Rally History Archive

A challenging winter rally based in northern France, the 1962 Routes du Nord blended icy asphalt roads, heavy fog, and rural speed tests. It was an early-season round of the ERC that rewarded calculated aggression and mechanical durability in harsh conditions.

One of the oldest rallies in France, the 1962 Rallye Lyon–Charbonnières was known for its challenging tarmac stages through the Beaujolais hills and Alpine foothills. As an early round of the European Rally Championship, it featured narrow mountain roads, fast transitions, and high-speed technical sections.

One of Italy’s most prestigious tarmac and snow-based rallies, the 1962 Rallye Sestriere blended high-altitude Alpine driving with early-season unpredictability. Known for its cold-weather conditions and iconic ski-resort setting, it attracted top European crews looking to prove car control and consistency.

The 1962 Coupes des Alpes Maritimes — also known as the Monte Rosa Rally — bridged Italy and Switzerland with a high-altitude mix of narrow Alpine roads, snowmelt runoff, and fast valley descents. Though smaller in profile than the Coupe des Alpes, this event served as a critical regional rally in the Southern Alps corridor.

The 1962 Scottish Rally offered a rugged mid-season challenge through the Highlands and Borders of Scotland. Combining fast forestry stages, water crossings, and unpredictable weather, it was a favorite among UK-based crews and a crucial proving ground for emerging rally talent.

The 1962 Österreichische Alpenfahrt was one of Europe’s oldest and most demanding rallies, tracing its roots back to the early 20th century. Known for its brutal gravel mountain passes and long-distance regularity stages, the Austrian Alpine Rally tested every aspect of a rally team’s endurance and coordination.

A lesser-known but technically challenging Alpine event, the 1962 Rallye des Alpes Françaises tested driver precision and endurance on narrow, high-altitude French roads. Part of the European Rally Championship, it was a proving ground for tarmac and mountain specialists.

The 1962 Welsh Rally was a rugged national event known for its dense forest stages and tight mountain routes. Set in the Cambrian and Brecon Beacons ranges, the rally served as a critical proving ground for British rally talent and a precursor to the gravel format that would later define the WRC era.

The 1962 Coupe des Dames was one of Europe’s few all-female rally competitions, drawing top women drivers from across the continent. Based in France, the event emphasized technical tarmac driving and timekeeping discipline over high-speed aggression.

Held in communist Romania, the 1962 Rallye du Danube was one of the most rugged and politically symbolic rounds of the European Rally Championship. With its demanding gravel stages, mountainous terrain, and strict timekeeping, it tested both man and machine behind the Iron Curtain.

The 1962 Monte Carlo Rally highlighted the continued rise of British cars, with challenging snow-covered passes across the Alps.

The 1962 Safari Rally spanned thousands of brutal kilometers across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—featuring deep mud, river crossings, and unpredictable African weather.

A staple of the European rally scene, the Tulip Rally challenged drivers with complex navigation and narrow roads across the Netherlands.

Greece’s mountainous terrain and punishing roads tested drivers' endurance in this growingly popular event.

Held across winding high-altitude roads through the Alps, the 1962 Alpine Rally pushed both drivers and machines to their limits.

The Swedish Rally tested crews on snow and ice forest stages around Karlstad, where studded tyres and precision car control were paramount.

The Polish Rally combined asphalt and gravel mountain passes around Kraków and the Tatra foothills, rewarding crews who mastered mixed-surface endurance.

Scandinavian roads and airborne gravel jumps made Finland’s 1000 Lakes Rally one of the most thrilling events of the season.

One of the most demanding rallies in the world, covering over 5,000 km non-stop across Europe with virtually no breaks for sleep.

The Deutschland Rallye combined tarmac and gravel stages through the Black Forest near Baden-Baden, demanding versatility from both drivers and machines.

Held on the mountainous roads around Geneva and Salève, this event blended high-speed hill climbs with technical asphalt special stages.

The RAC Rally in 1962 brought together factory teams and independents on slippery gravel routes through British forests.