History Event 1990s

1991 Lombard RAC Rally (Great Britain)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1991 Lombard RAC Rally (Great Britain)

Date: November 24–27, 1991

Start Location: Harrogate, England

Finish Location: Harrogate, England

Total Distance: 557.60 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1991 RAC Rally brought the WRC season to a muddy and misty close in the forests of Britain. Known for unpredictable weather, tight forest roads, and early nightfall, the event challenged even the most seasoned drivers. Armin Schwarz, already a winner in New Zealand earlier in the year, delivered a faultless performance with co-driver Arne Hertz. The pair kept their Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 clean and fast while others faltered, securing a memorable second victory of the season.

Route

Kielder Forest: High-speed but narrow with deep ditches and frequent fog, required supreme trust in pace notes.
Grizedale and Hafren: Technical sections with mixed grip and flowing elevation changes through pine woodlands.
Dalby and Clocaenog: Shorter stages with tighter radii and slippery corners, demanded sharp reactions and clean lines.

The rally’s stages took competitors through classic British forest venues with slick gravel, mud, and ever-changing visibility:

Consistent rainfall left stages soft and muddy, visibility and tire choice became the rally’s defining factors.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Armin Schwarz & Arne Hertz · Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
2nd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
3rd Place
Colin McRae & Derek Ringer · Subaru Legacy RS

Schwarz’s composed drive, paired with Hertz’s legendary co-driving, brought Toyota another prestigious RAC Rally win, showcasing the German’s technical skill and racecraft under pressure.

Car Highlights

  • Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165: Durable and stable on wet gravel, its torque delivery and balance helped Schwarz excel on slick forest roads.
  • Subaru Legacy RS: Colin McRae’s breakthrough performance, aggressive and crowd-pleasing, but slightly inconsistent in deep mud.
  • Lancia Delta Integrale 16V: Showed speed but was hampered by visibility issues and several mechanical niggles during critical stages.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Mud and Fog: Classic British conditions demanded constant steering correction and faith in split-second pacenote delivery.
  • Daylight Management: With stages run in early darkness, lighting setup and concentration were crucial to clean runs.
  • Mechanical Preservation: Avoiding damage from rocks and deep water splashes was just as important as outright speed.

The 1991 Lombard RAC Rally was a testament to control, consistency, and adaptability, Armin Schwarz rose to the occasion in style, adding a defining WRC win to his resume.

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