History 1970s

1979 Lombard RAC Rally (United Kingdom)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 28th Lombard RAC Rally

Date: November 18–21, 1979

Host Country: United Kingdom

Surface: Gravel

Total Distance: ~2,000 km

Total Starters: Approx. 160 crews

Total Finishers: 75 crews

The 1979 Lombard RAC Rally brought the WRC season to a dramatic close, with Britain's legendary forest stages shrouded in mist, mud, and rain. The event’s trademark of no pacenotes and marathon routing across England, Wales, and southern Scotland made for an intense test of driver memory, reflexes, and co-driver efficiency. Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz emerged victorious in their Ford Escort RS1800, mastering the rally’s ever-changing grip and visibility conditions with poise and speed.

Route

Dyfi & Hafren Forests: Wet, rutted gravel with tricky cambers and minimal lighting.
Grizedale & Kielder: Fast-flowing forest tracks with sudden changes in elevation and surface grip.
Yorkshire Moors: Fog-prone moorland roads, open and quick but prone to slick patches and low visibility.

With a ceremonial start in Bath, the rally journeyed through forests in Wales, Yorkshire, Kielder, and the Lake District. Overnight transits, service parks in muddy fields, and dawn restarts pushed teams to the brink.

Rain, fog, and frost greeted competitors on nearly every leg. With no pace notes allowed, recce-free stages meant co-drivers relied solely on road books, heightening the challenge.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Hannu Mikkola & Arne Hertz · Ford Escort RS1800
2nd Place
Björn Waldegård & Hans Thorszelius · Ford Escort RS1800
3rd Place
Russell Brookes & Mike Broad · Ford Escort RS1800

Mikkola’s experience and steady hand on slippery British gravel kept him just ahead of teammate Waldegård, sealing a crucial win to round off the season with Ford dominance.

Navigation & Challenges

  • No Recce Policy: Crews relied entirely on road books and timing sheets—requiring exceptional memory and reaction.
  • Mud & Rain: Constant grip changes required intuitive car control and maximum throttle modulation.
  • Night Stages: Over half the rally ran in darkness—visibility, fatigue, and spotlight placement became major factors.

The 1979 RAC Rally demanded endurance, discipline, and adaptability—Mikkola’s triumph closed out the decade with a definitive masterclass in classic British rallying.

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