: Fast yet narrow sections with mist-covered ridgelines required inch-perfect braking zones.
Scottish Borders: Rugged, colder stages with slippery clay-like surfaces and minimal traction.

Crews faced harsh autumn terrain across Britain’s most iconic rallying zones:

As with all RAC Rallies of the era, no pace note reconnaissance was allowed. Drivers and co-drivers navigated entirely via route instructions, relying on timing and communication over prior knowledge.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Simo Lampinen & John Davenport · Saab 96 V4
2nd Place
Roger Clark & Jim Porter · Ford Escort Twin Cam
3rd Place
Ove Andersson & Tony Ambrose · Ford Escort Twin Cam

Lampinen’s win in the Saab 96 V4 highlighted the car’s reliability and the Finnish driver’s technical mastery in unpredictable British conditions. Clark, Britain’s fan favorite, narrowly missed out after mechanical delays, while Andersson showed Ford’s depth with another strong Escort finish.

Navigation & Challenges

  • No Recce Rules: Co-drivers worked solely from tulip-style route books—real-time coordination under pressure was vital.
  • Fog & Rain: Visibility was often reduced to meters, particularly in Welsh stages and Lakeland passes.
  • Endurance Fatigue: Crews faced long hours, short service windows, and unpredictable terrain with minimal recovery time.

The 1968 RAC Rally was a benchmark of grit and grit alone—where experience, resilience, and teamwork triumphed over speed alone. It remains one of the most iconic victories in Simo Lampinen’s career.

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