History 1960s

1962 Scottish Rally (United Kingdom)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1962 Scottish Rally

Date: June 1962

Start/Finish Location: Glasgow to Inverness and back

Total Distance: Approximately 1,300 kilometers

Total Entries: 82 crews

Total Starters: 76 crews

Total Finishers: 49 crews

The 1962 edition of the Scottish Rally featured a brutal blend of gravel forestry tracks, lochside tarmac, and bog-ridden service roads across the Scottish Highlands. It was one of the UK’s most respected national rallies, known for technical driving and mechanical endurance — especially under wet and muddy conditions.

Route

Grampian Stages: Gravel tracks lined with wet foliage and exposed rock demanded finesse and puncture awareness.
Loch Lomond to Inverness: Fast-paced stages along lochs and glens, with limited runoff and blind brows common.
Night Sections: Highland fog and heavy mist made early morning segments especially treacherous for headlights-only navigation.

The route traversed Central and Northern Scotland, with stages on Forestry Commission land and highland public roads:

The event emphasized regularity and durability over outright speed, with time penalties assigned for mechanical issues or navigational misses.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Andrew Cowan & Jim Porter · Sunbeam Rapier
2nd Place
Roger Clark & Stuart Turner · Ford Anglia
3rd Place
Vic Elford & David Stone · BMC Mini Cooper

Cowan’s strong local knowledge and the Sunbeam’s grip over loose surfaces made the difference. Meanwhile, Clark and Elford — both future rally legends — showed their promise in lightweight, agile cars that performed well in the damp undergrowth.

Navigation & Challenges

Navigation was just as important as pace, with weather and timing playing key roles:

  • Rain & Mud: Almost every year featured heavy rain, turning access roads and service stops into mud baths.
  • Visibility Drops: Sudden fog banks in moorland areas made navigation near-impossible without top-tier pace notes.
  • Mechanical Reliability: Suspension failures and water ingress were common failure points among underprepared teams.

The 1962 Scottish Rally blended rugged beauty with relentless conditions — forging a new generation of UK rally talent in one of the sport’s most demanding domestic events.

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