History 1970s

1973 RAC Rally (United Kingdom)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 29th Daily Mirror RAC Rally

Date: November 17–21, 1973

Host Country: United Kingdom

Surface: Gravel

Total Distance: 540.0 km (competitive)

Total Starters: 198 crews

Total Finishers: 91 crews

The 1973 RAC Rally wrapped up the first-ever World Rally Championship season with a classic run through the rain-soaked forests of England, Scotland, and Wales. With no pacenotes allowed and unpredictable weather throughout, the event emphasized natural driving talent and co-driver intuition. Timo Mäkinen and Henry Liddon rose to the challenge with a flawless drive, leading Ford to a dominant win in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

Route

Hafren and Dyfi: Welsh forest classics with slick surfaces and deceptive crests that punished braking errors.
Kielder Forest: Long straights and sweeping gravel curves lined by tall pine trees and deep ruts.
Lake District: Narrow climbs and descents across damp moorland made tire choice and visibility crucial.

The route crossed numerous iconic British rally stages, including Welsh forests and Scottish highland trails, with fast, muddy gravel roads and fog-prone night stages.

Persistent rain and fog throughout the rally added to the drama, forcing drivers to rely on sharp reflexes and flawless mechanical reliability.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Timo Mäkinen & Henry Liddon · Ford Escort RS1600 Mk I
2nd Place
Roger Clark & Tony Mason · Ford Escort RS1600 Mk I
3rd Place
Hannu Mikkola & Atso Aho · Ford Escort RS1600 Mk I

Ford swept the podium with Mäkinen at the helm, capping off the 1973 WRC season with a display of total dominance in their Escort RS1600s.

Navigation & Challenges

  • No Pacenotes Allowed: Crews navigated from maps alone, forcing reliance on memory and co-driver timing.
  • Night Fog: Poor visibility and wet roads during overnight stages turned already challenging tracks into pure guesswork.
  • Mechanical Endurance: Deep water splashes, heavy mud, and high revs tested drivetrains and electrics alike.

The 1973 RAC Rally brought the WRC’s first season to a dramatic close, and Mäkinen’s win cemented both his legacy and the Escort’s legendary status on gravel.

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