History 1960s

1962 Welsh Rally (United Kingdom)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1962 Welsh Rally

Date: September 1962

Start/Finish Location: Llandrindod Wells, Wales

Total Distance: Approximately 1,200 kilometers

Total Entries: 77 crews

Total Starters: 72 crews

Total Finishers: 46 crews

The 1962 Welsh Rally brought together some of the UK’s finest drivers for a tough two-day competition over wet gravel and rocky hill tracks. Taking place across mid-Wales, it featured slippery conditions, low-visibility mountain roads, and some of the tightest forestry stages seen in the British calendar.

Route

Mid-Wales Forests: Hafren, Myherin, and Radnor offered steep descents and tight, muddy corners with tree-lined traps.
Brecon Beacons: Open, high-speed tarmac and gravel switchbacks that became slippery in the autumn rain.
Elan Valley: Scenic but hazardous sections featuring water crossings and blind crests above reservoirs and gorges.

The route looped through classic Welsh rallying territory, mixing forestry roads with moorland climbs and rural tarmac transfers:

While not part of the ERC, the Welsh Rally was closely followed by manufacturers as a testbed for upcoming talent and suspension setups.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Roger Clark & Jim Porter · Ford Cortina GT
2nd Place
David Seigle-Morris & Mike Wood · Sunbeam Rapier
3rd Place
Tony Fall & Terry Harryman · Mini Cooper

Roger Clark’s calm consistency and the Cortina’s grip on mixed surfaces proved decisive. Fall and Harryman’s late push in the nimble Mini earned them a well-fought podium, while Seigle-Morris held steady throughout the damp mid-Wales forests.

Navigation & Challenges

The rally demanded not just driving speed, but co-driver clarity and total car control in difficult terrain:

  • Heavy Rain: Saturated forest stages turned to slurry, making even light braking risky.
  • Fog & Night Driving: Visibility often dropped to near zero on mountain climbs and ridgelines during night stages.
  • Wheel & Suspension Damage: Hidden rocks and deep ruts were common in service tracks and junction exits.

The 1962 Welsh Rally solidified its role as one of Britain’s toughest and most respected regional rallies, training ground for future champions and testing laboratory for the gravel legends of the decade to come.

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