History 1970s

1975 Lombard RAC Rally (United Kingdom)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 24th Lombard RAC Rally

Date: November 22–26, 1975

Host Country: United Kingdom

Surface: Gravel

Total Distance: ~2,800 km

Total Starters: 180 crews

Total Finishers: 73 crews

The 1975 Lombard RAC Rally delivered a classic British rallying test, with rain-soaked forests, muddy lanes, and foggy night stages challenging every crew. Timo Mäkinen, one of the RAC's most legendary figures, secured a well-deserved win alongside co-driver Henry Liddon in the formidable Ford Escort RS1800. Their performance sealed another chapter in Escort dominance and Mäkinen’s own RAC legend.

Route

Kielder Forest: High-speed gravel with slippery cambers and narrow tree-lined paths.
Clocaenog and Hafren: Deep ruts, slick mud, and constant rainfall made these stages treacherous but iconic.
Yorkshire Moors: Exposed ridges with fog and crosswinds, requiring total driver focus and balance.

With stages spanning across England and Wales, the rally featured long forest sprints, moorland tracks, and technical woodlands—all run without pacenotes under traditional RAC regulations.

Crews navigated solely using roadbooks and maps—no pacenotes allowed—emphasizing memory, co-driver clarity, and adaptability under pressure.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Timo Mäkinen & Henry Liddon · Ford Escort RS1800
2nd Place
Roger Clark & Tony Mason · Ford Escort RS1800
3rd Place
Simo Lampinen & John Davenport · Lancia Beta Coupé

Mäkinen’s precision and the RS1800’s raw grip proved unbeatable as Ford locked out the top two spots—reaffirming their strength in the forests of Britain.

Navigation & Challenges

  • No Pacenotes: Crews relied entirely on maps and roadbooks, increasing mental load for co-drivers and forcing quick reactions.
  • Unpredictable Weather: Rain, sleet, and fog made grip and visibility highly variable from stage to stage.
  • Night Sections: Poor visibility, mud buildup, and lighting strain challenged driver focus in the latter legs.

The 1975 RAC Rally was a pure test of old-school rallying grit—Mäkinen’s win capped the season with a demonstration of mastery across Britain’s toughest terrain.

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